Evening star., 1945-08-05
BY John Clagett Proctor

Uncle SAM" through the lack OF
good advice, and perhaps, sometimes,
due to unintentional procrastination,
fails to take advantage of opportunities
which in the end prove expensive to
the taxpayer. One particular instance
In this connection occurred in 1890,
when Congress provided sl,200,000 for
the purchase of Rock Greek Park, which
was finally acquired and paid for, and
provided for in the original act, on
December IT, 1894. The cost was, for
the land secured, plus incidental ex-
penses, s1,174,51145, or three times
as much, for a less number of acres,
than the land could have been bought
for in 1866, according to a report made
TO Congress that year. OF course, the
District was charged up with one-half
of the expense later on.
Time, naturally makes a good deal
of difference in the surroundings Of
any growing city, and especially was
this true, as to the forests in the days
when wood was the principal fuel for
heat and domestic purposes hereabout
and elsewhere, and the first growth
of timber taken in great quantities
from the park area can never be re-
placed, as much as it is to be regretted.
But even as we see it today, the
park Is certainly one of the grandest
and most fascinating areas in the
world. Indeed the writer becomes more
along its crooked roads and dreams
of the old swimming holes which he
often frequented when a boy and in
reverie recalls the very spot where
he first learned to swim.
A Place of Beauty
Nature is, indeed, a great thing to
behold. and here, in this park, it is
at its best, and, as an early writer had
said many years before the park was
established: "All the elements which
constitute q public resort of the kind
can be found in this wild and romantic
tract of country. With its charming
drives and walks, its hills and dales,
It's pleasant valleys and deep ravines,
its primeval forests and cultivated fields,
its running waters. its rocks clothed
with rich ferns and MOSES, its repose
and tranquility, its light and shade,
its ever varying shrubbery, its beau
tiful and extensive views, the locality
is already possessed with all the fea-
lures necessary for the object in view.
Here we find nature diversified in
almost every hue and form, needing
but the taste of the artist and the
skill of the engineer to enhance its
beauty and usefulness; gentle pruning
and removing what may be distasteful,
improving the roads and paths and
the construction of new ones, and in
creasing the already large growth of
trees and shrubs, deciduous and ever
green, by adding to them those of other
climes and countries"
A Prominent Thoroughfare
And again, we are told, in the report
to Congress in 1866, that "The Valley
OF Rock Greek, central position to
both Washington and Georgetown, as
1t lays between the Tennallytown road
on the west, is one of the most promi-
nent thoroughfares leading out of the
city, and the Fourteenth street road
and the Seventh street turnpike on
the east. two of the finest communica-
tions running in a northerly direction
from the other. From these main high
ways many branches cross the valleys
or follow along the banks of the stream;
these transverse roads already form
beautiful drives.
Rock Greek winds along for more
the proposed grounds, receiving at con-
venient points the water of the Broad
and Piney branches, and several smaller
tributaries. For short distance it
courses through narrow but beautiful
valley, then wildly dashes for a mile
over q succession of falls and rapids,
with descent of some feet, the banks
on both sides being bold, rocky and
picturesque; then passes again through
narrow valleys or between high bluff
banks.
"At many points the creek is capable
Of being damned, thus forming series
Of lakes and ponds for useful and orna-
mental purposes. The many deep ra-
vines setting in toward it can furnish
romantic walks and quiet retreats for
the pedestrian. The larger part Of
the ground is thickly wooded, and
capable Of great adornment.
Beautiful vistas, artistically ar
ranged, can be cut through them, ex-
hibiting distant points of landscape.
while charming promenades can invite
the wanderer to seek cooling shades.
Nature has been so rich in her vegeta-
BILE creation that the plan of trans
planting trees of large growth, which
has been adopted in most of the modern
parks, will be unnecessary. There are
here some few country seats, such as
the Blagden's, Pierce's and Holbridge's,
which have been highly cultivated.
Park Boundaries
THE questions arise as to what should
be the extent of the proposed work,
and the probable price of the land. AS
1t should be one worthy the Capital Of
the Nation, and as the ground can be
secured at reasonable price before
being occupied by costly suburban villas,
'I