Evening star., 1936-07-19
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

''1he Senate today" says The Star of
July %, 1886, passed the bill to author
ize the Commits
The Beginning Of sioners to con-
denim property on
Rock Greek Park. Rock Greek for a
public park. The bill authorizes the
District Commissioners to survey and
plat for condemnation a certain tract
OF land. not exceeding 1000 feet in width,
lying on both sides of Rock Greek, be-
ginning at the intersection of MasSachu-
setts avenue extended and Rock Greek
and extending all along the line OF Rock
Creek to the boundary line OF the Dis
trict and to survey and lay out the land
In the most practicable manner for
park, which shall become the property
of the United States of America. The
Commissioners shall cause to be made
map showing the quantity and value OF
each parcel of private property to be
taken for such purpose, with the names
and owners thereof, and the said map
shall be filed and recorded in the public
records of the District Of Columbia; and
from and after that date the several
tracts and parcels of land embraced in
such park shall be held as condemned for
public uses subject to the payment of
lust compensation therefor to be ascer-
tanned as follows: That said Commis-
sioners shall cause an appraisement OF
the value of the land so taken, to be
ascertained by an appraiSement to be
made by three judiciouS, disinterested
freeholders of said District. That If said
Commissioners shall be unable to pur-
chase at a reasonable price any portion
of the land so condemned, by agreement
with the respective owners, within thirty
days after such condemnation, they shall
at the expiration of such period of thirty
days make application to the Supreme
Court of the District Of Columbia at
general or special term. by petition con-
tanning a particular description Of the
property required, with the name of the
owner or owners thereof, which court is
hereby authorized and required. upon
such application, without delay, to ascer-
tain and assess the value of said land so
taken, in the manner provided with ref
erence to the taking of land for high
ways in the District Of Columbia. That
the Commissioners shall report to Con.
gress their proceedings in such condem.
nation and no money shall be paid in
consequence thereof until an appropria-
ton shall be made by Congress therefor"
Somewhat in coincidence with the first
step toward the making of Rock Creek
Park came the
Supgestion of following in The
Star of July "a,
Colonel Wilson's expressed hope that
the National Capital will some day have
q geological garden is one that should
awaken a responsive echo In the breast
of every American citizen. His idea that
a portion of the Smithsonian grounds
should be devoted to this purpose Will
not, however, be 50 generally approved.
They are neither large enough nor
otherwise adapted for such a zooiog1cal
collection as the Government ought to
and doubtless will some time bring to-
gether. Furthermore, a good thing TO
do with the Smithsonian grounds Is 10
keep them Just as they are. The notion
that the parks of the city should be used
for the accommodation of everything for
which no other place can conveniently
be found Is one that ought to be dis.
couraged. The most appropriate and
profitable use to which park can be put
Is to keen it as q park.