Evening Star Newspaper, October 4, 1890, Page 12

LOCATION OF THE PARK. MR. CHAS. ©. GLOVER. The mombers of the committee cordially concede to Mr. Chas. C, Glover the credit of leadership in the work. He organized the campaign and imparted an aggressive spirit to the movement, He started in witha deter- mination to win, and never for a moment.even in the face of seeming disaster to the project, did his interest or industry fail. Asa member D. C., SATURDAY, OCTOB ER 4, 1890—SIXTEEN PAGES. ever re eters for the ae “poem may be; jor park and be re- imbursed gradually by the District, asin the case of the alleged water works extension. THE CITIZENS’ COMMITTEE AT WoRK. The executive committee of citizens began ite active work January 18, when it appeared before the House District committee and urged | Present Messrs. C. 8. Noyes, A T. Britton, C. C. Glover, B. H. Warner, George E. Lemon and F. A. Richardson, composing the executive committee; R. Ross Perry, James M. Johnston, E. D. Tracy, Capt. a, Joseph Paul, W. A. Phillips, jr., J. J. Edson, 'P. M. Dubant, J. J. Darlington aud others. Mr. Warner actod as spokesman, and in urging the bill stated that those once opposed to the measure were then willing to have it paesed and that all sections aod interests were united in its favor. Jan- uary 22, 1689, the movement was somewhat ac- celcrated by the announcement that tho heirs of John B. Clagett offered to donate a strip 200 feet along their lands bordering on Rock creek if the project was carried out. An evidence of the renewed interest in the measure under the stimulus of the energetic action of the citi- zens’ committee was given aiso in the action of @ Mecting of citizens of Georgetowh, held January 22, 1889, asking that the southern limits of the proposed park be extended to Lyons’ milis, if not to the P street bridge. wrong done the of the District, In that | one was to be benefited by the park, and view Tue Stan, January 16, 1889, proposed that | thore was a great real estate specchation ry the nati at should wished to pose a8 & guardian of the Atkinson, Moore, Hooker, Hy hill, while = Kerr, Parson A, opposed it. proposed name of pe hed the passage of the Hemphill bill. There wero | 28 it came up again inst invasion. St speeches in favor bill were made by Gourt, Cannon, was cut down from “Columbus Me plain “Columbus.” Before the consideration of the bill was completed it went over. April committee of the whole An amendment by Mr. Payson to assess the benefits to adjacent lands was to. The bill was favorably’ reported to House the same day and defeated—ayes 78, noes 83. Mr, Hemphill, who had voted in the negative for the purpose, immediately moved a reconsideres tion. The friends of the bill were not discouraged by the temporary defeat, An active and care- ful canvass made of the members absent or nod voting that day led them to believe that the result might have been different ina fuller vote, The billeame up again May 26, on the motion to reconsider, and the ex done meanwhile by the citizens’ committee was shown when the bill was passéd by e vote of 107 to 83. IN CONFERENCE. The bill then went to conference committes, where it underwent further changes. One thing done by the conference committee was te drop the name Columbus and restore the name of Rock Creek. The House amendment pro- January 24a committee of citizens called on viding for assessing benefits to adjacent pro; the District Cominmsioners in the interest of tho | erty was retained. The amovnt of €1,200, | Capt. Thomas W. Symoi eeminess Sewte te Sacetil eben, tat Dill, and one resuit wae a proposed amendment | was appropriated, and it war provided that the \ sy His father was a well-known business Aaa f the banking firm of Riggs & Co.. Mr. Charles 7 AN > | co. in November of 1888, In consultation with | ° SS tox ber of years been « W ON FOR THE PEOPLE. | Mr. James M. Johnston, Mr. Calderon Carlisle, a Capt. 1 age san W. s Hy that the District should retund haif the cost of | commission should be composed of the chief beri pao mee rrp Bilge ia? | man of the city in oe years and ioe A the park to the United States Treasury in an- | of engineers, the Raginser Commissioner of . if eke: Mr. s Glover began life as a clerk. nual installments of not less than 2100.000. the District and three citizens to be nominated, How Rock Creek Park Was Gained ‘hich was the basis of the one that finally be- | then entered tho banking house with which he MAP OF THE PARK REGION. ‘The first decided result of the work of the | by the President and confirmed by the Senate, came a law. A fow eveni | is now identified and became known to the sec = executive committee was the thoughtful and THE FINAL ViCTORT. Frank A. Richardson, whose prominence and | will have none for the illustrious character | forcible report made in the House January 26 < whose hearty and active intcrest in the project | gathered from a whole continent in the after | by Mr. Hemphill from tho District committee, |. BY 600d management Mr. Hemphill secured for the City. | meeting was held at Mr. G | which were present the gentl & number of other citiz: uablic in the position of receiving teller. The ato George W. Riggs, appreciating his energy including Washing- HE aa aiat : and ability, made him a partner in the busi- 4 time to wisely rule our republic from this cen- | recommending tho passage of the measure in- | the consideration of the conference repért by lnon oh Te ness, He Thas always taken great interest in | was of grent assistance. Mr. Richardson has | ter of its bernie P troiieced by bis au the S46, Sie csmantteen | tho liemne Saptombers ond Gee pa hae MEN WHO FOUGHS FOR IT. Nittan Gace Leann Che the welfare of the city, and is identified with mania ees sn distingnished service as Wash- | " still such eloquence did not provail and the Fecommended an appropriation of $1,500,000 | agreed to—ayes, 123; noes, 65. On the follow- “4 > wale ~ vl cl commercial e1 1s =, aa | H. Warner, Stilson Hutchins, F. A. Richardson. Tet qreaidees of thu ctick acctacge, a aires. | beciane correspondent of the Sun about | Pill did not become a law. for the purchase of tho park. Some of the | ing day it was agreed to by the Senate. The | M. M. Parker, Lewis J. Davis, Charles J. Bell, 4 Pleasure Ground of Two Thousand fp. B. Sands, Wm. Corcoran Hill, Duncan 8. Acres to be Laid Out Aiong Rock Creek Waiker, O. Green, Hallet Kilbourn, Coil. Passages of the report are interesting as | next day it reached the President and became showing the considerations that finally pre- | a law, having received his signature Saturday, vailed. “Many who had not been deeply inter- | September 7. The President showed a deep ested by the asthetic wspect of a beautiful rural | interest in the measure, not only by his prompt park had become convinced that the measure | approval of it, b it by immedsetely nominating was @ wise one from the three civ commissioners, so there iul institutions and one of | 1965, and still the head of the A NEW EFFORT. , b TH Wor At this’ gathe | Besides the large influence he commands ns | with public, men and by bis 1883, although in 1880 Capt, Hoxie in a report ~ p james A. Bates and E. W. Fox. nis gath- | member of a great banking house he is a lead- | news writer he has won high di segs icakee oc 4 a ———— | seneral plan and bill preparcd by Mr. Glover | has much social ‘nflucnce. He was treasurer | correspondents who first began the work here y P an ornamental Inke jand his associates were approved and it was | of the committee that arranged for the in-| which made dispatches and letters from the i883, WW. Gc aystom ae ovens ny THE SANITARY POINT OF VIEW. weg delay in carrying ite provisions ies decided to begin the pubic eifort, auguration of President Cleveland. capital one of the most important and inter-| Den; Joined ia m hotter to the Deine cat | | Mr. Hemphill's report said: It seems un- Shines (ab ‘bleh Via GAAS al OCK CREEK PARK is no longer a| THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTER. esting features of the American newspapers. , and fortunate that the earlicr endeavors to secure | which the committee of citizens comeing these lands at their then trifling value did not | rather than jeopardize the measure, which may result in their purchase, It appears to be uni- | be changed by legisiation hereafter. The con- Versaily agreed that such public parks are | ference bill that passed was the result of a com- necessary in or near large cities, and the result ; Promise, and many who were opposed to some has been that practically al: cities of conse- | Of Its provisions voted for it rather than have quence both in Europe and in this country, and | the project defeated. Senator Gorman made @ especially all capitals, are in the enjoyment of | *Tong protest against the provision for an as such pleasure grounds, sessment of benefits on adjacent lands, and The foresight indicated by the founders of | Senator Ingalls declared on the flocr his belief this capital city in laying out broad avenues | that the imposition of one-half of the cost of and reservations has been already amply justi- | the Park upon the people of the District was fied by the harmonious development of these | ¥fong in principle and pernicious in practice, advantages by persons from all sections of the | Since then, in an interview in Tax Stas, be country, has stated his determination not to rest until The present condition of the District of Co- | be has had this burden taken from the taxpay+ lumbia and its evident future admonish us that | €F8 of the District. Provision should at once be made for such a Park as the population of « large and prosper- THE PROJECTED PARK. ous capital city demands. He ii known, not only at the capital. but | !0mers calling attention to the abandoned dhirouglout ths godutry. and hae Gene macht Project and urging ‘the desirability and policy elevate and preserve the dignity of his pro-| 9f Securing: 4 Se = & public — fession, He has never been a transient corres- | Wi nout needless = a} shington,” they pondent, shifting from paper to paper, but has | 370" "So oo Pade’ to be wcity of — devoted his talents to one paper, with tell- | Ornces Mtns already inviting to the besi ing effect. As a resident ‘of Wash-| °!0#8cs of citizens inall parts of the country, ington ho is highly esteemed and is| "M0 ere flocking hither in considerable num: 8 Tepresentative man. Mr. Richardson was| bere te. make this ‘their permanent home. born to the purple of journalism, His father | Everything thatadds to the city's attractions, was editor of the old. Baltimore Clipper | that Fenders life here more agreeable, seems and in that office Mr. Richardson was, initiated | (018,16 Pe worthy of attention and to be. se- into newpaper work. Subsequently he did ine . Hieron oor arge park, inc! = much good work on other Baltimore papers | i2& Rock creek and its adjacent hills un aid thew cunts te tha oat woods, would be a great additional attraction, . ide affording, as it would, charming drives aad walks with constantly varying and beautiful scenery, ne one can doubt. ‘The experience of other cities haa shown thie What has not Central Park done for New York, Fairmount WN dream. For many years it existed only | Next came the meeting at the Atlantic build- asa vision of rare loveliness in the | ing and the appointment of the executive com- minds of afew men. At the gates of mittee. At this meeting, as shown in the re- LFthe city nature stood offering a park port taken from the Sran, provision was made endowed with a wealth of beauty that limitless for another committee to represent the states, appropriations by Congress would not have | but it was afterward considered unnecessary to called into being. Still those who recognized | have such an auxiliary. ‘The idea that pre- this invitation of nature fyund it weary work | ¥ail ‘as that the Ue! pang pacer he Se to impress a full sense of the glorious opportu | PY tar MME Oc. tne incl to ‘the tack, nity upon an unpoetical Congress. From year any dther committee would be supcrilnous and to year, from 1866 until 1885, the project was a hindrance rather than a help. The work brought before Congress, but its friends be- done by that exe utive committee, in which wid toy cepekted fai nere | Mr. Glover was the leading spirit, was enor- eae Scorned By reverted Beare There scent had hentiagh betas the con: were among Congressmen a few who early ap- sional committees, and through preciated the great desirability of reserving | its spokesmen presented the facts clearly and and dedicating to the perpetual use of the | impressively, Thus far its work was apparent and valley, and | to the public. In private it was a committee Park for Philadelphia, and Draid Hill for] ‘There ure several persuasive rensons why | Pleasure Ground of 2,000 Acres eople this stretch of cree ; ° Sail on pereua y ‘ | on educ: a bureau of information, a body ‘imore? They hzve greatly increased the | the pending bill should pass, and wh il bi oploaentanipndigmaindaomnacg ara aod! of ppasmdiet.. He lobby ever ocganiced value of property in thosecities and stimulated | adverted te briefly Pe aed Which will be Lying Along Rock Creek. the measures that came before the national ed did more effective work under the stimulus MR. ALEXANDER T. BRITTON, legislature having such an object in view. But | of expected gains than did this committee of | The presence on the committee of Mr. Alex- their numbers were so smail that after vears of | half a dozen citizens unselfishly working in | ander T, Britton added to it the influence of a ort little hope was entertuined that the pro- | patriotic cause. Congressmen had to be | highly respected name and at the same time ject would ever be carried out. It was one of | educated to believe in tho park. Misconcep-| gave it the services of one thoroughly inter- those bills for the general good which | tions of the measure and of the motives behind | ested in the project and who was enabled every citizen recognizel as a desirable | it prevailed in many quarters and had to be | through his personal relations with pnblic men thing, but which each, having no stronger per- | combated. When once a Congressman was} to render most valuable services, Mr. Britton sonal interest than his nei: left to depend | educated. however, he ame as thoroughly | was born in New York city in the year 1835 and entirely upon its general gooduess for making | im earnest and enthusiastic as the committee- | prior to the war practiced law in Rhode Island its way in Congress. | men themselves. and so the movement always | and Florida, After the breaking out of the the influx of woalth and population, We be- lieve that the procurement of the proposed Rock Creek Park would have a like beneficial influence upon the future of our cify, greater | even in degree, when it be considered that this is to be a city of homes.” Nothing, however, was then done in the way of attempted legislation, Attention was called to the project again in January, 1886, by the announcement of an offer by Judge Ord to do- nate twenty-five acres of his land on Rock ‘The present owners of the bulk of the lands HE TASK before the park commission Proposed to be taken sy — them fora] “PR istoso locate a park that it shall take generativo or more. Several fortunate results xc0eed- follow .rom this condition of things: in both ates of Mosk neck, nod et 1. These owners can afford to sell the prop- ing 2,000 acres in area nor €1,200,000 erty at its intrinsic value, and without adding in price. The work would be easy if the profits of intermediate speculative pur-| Rock creek was derfectly straight, for then chasers, buteach passing year must increase | the park could be laid out on s map with their intrinsic value. 2 There having been but few sales there | * "ler. As it is, the creek meanders in a most have been but tew trees destroyed to make | eccentric way, greatly adding to the beauty of HOW THE PARK WAS WON AT LAST. gained in aumbers and never lost. war he removed to this city, where he h oo for the location of « zoological park and | room for lawns and building sites. aud there | the region by its many windings, but at the But in the winter of 188% and 1889 the eae! FRIENDS ON THE FLOOR. sided ver since, with the exceptio’ public baths, but Congress did not avail itself | are practicall ae costly improvements to be | same time, increasing the perplexities of the ow paid for. 8. The extraordinary natural beauty of the | ™e2 Who have beon grtnege ages st m4 proposed park has thus far been preserved, but | Problem. The park joins wil oolegic its subdivision and tho subdivision of portions | Park at Klingle Ford bridge, so that the two of it would undoubtedly result in great injury | parks will form one continuous stretch from in = eal The proposed legislation £x; | Woodley Lane bridge,along the creek, to the Dis- pressly secur @ protection of the trees an rd ‘ i Other natural attractions in the park. trict line. It is the intention to continue the par 4. Rock creek drains a large section of the | to the District line, so that the whole of Rock country practically, and flows through the city | creek within the District and north of the city of Washington. if residences should be placed | shall be included in the reservation and thus one yerr spent in California. He of the offer. was revived. The movement then begun was} Both in the House and Seaate were men who | ne, up a large and lucrative law p MR. CROSBY 8. NOYES. vi rk: eet ANOTHER PARK BILL, like an uprising of citizens. The realization | Needed no convincing and who worked for the | sicg and in the department of land andrail.| The active interest Tae Stan had taken in! tn the 49th Congress a bill was offered in the that their Rock creek region was about to be | Measure from the first with a heartiness that | road iaw he acquired an extended reputation. | the Rock Creek Park project was recognized Senate authorizing the District Commissioners mvaded by real est syndicates, and that | to bring about the final victory. In| He was chairman of the commission that a few | when the new and successful movement was 40 /piat for condamostion’s track af Sand Gand the creek would im course of time become a | the House Mr. Hemphill led the movement and | years ago revised and codified the land laws. | inaugurated, and Mr. Crosby §, Noyes, the eceseai one thousand fect in width, on both sewer aud a source of pestileuce, came with | his interest and his wisdom as a manager greatly | He is now and has always been closely identi-| ggitor of that journal, was called upon to| & 4 usand fect in width, on bo! such force toa number of influential citizens | ned the final passage of the bill Gen, | S¢¢ with the city and 11s interests,and as presi- | Droside at ihe public meeting of citizens oe of Rock Creek, beginning at the intersec- that they took up the park movement and gave | Grout, chairman of the House District com. | 22 of the American Security and Trust Com- | Poa was put at the hend of the executive com- | tion of Massachusetts avenue extended and the gy that it never had betore. reed onl a pany and vice president of the Columbia Na-| jittee, Mr. Noyes has taken part in all the| Creek aud extending to the boundary line of Sone ak week Gruenareioan aad with anintes_| teComas, str. Lodge, Mr. Atkinson | tional Bank, he is an important factor in | mittee. Mr. Noyes has taken p ve warm support to the measure ittee, In addition to this | the District. No appropriation was made, the est that never ilagged. Defeats only inspired dinth vere financial circles, Mr. Britton was cbairman | goo cee) Og este ge ee senate atte | bill requiring the Gomlanionecs tp report to | along its banks the sewerage would be emptied | meserved forever from contamination. ‘The them with new vigor. Unsclfishly they de- | 2 the House and in the Senate the cause of the | of the citizens’ committee in charge of the ar-| 24%, 5 project and applied all the power that | Congress the results of their negotiations and | into that stream and necessarily endanger the | lower part of the park,tbe stretch from Klingle voted their influence and their time and | Patk waz championed valiantly and | {Aagements for the last inauguration and in | pen and printer's ink are capable of to give | Condemnation proceedings, On this bill, in | health of this city. The consequeiice would be | Ford bridge to Broad Branch, road ent Bless strength to the campaign and at last won the | Munds, Ingalls, Harri here mere titiecna, uid | that position his executive ability contributed impetus to the movement. Mr. Noyes has | June, 1886, at the request of the Senate District | cither that this continaous risk must exist or | den Mill road, will be about 1,200 fect wide, Park for the people. The committee of citizens | on te committee, too, whose industry and in- | ‘Rely to the success which marked the clabo- | heen connected with Tus Evenixo Sean for | Committee, the District Commissioners made a | that this picturesque creek must be covered ia hardly more than @ parkway, baving the never ceased to work and was not dissolved | until the park bill became a law by the Presi- dent's approval Saturday. With prompt ap- preciation of the importance of the measure Gen. H. ¥. Boynton, Ex-Auditor McConville the President at once teok steps to hasten the | and Aldis B. Browne. As the work progressed, accomplishment of the project by nominating | ‘Tap Star, which had been foremost in advo. the commissioners which the law directs shal cating the park, devoted its space freely to the manage the proceedings prescribed for locas- | enterprise, meeting every demand for informa- ing und acquiring the park. tion and publishing maps and illustrated arti- The Rock Creek Park measure has had a 4 ij cf . ne > Z cles to give an intelligent idea of the project, varied legislative history. Ever since it was THE sNGUMESXTS UsED. it has experienced . Vicissitudes in Congress which would have dis- | The arguments used by the committee of couraged any set of men less determined than | citizens are briefly set forth in a circular ad- those whe scospted the, task of Securing its | dressed by it soon after it was formed, “To all assage. But behind the legislative record is | 14. ‘ ft Soothes history not less important and interest- | P&Fties interested in the future of the national ing. It is the story or the last and successful | Capital.” In this paper the committee sa:d: effort to obtain the park. Tue Evextne Sran, “It is well known that the bill pending be- which had ever urged the establishment of the | fore the House of Representatives, looking to park. sounded the keynote of the ne the establishment of the Hock Creck Natienel cessful campaign in au editorial in TH Park. willcome up for action at en early day, December 29. 1885. in which energetic nd the undersigned committee. appointed at Operative action was urged. January 11, 1889. | @ mass meeting of citizens held January 11, THE Stak made a further appeal in the inter: 1889, to urge upon Congress the importance of of “a project so entirely void of selfish per-| this public measure, most carnestly request the souai interests that it does not enlist the sup- | co-operation of all public-spirited citizens in rate ceremonials of the day. thirty five-years and, like Tue Star, is thor-|Teport stating that the piat of the proposed oughly identified with the community and its | park, as drawn, shows a park one housand feet iaicecta in width, from Lyon's mills to the boundary of , the District. The quantity of land included A QUARTER OF A CENTURY. | yay mee anne, auanttty of land included — Congress desire to proceed further in the mat- The Park Project Was Many Years Be-| ter, they rigged, important modifications fore Congress. would be made in the plan by a careful consid- P eration of the topography of the several por- HE first Rock Creek Park bill was intro-| tions of the proposed park, No uniform width duced twenty-three years ago in the weal eee to. we = Sa ee Thirty-ninth Congress, Since then there | 8*¢¢p only such acreage wot So have been a number of measures formu- | mond sulice to control the crest and slopes 3 and provide for the construction of suitable lated, They have all been similar to the first | drives. Where the elevations lie more remote in having the same object in view—the acquisi- | from the banks of the strevm a greater width tion of the land bordering Rock creek for park | Would be requisite. " purposes—though they have differed from that | », 4 epee “pee = ae hs and from oach other in the methods prescribed | from the District committee, "The report said for acquiring the ground, the limit of cost, as “The rapidly increasing population of the Dis- well as the number of acres to be purchased, | trict of Columbia, as well as the constantly in- and in minor details concerning the commis-| creasing value of real estate, admonishes us sioners to have charge of the park, that if this tract of country is to be reserved for park purposes the quicker it is done the B, H. WARNER, The Senate on the 18th of July, 1866, on mo- better. Phat this section of the District, now 2 Merrie there isa pounanen for the pub- | tion of Mr. Hendricks adopted a resolution in-| largely in a Primitive condition, ought to be tof lobbyists, jobbi We se estab! . | lic good on foot one can be pretty sure to find ing th ittee on public buildin; reserved for the use of the public, in the inter- Foi ay pcre ctl peri [pret pe es Brainard H. Warner among the leaders, Seay eae to tagaite Tec weituble site fora | Sabor Bealth and of making the national capital operative efforts of the general public.” [gaa Weide we mie resident o€ the city of Week| Fee ce rernes cat as dae cP ea ronan | pabille parkland also/s/aailable sits! foe's peedk os ATacnye 98 possible, your committes do | AMEETING OF CITIZENS fre oman taper bis et bonaraabr {or | the executive committee amounted almost to a | dential mansion, combining convenience of | “aigcne strong logic, whose force has sin ‘That night a meeting of citizous was held, at | large majority of local taxpayers, yet we feel | ovarantes of Mr. W ; i ¢ i that we also represent many hundreds of thou- | 8 ntee of 81 ss. alr. Warner's energetic | access and healthfulness, good water and | been recognized, did not prevail then and the which, following the counsel of Tae Star, the sands of visitors who will come to Washington | 8¢tiom, Persuasive speeches and effective but- capability of adornment, and empowering the | Dill failed. Mr. Ingalls reintroduced the same action was taken that ultimately led to success. | in the future and enjoy the benefit of the legis- | ‘"-holing did a great deal toward winning | committce to employ an armyengineer to make | Dill in the Senate December 13, 1887. January What was done at that meeting was succinctly | lation we are endeavoring to secure. ora | ees “Warlcr line book ened ey rears ME. | the necessary investigations. The committes| 2; 1888, Mr. Howell introduced it again in the : gare : . H 3 N. Mich! . an r e as to have told in the following account that app: Pe preted opting hy rhe Are reel tate business in this city. "He came to thiscity | Selected f egies Maj Mabie eae amendment attached to it declaring that in the Tue Stan the next day: “A representati property which will be directly benefited by the | WB0m & lad of sixteen from his home in Great | to the Sonate January 16, 1867, an elaborate re- | event the government failed to previde for the enthusiastic meeting of leading cit establishment of this park; that wo speak en. | Bend, Pa., and spent some time in government | port, in which depicted the glories of the | Payment for the land condemned within two the District was held last night at the Atlan-| trely on public grounds without reference to | @™@Ployment, during which he studied law, | Rock ereek region, its accexsibility and adapt-| years then all proceedings under this act se ypunating fo take concerted action for the | our own pecuniary interests, realizing that the | §T@duating st the Colombian Law School in | ability to park purposes; togetiee with maps | should be void. A favorable report was made advancement of the proj a growth of Washington has’ just commenced; | the class of 1869. Instead of practicing law, | showing the results of the surveys. ‘The quan. | 00 the bill by the District Commissioners and terest contributed much to the final resuit, Among these were James M. Johnson, Ross Perry, Myron M. Parker, Alex. D. Anderson, and used exclusively as a sewer. creek in the center. Between these points _ That portion of the creek along which dwell-| the act prescribes that the width of ing houses have already been built is now anj the park shall be not less than 600 open sewer flowing through the city, from| feet nor more than 2.000 feet, of which not which disagreeable and noxious odors con- | jess than 200 feet shall be on either side of the stantly rise, greatly to the detriment of the | creek. Beyond the Biagdet road the health of the people along its banks and to the | commissioners can widen the park at pleasure, injury of property in that section; and im the | being restricted only by the conditions that the opinion of your committee the time is near at| whole «rea shall not exceed 2,000 acres and band when this portion of the creek must be | that the iand must be on both sides of the creek covered over or some other mode of protection | and the understanding that the park must be atopted at a cost of many thousand dollars. continued to the District line. The natural ad- The preservation of ‘both banks of Rock | vantages of the tract are such that it is thought creek, as Proposed in the pending bill, will at | little will peed be expended upon the park a& once avoid this danger and cost and preserve | first beyond the cost of opening rouds, bridle the existing beauty of a large t rritory. Look- | paths and footways. Alrendy there is « found- ing at this measure merely ractical busi- | ation of a system of drives and by lengthen- ness matter it seems to be Such a preser-| ing the old ones and cutting a few new ones vation of the natural beauties of a section so | the park can be made available at a compare- near the city will conduce greatly to the phy- tively insignificant expense. sical as well as the moral improvement of the THE BEAUTY OF THE REGION. — ‘The beauty of this whole region is proverbial, The creck, with its many windings, miniature rapids, its banks now wooded, now rugged with rocks, the picturesque glens and deep ravines have tempted many 4 painter to try his brush HEARINGS AT THE CAPITOL. Meanwhile the citizens’ committee was ac- tively at work spreading the gospel of the park. Asa literary bureau it issued a pamphlet pre- pared by Mr. E. D. Tracy containing all the in- | ang inspired many & local poet. formation available concerning the park pro-| No higher testimony to the loveliness of the ject. February 12, 1889, the executive commit-} Rock Creek valley can be found than the effect tee had a hearing before the District subcom- | it has had upon officials whose duty has been mittee of the House District committee. There | to report upon the park project. It has lifted were present of the committee Messrs, Warrer, | them from the level of statistical facts to the Glover, Noyes and Lemon, who were accompa- | exalted region of poetical description. Major nied by C. M. Matthews, J. M. Johnston. Hora-| Michier in the original report made to the tio King, A. S. Taber, 8. W. Woodward, R. Ross | Senate in 1866 thus discourses: Perry and Rev. W. A. Leonerd, Onthe 15th of| Inno place has nature been more bountifal February the Senate District committee «p-| of her charms than in the vicinity of this city, proved and substituted the Hemphill bill for | and all can be found so near and accgssible— the one it had reported, which made no appro- | the valley of the Rock creek and its tributari priation, but required the Commissioners to re- | the Broad and Piney branches and the se ort its work tc os An effort was made | minor rivulets, with the adjoining hills over- mR. — y Mr. Hemphill, February 28, 1889, to get the | looking these beautiful streams, present to the that it belongs to the people of the whole | however, he entered the real estate business | tity of land proposed to. be taken by ‘Maj, | also by the House District committee, matter through before the Fiftieth Congress | capital of the nation advantages not to be and B. H. Warner acted ae At@t country, and that every doliar of public money | With the frm of Joshua Whitney & Co. Sub-| Michler was estimated at about 2.540 acres, THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK. expired by attaching the bill substantially as | lightly disregurded in providing « park worthy a resolution bad been p a spent here for public attractions is devoted to | Seduently he went into business for himself and indorsing the plan of 6 posed by the bill now in the man Hemphill of the Hou ct commit- ; but he also marked a second series of lines for! Meanwhile bills were introduced to’ the pleasure and profit of the humbler citizen | Met with great success. Mr. Warner has from | grunnds of more moderate dimensions, include i eeaieteal ey iio —_ peters } oe 7 the first had great confidence in the future of of our land—the population of every town, ing avout 1,800 acres, Mr. Beck April 23, 1888, and which subse- the city andhe has inspired others with the tee, the work of forming committees, one for COmBt and city. The reasons for early action | .ame confidence, In a lurge number of ebarit, oo quently was attached to the sundry civil bi each state, _* explain the proposed pian , ~ virst. The tract of ground which it is desirea | *!* ao financial institutions of the city he} Upon this Leni Dill was’ formtilated by and became @ law. Another, introduced by to the members of Cougress from that stat | has taken an active interest. While still at the | the committce on public buildings and grounds ° i ~ 4 ro head of his real estate firm he is president of y perl sreagrifepeepeneraaae ns aieminro ead ead an amendment to the “Zoo” bill, which was un-| a great people. Ail the elements which cou- der consideration. Then the friends of the | stitute a public resort of the kind ean be found bill sought to secure its enactment as an | in this wild and romantic tract of country, amendment to the sundry civil bill, but failed, | With its charming drives and walke, its bi ch their efforts, as stated, probably re- | and dales, its pleasant valleys and deep ravines, sulted in securing the coveted place in the | its primeval forests and cultivated fields, ite sundry civil bill for the *Zoo” amendment, | running waters, its rocks clothed with rich which, thus nestled under the wings of a great | fern and mosses, its repose and tranquility, its appropriation bill, went safely through, light and shade, its ever-varying shrubber; IN THE PRESENT CONGRESS. eautiful and extensive views, the locality is Promptly at the beginning of the Fifty-first | *!teady possessed with all f= 8 for the object in view. 3 Congress the park bills were reintroduced. | find nature diverciied tm aieoeat every hue and December 4, 1889, both Mr. Ingalls and Mr. | form noeding but the taste of the artist and Sherman offered bills in the Senate. Mr. In- the skill, ee uugineer to enbance its beauty alls’ bill limited the width of the park to 1,000 | 4nd use ;, gentle pruning remov: fect made it begin at. Massachusetts, avenue | What may be distastefal, improving the roads and extend all along the creek to the District | 8d paths and the construction of new ones af cad wae ,' to set apart for the purpose indicated is along paar ti 2 2 Edo the project nn to necure afar ax tes fae of Hock creek, and caprcalyadapicd| he‘ Coambin’ ‘Notional Bat ei tenes | PEevidng for the purchase for park porpose | stantial the sume’ ony inated te shove possible, a vigorous and united mdorsement of | fF the purpose. Second. Itcan be had now at largely instrumental in establishing, and is also of a tract of ground within the lines ee of location to the region between the Woodley the measure, was begun. A large number Of ee cate ore content tied te prameere,im- | president of the Washington Loan and Trust | DY Maj Micnler aud which included 2,700 acres, | roadand the Klingle road, and considered the suggestions were made by citizens concerning | provements are contemplated to property lying | Company, which he orgunized. Gens. Meigsand Wright and Maj. Michler were | possibility of the creation of @ public park on the most suitable persons to work on these Yond. which will greatly enhanco its value. ig constituted a commission to negotiate with the | the creek, as it provided for co-operation of the state committees, and volunteers were asked | A Dumber of those whose property must be owners of the land. No appropriation was | rogents of the Smithsonian with the commis- and noted. It was found that the list of states ; COMdemned if the, bill passes are actively o; Z made, the commission being required to re- | sioners of the public park, in the event of the was pretty thoroughly covered and the com. | Posing it, believing that the land can be sub \ port the result of its nogotiations to the next | establishment of the wenoaed § in matter of pletion of these committees, with the sugges- | Vided and a much larger sum realized than vd Congress. laying out roadways through the two tracts, tions and volunteers of the meeting as a basis, | Wil be paid by the government if it is taken in In that day the park had an eloquent advo-| ‘While there was no antagonism between the was left to the executive committee, componed | bulk. ‘Third. It is now held by few owne! ges cate in the Senato in the person of Senator B, | Zoological Park project and the National Park : Noy: Varne! Slove: and the forest's growth has not been great! We: Gratz Brown, then chairman of the committee | project, there was much confusion caused by | line. The Commissioners of the District were | 8d increasing the already large growth of ee eh eee na ene = | aiateabeds 18.16 te: wahdieideds tesaver ee on public buildings and grounds In his| the appearance of the Zoological Park bill ia | charged with negotiating for or condemuing | tees and shrubs, deciduous and evergreen, by Lemon. Speeches indorsing the project| tees Will be cut down and destroyed, and if ‘ speech in the Senate in support of the bill Mr the ds of legislators who did not carefully ex- amine the details of the two measures. At earl — in debate — — ~ — ater as & menageri indoubtedly fhe work that had been done to create a senti- of the city to know the beautiful and romantic} ment for the Rock Creek Park hastened the the property and a to report their —— them those of other climes and ti to Congress, No appropriation was me made. Mr. Sherman's bill was similar tc Mr. | Capt. Symons ir his report on the Sp Hemphiil’s, except that it named the Klingle | last year was equally enthusiastic. Be sails Ford bridge as the starting point, and, instead | There lies within the District of Columbia o of making a direct appropriation, provided for | Tegion of marvelous natural beauty, a region of the + sue of 1,200,000 in District bonds to rocks, running water mae foe) pay for the park, provision being made that | of lovely, deep and shady valleys; steep torest- one-balf the sum should be refunded by the | Covered slopes and roiling sunny uplands. Thi United States to the District, region, yet largely in a state of foe CHANGES PROPOSED IN THE HOUSE. lying a — oe ~ od This bill was passed by the Sonate January | Potion grounds of this large and rapidly grow- 28, 1890, When the bill went to the House Dis- | ing city, and set deeply in the hearts of all cit- trict committee it was there modified ccn- | izens of Washington worthy of the name is = * Ww. Yrosb> 8, | Congress in the future should determine to fi Brown summed up the advantages the region Mere nae br the 4_ C. Welling: Crests 5. | Oeste Sy oer er ti iene : pomseused 4s 0 pare. Jobn 'H. Crane, Frank Hatton, Hallet kil, | ™4ny of its natural attractions will have be by “‘I suppose," said he, “‘all members of the bourn, N, D. Larner, Prof. Hornaday, W. H. | destroyed, and it will require years to repla Ut \ ones ee ate enone arnt ae environ : _ a , | them. Fourth. ere are no fine houses on the - ome nope erties MF: | scopecty which will have ts be pat tor valleys of Rock creek. The character of the| legislation resulting in the establishment of cumming the hess method ot Gene tan: “if the land contiguous to Rock creek is sub- ground around and adjacent to that stream is | the Zoological Park. When it was proposed to sired legislation indicated that the purposes | divided this beautiful stream must necessarily exactly suited to the purposes we de: It has| attach the Rock Creek Park bill as an amend- of the meeting were, first, to impress upon | b¢ Used for sewerage purposes, thus destroy- or mad delphi ret ca ees nar} ended meer meme Ty memiers of Congress the desirability of the | ing its purity and beauty and endangering the jicturesque scenery; it has abundance of varied opposed it accepted the Zoological Park bill park and the necessity of their speedy action | bealth of the capital city. forest timber; it has @ native undergrowth | with its much smaller appropriation as an al- to secure the land cheaply, and tothis sask the “We need make no comparison of the large blushing with beauty; it has the tangled vine | ternative, and in this way it became a law. influential citizens present at the meeting last | *™0uut of ground devoted to parks in large CAPT. GEORGE B. LEMON. and the clustering wild flower and the quiet the discussion of the park project in Bight, and others who were present in spirit, sie - the copitale o other cemntcian, These The citizens’ committee had many strong | Mosses gray with age, and, indeed, a Coenen oe at proposal = are enthusiastically pledged; next, to secure | Sts bave already been published and those | points and one of them was that it included | 4 THOUSAND IMPRINTS OF NATIVE ADORNMENT 7 Py 4 public park. the desired legisiation, if possible, from this | WHO take an Interest in this aubject are familiar | Ca Te enLmon, whose, influence ec-| that no hand of art could éver equal in is most | 5° 04 touarge bait of the octet the'pars | 20 columbus, Memorial Park. ‘This was done | "uc come afiee thems, She, 0 Sand the spenck one ot tbe appropristion bain su'ien act | weve consberaion thi the next fom woos | suetianes, much, Cept George E Lemon, | imitative mood. Moreover, with so mach of | $sihsiducrenerGG Mito ths cost ot the par | deference to the Columbus seatent that | The reports of comm ise one of the appropriation bills; and then, if not ; who was born in Onondaga county, N.Y., left ‘unoult ancien dattesia an present | iB Presenting the whole case to members of | Troy College te eon wee Care eae ‘at the | *tractiveness in its present uncultured state, | and §£¢ bo farther consideration at-thas tine. time the limitation as to width south of the | of 8¢ jun of tho extreusiienay antenal ongress, to endeavor to pass the measure at | Comgress and those who have an influence in | outbreak of the war. He was commissioned as | it has likewise every capacity for adornment | Tar EVENING Stan then urged editorially that | Broad Branch and Biagden Mill roads appeared. epee eyed park, the extra session of the Fifty-first Cougress, The | ¢complishing the purpose mentioned. captain in the one hundred and twenty-fifth | ®24 development and can be made with less | haste Spo eee om phan nee i ublic advantages of the park to the city, and | , (Our largest taxpayers are urging it; our most | New York volunteers and served with distinc. | ©xPense than almost any spot of equal Se ee ase ase Ge | per main importance of the project, were | nterprising public mem are in favor of it. | tion, After the war, coming to this city, he | ave ever seen within the reach of a ity, | in the fall of year, when the new move: tract to be acquired was limited to 2,000 acres. | The wisdom of the provision discussed and refereuce was made to the repre- | Thousands of visitors from other cities who | entered the bar and has devoted himself with | One of the most beautiful resorts in the world, | was begun inthe manner already described, ? A : direct tion of $1,200,000 was in- | reserving an ample area for « park, in view of sentative and disinterested character of the | have gone over the grouud which it is contem- | great success to the prosecution of claims ‘and |The amount of ground which was surveyed | The persistent efforts of Tur Stax awoke the | A, dinect, appropri be charged to the District, | the future of the city, is con- P ne- assemblage of citizens as indicating an absence | Plated to take are most enthusiastic in their | pension cases. He is the founder and pro- | ¢Mbraced 2,700 acres. It will not be necessary, oa roe oe ne caker | and provision was made that half the annual | ‘94 stl this addition of a splendid rural @f personal motives and self-interest im further- | ‘°sire to see the park established. Although Prictor of, that widely read paper, | the ronf boos bere pha era idclpt and rt ee oe isons 40 of maintenance should be paid by the | Dark tc the park area of the city is not extra- ing the project. | We are compelled to pay taxes we can take no | National ‘Tribune, and’ iss large Owner | t© secure what is Hel on by the comm: cat t. Auother Placed the park, | Pest St *either in size or wt wn Agim pone ‘Among the persons present were Judge | Part in the legislation which disposes of | of real estate in this city. At the last | P%k in the shape of Ge Ee ee when purchased, under the joint control of the | Ccrapared with what has’ beer. done in other ‘ong, Dr. J.C. Welling, W. T. Hornaday, | them, so our only recourse is to pre-|imauguration he was chairmen of the finance $24 places capab! oe ont, ‘ortunately ‘THE MEMPHILL BILL. District Commissioners and the chief of exgi- cities and especially in the great capitals. Lon- Judge Hillyer. C.S. Noyes, Wm. H. Clagett, | S¢mt our case as clearly and as earn- | committee and discharged the duties of that | t?¢ amount to be em! - entirely | The bill drawn up and approved by the citi- | neers of the army. Chairman Grout of don has a perk ares of 22,000 acres,’ Boston bas Col. W. F. Switzier, John T. Given, Dz. AP” | €#tly as possible to those whose legislation | important posites neato Cmtisaloge matte Tass without craton JaTE° | sens’ committee was introduced in the House | District committee in reporting the bill favor- | 208 bas 6 Scsierpaanoneen Lie oneaae Fardon, C. C. Glover, Jas. M. Johuson, Theo-| "4 action must determine our interests, Let | which are charactors erga: Wade seatcbeemer actos or! Hemphill January 14, 1889, This bill reiterated the statements made in Mr. | Do, New York rocently provided for am dore 'W. ‘Noyes,’ S. W. Woodward, | all work together for the accomplishment of the ‘extent of the drives or the beautiful di- | by Mr. war fer Hemphill’s report to the Fiftioth and | PSahion of 3/800 acres to Ler Sack aren ot s-coet Beriah Wilkins,’ Frank Hatton, John | ‘bis great measure, which is not at all local, = versity of views. for a purchase of a tract of land not the f ve | of $9,500,000. Paris bas 172.000 acres of parks, H. Crane, George Truesdell. Jos, | Ut national in its character, and we have no A FAR-SIGHTED SENATOR. stenting ee ee in Vienna 8,000, Berlin 5,000, Philadelphia 8,000, Paul, Col. J.'M. Wilson, H. J. Dent, John Joy | 40ubt of the result. : Further on in his speech Mr. Brown said:| creek, beginning at Woodley Lane bridge, of &| view of the public expectation and desire con- | Tene a are ee een, Edson, W. C. Dodge, M. i. Weller, Hallet] THE CITIZENS’ COMMITTEE. “There is no expenditure that can be made | Width Bot beg A ome ‘of the Smith. | Cerming this park, and in the belief of your ‘TRE BENEFIT OF RURAL PARES. Kilbourn, Nobie D. Larner, ex-Commissioner peal \ which shall add to the grandeur or adornment | sontan Institution’and the Rugiager Comatie- | Commitee thas it will some time be established, his the park bill, Loring. Prof. Langley. Dr. Robt. Kerburr. Xl rhe yen Wh cuneate gran en ae ae Os and the certainty that it never can be done ‘Mr. Hemphill. in his report on Ress Perry, Reginald Fendall, Wm. I. Smith, len 10 the Project to of the y largely sioner to a ee named as — less cost than now, and in view of the fact alvo | stated some interesting facts concerning reral BH. Warner, L. D. Wine, I.'F. Gilbert, Geo. Final Success, exe of ai progeny the assistant of the Rugincer Gomatectoner ax | ai While creating. it we shall be contribating | parka There is an impression with some,” E. Lemon, A. B. Brown, N. W. Burchell, J. 1. that are accumt fnedonrr nape Sethe Bmpecen transect to the comfort health and happiness of the he said, “that the civilized world bas been Barber, C. B. Church,” W. J. Stevenson, J.@.| 18 was the active and intelligent work of the ‘ languages Ree ree of the park: cea ano tne bit | Present and coming generations, wecan.at the | be sald, “that, the civilize but not aa Ahompson, Jewse B. Wilson, Thos. Somerville, | execwtiy Asvdgpate aca ‘ pode ce scharged to ton Dincion coats vast vies Denetactor of foe ices whan Miscoreriea have | instance is known of « to provide E. D. Tracy. Jas. E. Fitch, M. F. Morris and cutive commit ap) at the meeting was and benefactor race, whose discoveries have | Mme ation that ‘not regarded by these W. & Thompson.” of citizens held January 11, 1889, at the capital was to be. under the control of the grown into s solid hemisphere of republics, | Tyo! re ane nent ee * Commissioners. show wae’ ie seas Eee city that finally secured the park. In the first Vy y _ "The tener of debates in the House tad cén- | SHOT. ,Cur, appreciation of the grandeur of his | Soot SSP clay ofa raral perk regress ‘This was the first public record of the new | Place the high character of the men chosen for i d vinced those who were urging the park pro- Sea leave this teotmostl ‘as a heritage to | its purchase. be Laret wee Perk movement. It hed been thought out and | P!ce* ou the committee compelled ject that it would be to got ‘ages, we recommend the passage of the pe he Te eet any city in the planned, however, im private conference by | Be*Fing for the project they brought to the Lo Rpg tire staging wat pad ore god hes been ‘purchasing land, for six Public-spirited men, who realized that the | *ttention of Congress and inspired confidence While this was considered tajust the eitisens’ Aare panagenye ap ana averaging 600 acres in each area, Oni- time had come for a supreme effort. The pro-| @ tbe measure, Then, as has already boen deemed it wisest to secure the March 24 the bill was up in the House cago has six rural parks, in each of which seedings which led to practical resuite were | stated, the committee managed the campaign Ga'the best terms possible and leave ts es bor: | warmly debated. Is was attacked by Gen. |‘ West Page) lmitiated by Mr, Charles ©, Glover of Riggs & | with rare skill, giving not only their personal as it gress in the foture to make amends for the | Spinol, who, conceiving the notion that some LCetuacl on