The Coolidge examiner., 1936-07-03

and Cumberland, Md. But the Iron
horse" Outdistanced the faithful
plodding mules of the towpath, and
the canal is no longer in operation.
However, transportation's loss has
been the gain of thousands who
know and love the hike along the
tOwpath, with it's great trees and
thickets fringing the still waters of
the canal, while here and there
moss -encrusted rock, bolder than
the rest, juts out like some minia-
ture Lorelei.
Where Cabin John creek comes
down to the river, man has carried
road across the precipitous valley
on one of the worlds largest single
spans of masonry. In the spring
time, however, this valley itself is of
far greater interest than it's bridge.
Ferns and wild flowers adorn it in
profusiOn, and the delicate pink
blossoms of the laurel and notched
white flowers of the dogwood dapple
the greening hillsides tremendously.
Good for Biological Study.
One of the many interesting fea-
lures of the Potomac gorge is its
peculiar situation biologically. In
the cool shadows of its steep cliffs
the fauna and flora of the upland
regions impinge upon those of the
coastal plain to provide one of the
most engaging and productive fields
for biological study in the East.
Plummer island, in the river above
Cabin John, for more than % years
has been in the possession of the
Washington Biologists Field club
and has served as a station for the
observation of wild life. An amaZ-
ing number of new species Of plant
and insect life has been discovered
on this island and every precaution
is taken to protect it from depreda-
tion and to preserve its value as a
natural biological laboratory.
The National Capital Park and
Planning commission has had a def
mite program to save this region of
truly magnificent scenery as one of
the show places of America. 1t rec
Ommended that the federal govern
ment acquire the entire gorge from
the top of the Virginia bluffs to the
hilltops in Maryland and from
Georgetown to and including Great
Falls.
The commissions plans excluded
power dams from the area, as it
states they would destroy the chief
scenic values of the Great falls
and Potomac gorge" and, further
more, are not necessary, because
adequate power may easily be 9th
erwise obtained at reasonable
cost"
Best in Its Natural State.
Whether or not the gorge of the
Potomac shall become a national
park rests with congress, which
must authorize its acquisition be-
fore the Park and Planning commits
sion can proceed beyond the bound
aries of the District of Columbia.
Certainly it could in no way be more
useful to the nation than in its nat
ural state-a place of rare beauty
and joy forever to the rapidly in
creasing population of the Washing
ton district and the ever-swelling,
neverending stream of visitors to
the national capital from all of the
world.
Probably no other capital city in
either hemisphere has scenic assets
comparable to Washington's Great
falls and the Potomac gorge. The
late Viscount James Bryce, ambas-
sador of Great Britain to the Unit
ed States and staunch friend and
admirer of America, in writing of
the beauties of Washington in the
National Geographic Magazine, said:
1T is impossible to live in Wash
ington and not be struck by some
peculiar features and some peculiar
beauties which your city possesses.
In the first place, its site has a
great deal that is admirable and
charming. There is rising ground
inclosing on all sides level space,
and so making a beautiful amphi
theater between hills that are rich
with woods.
Underneath these hills and run
ming like a silver thread through the
middle of the valley is your admira
BILE river.
THE Potomac has two kinds of
beauty-the beauty of the upper
stream, murmuring over a rocky
bed between bold heights crowned
with wood, and the beauty of the
wide eXpanse, spread out like lake
below the city into a vast sheet of
silver.
mo European city has so noble
a cataract in it's vicinity as the
Great Falls of the POtOmac-a mag
nificent piece of scenery which you
will, of course, always preserve