Evening star., 1940-06-23
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star


pearing over the following in the news
ue columns of The Star of June
'e" 81. 1890:
LOST The report of the commits
Forks sioner of public buildings and
grounds for 1887 gives some interesting
information concerning the reservations
of the United States illegally crossed and
occupied by the Baltimore & Potomac
Railroads tracks, which are to be vir-
tually presented to the road without
compensation by the Atkinson bill. The
quotations are from this report No
l09. Between South Capitol and Half
streets west and at the intersection of
Virginia avenue and F street south. (The
railroad sidetrack passes through the
center of this park)'
mo l12. At the intersection of Vir-
ginia avenue and South Capitol and G
streets south: graded, soWn with grass
and partly planted. The Baltimore g.
Potomac Railroad tracks divide this
park into two parts)' These little res
ervations whose adornment consists of
railroad tracks and occasionally stand
ing cars are to be compared with parks
of similar size or smaller in other parts
of the city For instance:
mo. 2l Between TweI..y-fifth and
Twenty-sixth streets west at the inter-
section of Pennsylvania avenue and L
street north. 1nclosed with a light
wrought iron railing; improved and
planted mainly with Towering dwarf
trees and shrubs"
The commissioner says: Attention is
called to the fact that without authority
of law and, in my opinion, in direct vio-
lation of section 222 of the Revised Stat
utes relating to the District of Columbia,
the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad is
now occupying United States Reserva-
tons Nos. l74, l78, 241 and 309 1 have
reported fully, from time to time, the
facts Of the occupancy of the reserva-
tions by the railroad company and was
informed, under date of February 10,
1887. by the United States district attor-
ney for the District of Columbia that the
Attorney General of the United States
had referred the papers in the case to
proceedings as the facts of the case war
rant and as may be necessary for the
enforcement of the law. against the COM
pany and the maintenance of the rights
and interests of the United States in the
premises Indictments were found
against the railroad for its occupation of
these and the other reservations and
public spaces, but the Atkinson bill pro-
poses to legalize this occupation and
thus to dispose of the indictments
Concerning 174, the commissioner says:
mo. 174 Between H and I streets south
and at the intersection of New Jersey
avenue, Canal and First streets east
Compare this railroad acquisition with
the smaller park:
mo. 81. Scott Circle, at the intersection
OF Massachusetts, and Rhode Island ave-
nues and Sixteenth street west. This
circle is the site of the bronze statue Of
Gen. Winfield Scott, by Henry K Brown.
Improved and planted; flower beds laid
out on the lawned surface and at the
base of the statue; gas lamps and flag
stone pavement around the circle and
water introduced"
Concerning 178, the report says:
mo. 178 Between Ninth and Tenth
streets west and at the intersection of
Maryland avenue and B streets SOUTH"
Compare with: mo. 80. Between Eighth
and Ninth streets west and at the inter-
section of Pennsylvania and Louisiana
avenues. The bronze statue of Gen.
John A. Rawlins, by A. Bailly, is now
located in this park. Inclosed with posts
and pipe rail fence; lawn planted with
deciduous trees of large growth and
asphalt walks through park"
mo. 241. At the intersection of Canal
street, H street south and Half street
east" Compare with No. 81, already
described.
"No. 309 At the intersection of South
Capitol, Canal and H streets southwest"
Compare this railroad park with some in
East Washington, for instance:
mo. 40. Between Fourth and Fifth
streets east and at the intersection of
Pennsylvania and North Carolina ave-
nues. 1nclosed with posts and pipe rail
fence; lawn surface arranged with q
flower bed in the center and planted in