The Improvement of the Park System of the District of Columbia: I.--Report of the Senate Committee on the District of Columbia. II.--Report of the Park Commission

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CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

3 1924 008

354 320

The tine

original of

tiiis

book

is in

Cornell University Library.

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http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924008354320

NO. 20.— BIRD'S-EYE

VIEW OF GENERAL PLAN, FROM POINT TAKEN

4,000

FEET ABOVE ARLINGTON.

.

FIFTY-SKVKXTH OOXGRKSS, FIRST SESSIOX, SIvXATK KKPoRT

NO.

106.

THE IMPROVEMENT OE THE PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

1.— KEPORT

OF

thp: splnatk c'Ommittkp:

on the

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. II.— REPORT

OF THE PARK COMMISSION.

BY

EniTE7l

CHARLES MOORE. CLERK UF THE SENATE COMMITTEE

i.>N

THE DISTRICT OK COLUMBIA.

WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING 1

tt

)y

Washington are most salubrious, dur-

remaining four and a half months the city

subject to extended periods

of

intense heat, during

public

y-^i

the fact that

about the middle of ^lay the climatic

which business

conducted

all is

at an

undue expenditure of physical

force.

Every second year Congress sion

usually

about of

is

in sesuntil

the middle

July;

and not

infrequently it hap-

pens that, by reason of prolonged or s

p

e c

i

a

1

sessions,

during the hottest portion of the sum-

mer a

the city

more or

with the persons whose business makes necessarv prolonged stay in Washington. Of course nothino-

is filled

less

can be done to change weatiier conditions, but very

much

can be

NO. 84.

— FOUNTAIN,

BARBARINI PALACE, ROME.

NO. 63.— FOUNTAIN,

FARNESE PALACE, ROME.

THE NEED OF FOUNTAINS.

27

accomplished to mitigate the physiciil strain caused by simmier heat. Singularly enough, up to the present time the abundant facilities

which nature affords for healthful and pleasant recreation during heated terms have been neglected, and in this respect Washington is behind other

far

cities

whose climatic conditions demand much

and whose opportunities also are

Rome

In

throughout the centuries

and of pope to build fountains ]Milc after

less,

less favorable.

to

it has been the pride of emperor promote health and give pleasure.

mile of aqueduct has been consti'ucted to gather the water

even

from remote

hills,

and bring

great living streams into

every quarter

of the city; so that

from the moment of entering the Eternal Citj' until the

time

of departure the visitor is scarcely

of sight of ful

jets

now

of

flung

out

beauti-

water,

upward

great columns to

in

add

life

Fountain, Vaux-le-Vicomte.

and dignity even

to St. Peter's, or again

of cascades from some great

work

gushing

in the

form

of architect or sculptor, or

still

again dripping refreshingh^ over the brim of a beautiful basin that

was old when the Christian era began.

The Forum

is

in ruins, basili-

cas and baths have been transformed into churches, palaces have been

turned into museums; but the fountains of If all the fountains of

Rome

are eternal.

Washington, instead of being

left lifeless

and

inert as thej' are during a greater portion of the time, should be set The necessity of founti'ins.

playing at their full capacity, they would not use the

amount of water

that bursts

from the world-famous

fountain of Trevi or splashes on the stones of the piazza of

At

St.

Peter

the Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte, near Paris, the great landscape

architect Lenotre

built cascades, canals,

and fountains using one-

twelfth of the daily water-supply of the District of Columbia.

fountains at Versailles are one of the most

by

s.

.the

people of France.

The

attractive spectacles enjoyed

SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES- COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

WASHINGTON. DC. DIAGRAM OF A PORTION OF CITY SHOWING PROPOSED SITES FOR FUTURE PUBLIC BUILDINGS SCALE i^^oo 800

1200

1600

2000 rT

COMMISSION ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE PARK SYSTEM DANIEL H. eURNHAM, CHICAGO

CHARLES

F.

McKIM,

NEW Y ORK

ST. GAUDENS, NEW YORK FREDEWtCK LAW OLMSTED, Jr., BROOKLINE

AUGUSTUS

N9 B-343

L

NUHRIt

PCTCn CO PHOTO. L

'.

i.O

VMSH.NCroH

L

'rtir

'I

A

UNION RAILROAD STATION.

Third. Buil(iinj>s of u semi-public character

29

may

be located south

of the present Corcoran Art Gallery, fronting on the

extending to the park

White Lot and

limits.

Fourth. That the northern side of the

]\Iall may properly be used by museum and other buildings containing collections in which the

public generally Fifth.

by Department buildings. That the space between Pennsylvania avenue and the Mall interested, but not

is

should be occupied hy the District building, the Hall of Records, a

modern market, an armor j'

for the District militia, and structures of

like character.

The

location of public buildings

di.scussed in several portions of

is

the report, under the appropriate subdivisions.

VI.

When way was A

union

the Commission was appointed the Baltimore and Ohio Railentitled, rnuroaii

**"*'""•

feet

at the

condemn and occupy a

to

C

approved

under an act of Congress passed on February

sti-eet;

same time, was given a

wide crossing the Mall.

station elsewhere the

1901,

depot fronting on

and the Pennsylvania Railway, under an act strip of land about four

hundred

The Commission found almost

at once

that unless the Pennsylvania Railway its

site for a

lii,

would

leav(>

the Mall and build

improvement of that great park would be

No one had any serious hope that the Pennsylvania Company would withdraw. However, in the summer of 1901 the president impossible.

of that

company consented

meet the company

move

to

do

so,

in a spirit w^hich

to the stockholders.

It

provided the Government would

would enable him

to justify the

was then suggested that the Pennsyl-

vania and Baltimore and Ohio companies should build a union station at the site

on

C

street granted to the latter

by Congress, the live South-

ern roads reaching the location through a tunnel under Capitol Hill

But

after careful consideration

station

was not adequate, and

it

was found that

also that

it

would

this site for a

union

result in a train shed

extending over Massachusetts avenue; and therefore the Commission suggested that the station be located north of Massachusetts avenue, the center of the building being on the axis of Delaware avenue, about a quarter of a mile

from the

Capitol.

This location has been accepted by the Engineer Commissioner, the Park Commission, and the railway companies, the latter consenting to

PARK SYSTEM OP THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

30

make

the

moves provided the Clovernment

able manner.

The

will treat theiii in a reason-

attitude of the railways has been public spirited

and most admirable

The}- have consented to give up

in this matter.

a location eminently

tit

for their business, and for no other purpose

than to help out the general conditions of convenience and beauty laid

down by

the

In front of the to

six

lie

I'iirk

hundred

('.imiiiissioii's

sug-jcstions.

line of

Park Commission. union station the Commission proposed feet in

width

Ornamented with Facing

])y

this jilaza,

and V)e

seven hundred and sixty feet long.

a public plaza

twelve hundred feet in length,

fitting terrace, basins,

Massachusetts avenue will

as

a

hundred

and fountains,

feet north of the

the mai'ble fayade of the station,

This great station forms the

grand gateway

to the capital,

through which every one who

comes

to or goes

from Wash-

ington must pass: as there

no railroad entering the

is

city

that will not use the station,

it

becomes the vestibule of the This being the

capital.

fact,

the importance of this station is

greater than

of any

that

other one in any city in the world.

If there

were several

stations in the city each might

be treated as a railway shed

and the architectural expression need not properly be of so high an order. No. 149.— Fountain, Viiux-le-Vicomte.

this

The

one.

But not three

so

great

architectural features of a capital city being the halls of legislation, the executive l)uildings. and the vestibule,

companies that the style of fied as that of the

the design

this building

it

is

bv the

railroad

should he equally as digni-

public buildings themselves.

goes back to pure

felt

Therefore

it is

that

Roman

motives, the central portion being derived directly from the triumphal arch of Constantine and the wings being i)rought into subordination to it.

The

central part, the vestibule of the station,

ninety -three

fe(>t

is

two hundred and

wide, containing three arches, each openino- being

MONUMENTAL DESIGN. about

thirt}'

by sixty

with end pavilions for foot passengers.

feet;

The waiting room Monumental

(lest:?!!. i

i

two hvuidred and arched ceiling of glass and iron. are added.

and

r*

will

be one hundred and thirty

The usual rooms is

masonry and

a lobby eighty

lobby, this space being fort\" feet in width.

The design of

is

its

of a grand station

by

tive

hundred

and an open space next the trades runs beside

the side streets and

b3-

•

c

«

titty feet, its walls of

Behind the head house

tifty feet,

81

this

The lobby opens out upon

perfectly accessible to the waiting rooms.

this station

is

intended to be monumental in every

respect and to be in keeping with the dignity of the chief city of

America and with

its

present and future beaut}-.

No.

1%.— On

the Pincian Hill, Rom«.

THE MALL SYSTEM.

S.

Rep

166

5

33

Lejiislutivo ^roup.

KxiM-ntivi- t^roup

Lincoln Moniorial.

Anjtlostnn Island

'•'I

•'.ij^''/^

Memorial

til

i^

l£»i

MoiiuniLMit (tiinU'n. \V!ishinM:tnn ('(ininion.

HridK''

NO. 19.— GENERAL

PLAN OF THE MALL SYSTEM,

rnidu

Si|uare.

2 D

KEY TO THE MXLL SYSTEM. A — Capitol

B—The

E— White House Division. F— Washington Common GG— Park Spaces.

Division.

Mall.

C — Monument

D —Lincoln

Section.

H—Section south of Penns.vlvania avenu

Division.

K— Memorial

Bridge.

THE MALL SYSTEM.

THE

City of Washington, during the century since

tion, has

made

been developed

in the

main according

its

founda-

to the plan

by Major Peter Charles L'Enfant and approved by President Washington. That plan the Commission has aimed to restore, develop, and supplement.

The

*'

in 1791

Congress house" and the "President's palace," as he termed

them, were the cardinal features of L'Enf ant's plan; and these he connected

"by

edifices

a grand avenue four hundred feet in breadth, and

about a mile in length, boi'dered by gardens, ending in a slope from the houses on each side."

At

the point of intersection of two lines,

one drawn through the center of the Capitol the other drawn through the center of the

White House, L'Enfant

trian statue of General

fixed the site of an eques-

Washington, one of the numerous statues voted

by the Continental Congress but never erected. When, in 1848, the jDeople began to build the Washington Monument, the engineers despaired of securing on the proper site a foundation sufficient for so

great a structui-e; and consequently the

Monument was 35

PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

36

located out of tie

all

relations with the buildings

together in a single composition.

To

which

it

was intended

to

create these relations as

originally planned was one of the chief problems of the Commission.

Again, the reclamation of the Potomac Flats, prosecuted since has added to the

from

Monument grounds an

east to west; so that

one and a half miles deal with an area

where L'Enfant dealt with

in length,

18.S2,

area about one mile in length

the Commission

is

a composition

called

upon

to

two and a half miles long, with a maximum breadth

of about one mile. B}' the inclusion of the space

between Pennsylvania and

New York

avenues on the north, nnd Maryland avenue and the Potomac River on

new composition becomes a symmetrical, polygonal, or figure bisected from east to west by the axis of the Capitol

the south, the kite-shaped,

and from north

Monument

to south Ijy the

White House

as the center, the Capitol as the base,

as the extremity of

one arm of a Latin cross,

Regarding

axis.

the

and the White House

we have

at

the composition on the banks of the Potomac a memorial

the head of site of the

commanding

site

So extensive a composition, and one containing such important

ele-

greatest possible dignity, with a second and only less at the

extremity of the second arm.

ments, does not exist elsewhere; and

it is

essential that the plan for

treatment shall combine simplicity with dignity.

its

^

m'n*\m\\

y

^>.ii,.f,.i..

T

t

r

'(

t

J

» Vjt » t *

(

^^

-1

in « tr^nrt

SiifettBg^j^^iiiK ,

NO. 23.— THE CAPITOL,

rt

im;gfc7,Mk.rk«iiLXV.».|»i

WEST ELEVATION, SHOWING PROPOSED TERRACE, RESTORATION OF THE BULFINCH GATES AND BOUNDARY FENCE, FOUNTAINS AND APPROACHES.

g^^^

ft

*

*9 »B K

!K\

No. 22.— Plan of the Capitol Grounds by LIEnfant

THE CAPITOL

THE

Capitol, located

(1791).

DIVISION.

by Washington and L'Enfant on

which seemed to the

latter as

"a

pedestal waiting for a

a site

monu-

ment," was constructed in accordance with plans prepared hy

Thornton and selected by the because

State,

among

the

President and his Secretary of

first

number

of designs submitted Thornton's

alone displayed the dignified simplicity which should characterize the legislative halls of a nation.

Under

the personal direction of Presi-

dent Fillmore, the Capitol was extended

})y

the addi-

The Capitol.

tion of the Senate edifice

U. Walter.' its

and the House wings, and the

was surmounted by a soaring dome, Distinguished alike for

architectural merits,

grounds, indeed, but

many

is

all

its historic

the Capitol stands in

surrounded

designed by Thomas associations and for

the midst of ample

in the raain

by private

l)uild-

them of the most squalid character, or by neglected Fi'om the Mall system stretches of land used as dumping grounds. the grounds are cut off by the Botanic Garden, walled and fenced ings,

of

so as to block the way.

^

History of the United States Capitol, by Glenn Brown.

.

PARK SYSTEM OV THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

38

Facing the Capitol grounds on the east stands the Congressional Library; and it is contemplated that at no distant day the Supreme

Court of the United States

shall be

accommodated

in a building con-

structed for the exclusive use of that tribunal, on the square directly north of the Library ;' and that the Senate and the House of Representatives will have constructed for the uses of their

members

build-

of the ings respectively on the north and on the south of the grounds Capitol."

of the above-mentioned buildings as planned will

The construction

make it in the highest degree appropriate that fronting the entire square

No. 22a.— Plan of the Capitol Grounds by Thornton, Architect of the Capitol (1808)

occupied

common

the Capitol grounds only public buildings beaiing a

l)y

relation to legislative

I'ocal relations of

'

S.

the

Bills conteiuplatiuj;

4113, Fifty-Heventli

'The sundry

work

new buildinus

such u building

ari>

shall bo erected. shall

If the recip-

be studied carefullv. so as

rej;ularly intnuhu-eil in C'ongresti.

See

Cont;refy strict a(lh'

on

Dome must

he fatal,

Capitr'l (froiimh.

because inconsistent with the fiindaiuental principles u|)on which the The location of tlie Library of Congress partly in Penncity is built. sylvania avenu(>

is

inflicts incalculable

conceals.

a

perpetual mutihition of L'Eiifanfs plan, and

injury

tc;

the Capitol, which the Lilirary

Other similar instances

ar(>

in jiart

the extension of the Treasury

Navy Innldings

so as to

the AVhite House.

These

and the construction of the State, A\'ar, and close forever carefully planned \-istas of

NO, 37.— VIEW

SHOWING THE PROPOSED TREATMENT OF UNION SQUARE, AT THE HEAD OF THE MALL,

UNION SQUARE.

ON

the western side of the Capitol grounds, where Pennsylvariiii

and ^Maryland avenues converge, the L'Enfant plan shows "a public walk, through which carriages may ascend to the

upper square of the Federal house." and south

line of the Capitol

now occupied by

space

Having restored the true north

grounds,

it

is

proposed

to treat the

the Botanic Garden as a broad thoroughfare,

so enriched with parterres of green as to form an organic connection

between the Capitol and the Mall.

The exceptional opportunities for monumental treatment offered by commanding location of this area leads the Commission to suggest that the Grant memorial already provided for shall be the chief decothe

oration of the square; and that associated with the Grant shall

monument

be the figures of his two great lieutenants, Sherman and Sheri-

dan, standing independently, yet so as to form a single composition.' 'The location now fixed Departrnent, Secretary rial

for the

Sherman rather than

statue

("ireneral

direotly south of the Treasury

is

constructed.

A

Sherman.

This location suggests

location for the Grant

was selected tentatively before the Park Commission made

competitors

made

State, "War,

and Navy building.

of

Sherman

where a granite pedestal has been

its

report;

memo-

and the

designs for a site either south of the "White House or south of the

The commission on the Grant memorial (made up

Gen. Granville M. Dodge, president

of the Society of

the

Army

of the Tennessee,

chairman; Senator George Peabody "Wetmore, chairman of the Joint Committee on the Library; and Hon. Elihu Eoot, Secretary of "War) appointed as a committee to

judge the relative merits of the models submitted in the competition, Lieut. Gen. Schofield, Maj. Gen.

Wesley M.

Merritt, Daniel H.

Burnham, Charles

Augustus Saint Gaudens, and Daniel Chester French. April

12,

1902,

that

it

had

selected

F.

J.

iL

McKim,

This committee reported, on

unanjmousl}' the models of the following

Henry Merwin Shrady, Charles Henry Niehaus (associated with Henry J. Massey Rhind (with Bright & Bacon, architects), Charles A. Lopez and F. G. R. Both with Henry Hornbostel, architect) AValdo Story, and persons:

Bacon, architect),

(

Burr

C.

Miller.

Shrady the

first

,

Of the six the committee found the design submitted by Mr. in intrinsic merit

and best adapted

to the site indicated,

on the axis 41

PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

42

The placing

Union

of the defenders of the

convergence doubly

the

justifies

name

of

at

thi.s

great point of

"Union Square." and commanded

Brilliantly illuminated, embellished with fountains,

by terraces,

square would compare favorably, in both extent and

this

treatment, with the Place de la Concorde in Paris.

They found the design

White Houne.

of the

sei-ond in intrini^ic merit,

recommendations

i^ubniitted Viy

and perfectly adapted

as follows:

"The committee

to either site.

thinks

it

Xiehaus and Bacon

They made

further

desirable, nothwithstanding

the brilliant character of Mr. Shrady's cijmposition, to be assured of his powers

execute a figure of

On

the

with the nobility and reserve power that

it

should

to

possess.

hand, the qualities nf Mr. Niehaus's work were of such high order and

(jtlier

were so

(.irant

in merit to tln.ise of

cliH-d the Capitol j^Tounds

thereto

we come now

to

that

and the areas related

long stretch

of

territory

designed to furnish the park-like means of communication lietween the legislative and the executive departments. It is interesting

to

note

that

although this space has been cut

into

pieces,

some of which have been highly developed according to the landscape art of the day, as for example the grounds of the Smithsonian Institution and the Agriculture Department, and while other portions have been diverted from their original purposes, as in the case of the sections given up to the Botanic Garden and the Balti-

more and Potomac Railroad,

the L'Enfant idea of treating the

still

entire space as a unit has never been entirely lost sight of.

Indeed,

during the very months of 1871, when the right of way across the Mall was bestowed upon a railroad, one branch of Congress agreed to a proposition to

combine the scattered areas

but was deterred from so doing largely

bj^

into a single park,

the objection that such

treatment would divide Washington into two parts.

The gradual development

of the city and

its

growth toward the

north, together with the location in the Mall of public buildings for scientific

pui-poses,

have resulted

in

a steady

improvement

in the

character of the Mall, which during the past thirty' j^ears has been

changed from

a

conmion

pasture into

unequally developed, indeed, and

in

a

series

of

places broken in

park spaces

upon

b}'

being

put to commercial or other extraneous uses, but nevertheless becoming

more and more appreciated from year

to year.

With

this

gradual

improvement has sprung up a general desire that the L'Enfant plans be reverted to, and that the entire space south of Pennsylvania avenue be set apart solely for public purposes. In order to realize this natural and most laudable desire, two things are essential: First, the railroad

must be removed from the Mall, and.

'See editorials and articles in the Washington Star during February and March, 1871.

43

PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

44

secondly, axial relations must be established between the Capitol, the

^Monument, and the White House.

Happily, as has been explained

elsewhere in these reports, the opportunity

presented to Congress

is

to secure not onl}^ the exclusion of the railroad, but also the construc-

consummation which, long agitated, has

tion of a union station, a

heretofore seemed beyond the possibility of accomplishment.

Fortunately, also, the locati'on of the

Monument

does not preclude

the establishment of such relations as will bring that Axial relationship.

.

.

.

into organic

structure

.

,

,,

with the monu-

connection

mental buildings above mentioned, so that Capitol, White House,

become constituent parts of one composition.

and Monument

shall

The

Commission contemplates the extension of

plan of the

northeastward to Pennsylvania avenue, whence

B

street

continues on the

it

north side of the Capitol grounds, thus securing for the Mall a uni-

form width

hundred

of sixteen

Within these boundaries in

it

feet

throughout

entire

its

extent.

becomes possible to develop the Mall area

accordance with the general distribution of the L'Enfant plan, with

such enlargements as the conditions of to-day have made possible and desirable.

Thus areas adjoining

B

street north

and south, averaging more than

four hundred feet in width from the Capitol to the ^Monument, afford sites

lertain

for

huudincs.

^P^^'ious sites for buildiugs

devoted to

poses and for the great museums.

st'ientitic

The structure

purto be

erected for the Department of Agriculture on the site of the present

building marks at once the building line and the type of architecture

which should

))c

adopted throughout the ^lall system; while the

ings of the National

Museum and

build-

the Fisheries Commission building,

both of which are inadequate and unsuited for their respective purposes; serve to show the class of the service that

may

well be accommodated

with new structures located within a park area.^

The

axis of the Capitol and

Monument

is

clearly defined

hy

an

expanse of undulating green a mile and a half long and three hundred feet broad, walled The

taplK-Tert. _

in

on either side bv elms, planted ^ Bordering this

formal procession four abreast.

green carpet, roads, park-like in character, stretch between Capitol 'The sundry for plans for a exjicctccl

civil net as

new

rrported

buildiiii: for

t inad-

equate as to cause the beholder near at hand to lose that very sense of

No.

25.

grandeur whieh

— Plan showinti: proposed treatment of the Monument Garden. it

when seen from

inspires

harmonious relationship betw ecn it

it

a distance:

and the lack

and the great structures with which

No portion

comes into juxtaposition disturbs one's sense of litness.

of the task set before the C'onunission has required

extended consideration than

lias

of

more study and

the solution of the prolilem of devis-

ing an appropriate setting for the ^Monument: and the treatment here

proposed the

is

the one which seems

Monument

itself.

bi>st

Taken by

adapted to enhance the value of

itself,

the

Washington ^Moiumient

stands not only as one of the most stupendous works of man, but also as

one of the most beautiful of human creations.

so great and so simple that

it

s(>ems to be almost a

Dominating the entire District of the Capitol and the ^^'hite structures.

Indeed,

House

C'oluml)ia, as

it

it is

work

has taken

its

at

once

of nature.

place with

one of the three foremost national

NO. 58.— GENERAL VIEW OF

THE MONUMENT GARDEN AND MALL, LOOKING TOWARD THE CAPITOL.

KG. 4i.— /lEW

IN

THE MONUMENT QAROEN, MAIN

AXIS,

SHOWING PROPOSED TREATMENT OF APPROACHES AND TERRACES, FORMING A SETTING FOR THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

LOOKING EAST.

O Z P T uj

CO

z r o:

1 o

z u 5
y positi^-e

set apart in front of the

Market, and for nearly thirty years the District of

Columbia virtually has been paying an annual rental for that

site, in

69

the

70

PARK 8YSTBM OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

decreased

rent,s

charged the market company in consideration of the

relinquishment of a portion of their property to be used as the

site of

a municipal building.

Inadequate as to

House and the

cspccialh' adapted

is

between the White

a position midwa}'

Occupying

end sought.

to the

the location of the site

size,

Capitol, situated at the point of convergence of wide

avenues, located in the very center of business activity, placed on a

with the dignitied building of the Department of the Interior and

line

new Carnegie Library,

of the trict

the site selected

building and to the municipality

dignity

all its

No

own.

it

to the Dis-

represents a distinction and a

other site would so

the District of Columbia.

would give

assei-t the individuality of

This individualit}'

would be

still

further

enhanced by grouping within the same general area other buildings semi-municipal in character.

municipal or

axial relation existing

between the proposed

tion of the District courts should not

The

In this connection the

lie

and the present

site

named would bring As at present con-

location of the District building at the point

about a nuich-needed change

market conditions.

in

loca-

overlooked.^

ducted, a large portion of the market business

conducted

is

in public

thoroughfares, to the inconvenience of travel and to the disturbance of municipal chase, the

one.

good order,

t'ongress having retained an option of pur-

market may well be removed

where could

))e

the business could

west of the present

to a location

provided a sufficient area, within which territorv

conducted within the market

lie

encroaching upon the public thoroughfares.

itself

without

This new market should

be constructed with streets running through

as

it.

admirable examples at Paris. Budapest, and other

is

the case in the

cities of continental

Europe.

Within the same

giMicrul area should be constructed

hcient in size to acconm]odat(>

tlu>

since the inauguration of the President of the us a municipal

and not

an amory

suf-

brigade of District militia; and

United States

as a national function, the

is

regarded

armory should be

of

acharacter to acconunodate the inaugural balls now. yiven in thePension Bureau, (o tliach particular area.

One such

special use to

which several squares shoidd

different parts of the city

is

1)e

devoted in

that of playgrounds; and these, too,

should be considered individually and not in any wholesale or uniform

way. for

In some cases they should provide especially

little

children, with smooth protected lawns, with

swings and teeter boards, with sand courts, and with safe and shallow

wading pools

in

view of sheltered

seats for the

mothers or nurses.

some there

In

should be regular

outdoor gymnasia, with apparatus for

jumping, vaulting, climbing, swinging,

and the

like,

with

tracks for running

and spaces for the lesser athletic contests,

such as put-

ting the

shot and

quoits and bowling;

in

others there

No. 165.— Open-air restaurant in the Prater, Vienna.

should be provision for the larger games, whether the schoolboys'

games of tag and

pris-

oners-base and scrub, or the organized games of baseball and football

between regular teams.

But even within the limits of more passive recreation there might Avell be some specialization; some areas, for instance, arranged as shady concert groves, with little or no turf, for the comfortable accommodation band concerts; one or more places arranged for tirenight illuminations with electric fountains, and for the display of of large

crowds

at

works on the occasion of national celebrations; one or more squares brilliant aquatic treated with a series of basins for the display of the

— PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

82 flowers;

some devoted

many arranged

especial!}^ to

in all their details

refreshment in the hot

evergreen winter

summer weather by means

and

effects;

with a view to giving the

ver}^

maximum

of shade well dis-

tributed and by means of gushing, rippling, sparkling, living water

not in a series of repeated commonplace forms, but infinite in

its varia-

and when wisely used always full of a new charm and refreshment. The amount invested in the land of these squares at current prices

tions,

amounts

to several million dollars,

in recreati^'e value

and

to secure a fair rate of interest

requires the application of as

much purposeful

ingenuity and well-trained judgment in design and management as

needed

in the

is

conduct of any business enterprise of similar magnitude.'

'The existing parks are shown on map No. D-287; the proposed additions are shown on map No. D-28H; the positions and bomidaries of the several areas discussed in this report can be followed most readily on the combined

map

No. D-2SH.

THE LARGER PARKS AND THEIR CONNECTIONS.

discussing the larger parks and their connections

we

IN at the western end of the Mall, and take the western, central,begin and shall

eastern sections of the District in order, ending with the

Park on the south.

Beginning

Potomac

at the site of the Lincoln memorial,

at the westerty extremity of the

Mall as extended to the Potomac,

a parkwaj^ should skirt the

of the

bank

Potomac

to the

mouth

of

Rock Creek.

A

broad, paved quaj^ or landing place should extend the shore line

out to the deep main channel and present to the river a smooth, conPotomac

tinuous wall, instead of jutting which retard the j o piers i current and tend to cause shoaling. This quaj^ should

(jnay.

be on a level with the adjacent land, which in the future, as at present,

borne freight the

like

—to

—such

the

industries using bulkj^ water-

as coal yards, gas works,

paving concerns, and

which the material can be transferred from the quay

by wagons, tram bj^

by various

likely to be occupied

is

cars, or belt conveyors,

more enterprising

abutters.

much

now handled

as it is

The park drive and promenade

should be carried through at the landwai-d side of the quay proper,

between

it

and the commercial establishments, but

at a

higher level

with frequent arched openings underneath for the transfer of goods,

and possibly,

also, for stoi'age purposes.

Separated by the difference in level from actual conflict with the pleasure travel, the activity of the water front would really add to the interest of the parkwajj^ and give a character to

no other in this country. Paris, Vienna,

In several European

it

possessed by

i-iver cities,

notably

and Budapest, there are such combinations of a com-

mercial quay with a promenade at a higher level, and they form, in

many

most popular and delightful resorts for the people; we believe, are the conditions so favorable as at Wash-

cases, the

but in no case,

83

PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

84

ington, for elsewhere the abutting private land and streets arc invariabl}' at the

higher level, thus necessitating the transfer of goods up

occasional inclines

and across the promenade

at grade, whereas, in this

instance, merchandise can be readil}' transferred at

any point without

between business and pleasure.

the least interference

This quaj^ treatment

proposed for the entire stretch between

is

Potomac Park and the Pennsylvania avenue bridge across Kock Creek, as the

lower portion of the creek

Canal, and

is

much

as

No.

Potomac

is

a part of the Chesapeake and Ohio

a part of the commercial water front as the

—Typical treatment of

Potomac Quay.

but above Pennsylvania avenue entirely different con-

itself;

ditions prevail,

and another treatment nuist be adopted.

Moreover,

be understood that the accompanying section for the quay

to

it is

10.

is

merely typical, and m'ouUI be modified

— at

at various points to

meet

places

liy

the omission of the street on the inner

side of the dri\c, at places

by

different

local conditions

arrangements of the

places, perhaps, bj- the omission of the inner retaining wall

substitution of a bank.

and of the taking

The precise

is

tests;

and the

moreover, of the cjuay front

be fixed only after

line can

soundings and foundation forth

line,

levels, at

;i

detailed survey, with

but in the main the project here

set

unquestionably practicable, and would provide at once the

most convenient and the most agreeable treatment for the connectit)n between the parks and for the commercial water front. It

would be

possible,

if

it

should ultimately he thought wise,

to

continue a similar treatment along the whole frontage of Georgetown

Harbor, and thus

to

arrange a continuous drive along the river from

Potomac Park past the Aqueduct Bridge and by a rising grade upper Potouuu' drive, but such a ct)nstructiou would be so that

it

has not been seriously contemplated,

culties in the

way

tlu>

more

to the

costly

so as the diiS-

of such an undertaking are not likelv to increase

with the passage of time.

s.

Rep. UiC

12

THE LARGER

Two

I'ARKS

AND THEIR CONNECTIONS.

85

radically different plan.s have been sugg-ested as alternatives in

the treatment of Koi^k Creek

Parkway.

Rock Creek and

its

accompanvino» i

.'

parkway between Pennsylvania avenue and Massachusetts aA'enut': First.

To

build a large covered masonry culvert or sewer for the

creek, and to

fill

valley and raise

around and over it

this sti'ucture so as to obliterate the

to the level of the adjacent lands, constructing a

parkway or boulevard upon

a portion of the filled land and subdivid-

ing the remainder into streets and lots for Second.

To improve

sale.'

the present open channel of the creek, regrade

banks, and improve them for park purposes, and to construct roads and paths within the park thus formed, spanning the valley by freits

quent street bridges to provide close connection with Georgetown.^

No.

12.

Eock Creek Parkway—Alternative project with covered channel.

—Typical section of

The general panying

chai'acter of the

two projects

is

indicated

hy the accom-

sections.

The Massachusetts avenue crossing over Kock Creek has been designed and

is

under construction as a culvert and

assumption that the fill

we

first

fill

upon the

plan will be carried out, but although this

will interfere with the perfect execution of the open valley plan, feel

compelled to recoinmend the definite adoption of the latter

on grounds of economy, convenience, and beauty.

ment of the

steps

which led

report needlessly and

is

to

this

An

explicit state-

conclusion would burden the

therefore confined to Appendix D, page 135.

'Discussed, except as to construction of parkway, in Senate Mis. Doc. No. 21,

Fifty-second Congress, second session. ^

Proposed

Ijy

committee

of

Washington Board

Park Improvement Papers, X".

7.

of Trade, I)ec::em))er

]."i,

1899.

See

PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

86

We may

point out, however, that the park drives and paths under the

open-valley plan would be separated by grade, like those of the

Georgetown Harbor quay, from

conflict

with the commercial

traflic

interof a busy district; but while the activity of the water front is between esting to look down upon, the sights of the inland region

Q

Pennsylvania avenue and

shabby, sordid, and disagreeable.

It

most part merely

for the

street are

therefore a very fortunate

is

opportunity that permits the seclusion of the parkway in a valley the immediate sides of which can be controlled and can be made to limit

may be

the view to a self-contained landscape, which

though ive

North of

restricted.

and takes

A

main drive should

which

branch drive should lead to Sheridan rise

—Typical

beautiful even

becomes very

on. something of the sylvan character

upper portion.

No. n.

Q

street the valley

it

attract-

has in

circle,

its

and the

along the easterly side of the valle}- so as to

section ol

Rock

Crct;k

Parkway — Treatment recommended.

get a plunging view and so as to pass just under Massachusetts avenue,

permitting an easy connection with logical

Park there are no serious

itself to

it.

From

difficulties,

this point to the Zoo-

and the problem reduces

one of careful and judicious detailed adjustment of the con-

struction to the topography

and vegetation of the

vallej'.

The boundaries shown on the map are determined below Q street so as to include only what is needed for the proper regrading of the valle}'

sides

and other

essential construction.

determined partly for

th()s(>

Above

that point they are

reasons, but in places so as to include some

exceptionally line hillside

woods that now form an important part

the valley landscape, and

if

utterly change

its

character.

boundary

of

down and replaced by houses would

In so far as

it

was practicable, without

parkway, we have foUowt'd lines already iixed on the highway plans and elsewhere ha\e provided for new

essential injury to the

for streets

cut

streets.

THE LARGER PARKS AND THEIR CONNECTIONS. The

Zoolofj-ical Ptii-k,

about 2 miles from

170 acres in extent,

mouth and

its

directlj'

along Rock Creek

northwest from the central

Although regularly open

part of the city. Zooloflrioiil

lies

OV

to the

'

Park.

_

public as a place ot recreation, the purpose of the park is

distinctly specialized, namely, to presei've

living animals

and exhibit a collection of

under agreeable and natural surroundings.

of the animals and the convenience of the public in seeing

The health them must

be the conti'oUing considerations here, and the natural landscape of the park, although

recognized importance, must necessarily be

of

modified and adapted to the provision of numerous buildings, fences,

and paths, and the need of bare ground or pavement that

roads,

caused by crowds of people and herds of animals. tion of

rugged sylvan wildness could

The

is

natural condi-

not, therefore, consistentlj^

be

maintained in this park, but the steep topography and the passages of

untouched woods suggest a picturesqueness

ment

of the artificial

in the style

and arrange-

constructions which has been followed for the

most part successfully. In the future development of the park there are two dangers to be

guarded against

—the

introduction, on the one hand, of buildings or

other constructions or plantations of a highly organized and formal character, out of

harmony with the character already adopted; and on

the other, the confusion due to the scattering of numerous structures and

method or massing. There is always the danger, too, in attempting picturesque and rugged effects in a place resorted to by large crowds that the accommodation for the crowds will be

features without any

through fear of making the paths, roads, steps, and the like, too conspicuous, with the result that the crowds overflow the One places made for them and reduce the whole park to shabbiness.

made

insufficient

of the

most important

points, therefore, in the continued improve-

ment of the Zoological Park is to watch its use carefully; to forecast such accommodations its future use by larger crowds, and to provide tear that the people will be led always to concentrate their wear and and on the places prepared to withstand it, leaving the remainder fresh

wild looking, to give character to the whole. and Certain additions are very essential to the proper treatment

maintenance of the park, and be

made without

each,

is

to be

delay.

found

in

A

we

can not urge too strongly that these

statement of them, with the reason for

Appendix

I.

PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

88

the vallej^ of the creek from the Zoolog-

Rock Creek Park occupies iial

Park northward

to the District line, including an area of 1,605.9

from

acres varying in width Kock Creek Park.

,.

little

The

vallej^

is

-^i

^

^

less i

i

than 300 yards to a ji

,.

i

j

over a mile, with a total length ot about

-i

.

-t

miles.'

crooked and narrow and flanked by steep, high, and

wooded

thickl}'

.,

,

hills.

In the southern portion of the park some of

the hill tops are comparatively level, but with the exception of these

narrow

limited plateaus and a few

creek the whole area

much

bered and

hilly in the

wood

extreme.

bottom land along the INIost of

the land

is

tim-

of considerable age and beauty, espe-

is

narrow and gorge-like portions of the valley, offering

in the

ciallj'

is

of the

strips of

some vevy beautiful sylvan accessible bj^ a

This has recently been made

scenerj'.

macadamized road, known

as

Beach Drive, along the

creek from the Zoological Park halfway to the northern end. connecting with the Militarj' road at that point, and continued by an earth

road along the remainder of the creek. skillfully laid out, has

valley to enjoy the beauty of

width, there

is

This road, which was very

brought a large number of

danger that

its

it

visitors into the

scenerv, and, as the road

may

is

of limited

soon become overcrowded;

if so,

a

very serious problem in the development of the park will arise at once.

Narrow

as the present road

are several points where

and to widen It is

is,

and

skillfully as

it

was

built, there

has very appreciai)ly injured the scenery,

by any considerable amount would be a calamity.

true that the value of the park scenery depends absolutely upon

making gained

it

if

likely to

diably.

conveniently accessible to the people, but nothing can be

means of access destroys the scenery which it is meant and we believe that as wide a road as the future population

the

to exhibit, is

it

it

demand would

injure the character of the valley irreme-

Possibly the solution

tion of another

to be

found in the ultimate construcand wider drive, or drives, high enough on the \alley is

sides to leave the wild sylvan character of the stream at the bottom of the gorge uninjured, but yet within sight and sound of the water and seeming to be of the valley. Such a road would doul)tless require

more grading, would cost more, and would destroy more trees and more square yards of pietty undergrowth than a road of equal width in

the bottom of the gorge, but the

damage of the latter would be would be the pound of flesh from nearest the heart, while the former would compare with the amputation of a done at the

leg.

vital

spot.

It

W(> discuss this point, not because we wish to urge this par-

THE LARGER PARKS AND THEIR OONH.ECTIONS. ticular treatment, but in order to

make

89

clear that the peculiar topog-

raphy of Rock Creek Park, while giving a great share of beauty, renders

its

development

as the principal

park of a populous

cit}'

a

matter of great perplexity, requiring the most careful study.

After the completion at

we would

its

present width of the road along the creek,

work of development be attempted until careful studies have been made for the comprehensive treatment of the whole park, and, if the park is to be made availadvise most urgently that no furthei'

able, such studies should

be promptly undertaken.

This applies not

only to matters of construction, but to the treatment of the vegetation.

Should certain open areas be planted sirable outlooks?

young

in oi"der to

block certain unde-

Should certain other areas now growing up with

trees be cleared out for the sake of the views, or,

if

which

not,

Hundreds

are the trees to be encouraged in each instance ?

of such

questions ought to be asked and answered before the maintenance and

improvement of the park can be directed

intelligently

and economically

toward the best future results.

As

a rule, the

boundary should be upon such a

line as to

permit the

construction of a border street, which will separate the park from the adjacent property, causing the neighboring buildings to face upon

making in

it

easier to police,

and

in

general adding to

its

dignity.

it,

Partly

order to provide for boundarj^ streets on reasonable grades and

partly that the crests of the overlooking hills of the

park authorities so as

may

be under the control

to prevent objectionable structures

from

being obtruded into the landscape, a considerable number of additional purchases are requisite, as set forth seriatim with specific reasons in

These additions are of varying degrees of importance, but several of them are more essential to the future value of the park than adjacent land already acquired, and provision for their purchase

Appendix

is

I.

one of the most pressing needs of the park system.

THE SECTION WEST OF liOCK CREEK.

\ S

an important entrance to Rock Creek Park and in connection

with the high western section of the District, we propose that

l—X

a parkwaj' be fornaed in the ^allej- of

enters the park at its

most western

and open, with scattered

wooded.

and

trees,

The treatment would be

The

point.

Broad Branch, which valley

part gentle

is in

and

in part steep sided

heavil^r

in effect that of an elongated

park

contained between two boundary streets and including a sufficient width of natural valley si'enery to give agreeable surroundings for the drive, bridle path, footpaths, etc.

the character would

page 92, but

between boundary

In the rough portion next the park

be somewhat as indicated

in general it sti'eets

The course would be a

l)v

the section on

would vary from

iJ(K»

to Ton feet.

north of west to Connecticut avenue, a

distance of about three-quarters of a mile.

The main drive would pass

under the avenue, but a branch road would connect with thus putting the

parkway

line of transportation.

valley followed

The width

would be more open and gentle.

little

main

in touch with

it

at grade,

Chevy Chase and

the main

Beyond Connecticut avenue

by the parkway turns

the branch of the

and reaches

to the southwest

Fort Reno.

The

site of

Fort Reno, now occupied by a reservoir,

point in the District, 425 feet above tide level, and

ably wide views in Fort Reno Park.

,

.

able that this private occupation, and area to protect the

end and

a border street at

.

commands remarkIt is ,

,

the highest

highly desir-

„

,

.

summit be preserved from exclusive

we recommend

the acquirement of a sufficient

view against obstruction

height on the adjacent slopes. attain this

all directions.

is

A

)>y

houses of ordinary

circle 2,000 feet in diameter

would

boundary would permit the construction of good grades. A short link of parkway would its

Tenley Circle connect Fort Reno along the ridge to the south with 91

PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

92

Nebraska avenue and the Tenleytown road.

at the junction of

circle

is

the

point of

with

junction

another

This

important line

of

parkway.

To land

the west of

is

Rock Creek

the only considerable tract of public open

that at the receiving reservoir, in the extreme corner of the

District overlooking the gorge of the Potomac.

This has therefore

been taken as the main objective point of the principal parkway on the west, which follows almost the shortest line between the two reservations.

The Soapstone Branch, which enters Broad Branch where the latter Rock Creek, about a mile below the end of Broad Branch Park-

joins

way, flows through a rather narrow, well-timbered, Soapstone Parkway.

'

^

and beautiful valley, heading in open land near Fort

Reno and Tenleytown. This valley is crossed by Connecticut avenue at a point where it is flanked by two high wooded peaks or knuckles

No. 13.— Typical section ol one of the Valley Parkways, such as Piney Branch, Soapstone Creek, and

Georgetown Parkways.

rising to an elevation of to

o\'ei-

300

Simply

feet.

as a western entrance

Rock Creek Park from Connecticut avenue the lower portion

this valley

seems quite

essential.

It

is

so steep sided that

it

of

would

be costly of development for building purposes, while nothing could be better adapted to use as a park entrance, as it atiords an easy grade and pleasant scenery within narrow limits.

The two knuckles immediately west preserved, on their

own

of the a\enue

ought also to be

account, as interesting topographical features

rising high above the streets,

and affording to those who will climb them extended views toward the east and toward the ^Monument.

As

part of a through parkway, the xalley otters an opportunity for

the drive to pass under Connecticut avenue with

suburban

electi'ic cars,

and

to rise

its heavv and swift through the opener and broader

stretch to the west, reaching ))y a slight turn on an easv t>-rade one of

THE SECTION WEST OF KOOK CREEK.

93

the spurs of the high ridge in which the western portion of the District culminates.

From

this point, at an elevation of 340 feet,

obtained another extensive eastern view

down

is

the valley and over

to

he

Rock

Creek Park to Soldiers' Home, a view that might well be marked by a terrace or concourse, especially as the character of the parkwaj' would

change at

vallej' to a

making

from the informal type appropriate

this point

in the

wooded

formal avenue across the high plateau, the terrace thus

a strong teraiinus for the latter and emphasizing the drop into

the valley.

The formal

section

would be a widening of

Yuma

street,

but not constructed,

laid out

and would lead directly to a of Ne-

circle at the junction

braska avenue and Wisconsin avenue,

commonly known

as

Tenley Road, within 2,000 feet the proposed

of

Fort Reno

Park, the highest point in the District of Columbia.

In con-

nection with Nebraska avenue

extended, a branch drive on easy grades can easily be

pi"o-

vided to Fort Reno, thus bringing

within

it

reach of

easj'

Rock Creek Park and

From

the city.

the Tenle}' circle, con-

tinuing on the widened street, a distance of

Yuma

about 1,000

No. 154.—Terrace, Villa d'Este, Tivoli, showing how a declivity commanding a view is used and emphasized, not disguised.

feet brings the line to the western escarpment of the narrow plateau, where the land falls rapidly and steadily from its elevation of 410 feet, disclosing a view

due west over mile after mile of rolling country in Maryland and across the river to Virginia. To descend from this height it would be possible, by cutting at the top of the escarpment

that sweeps

and so

heavily as the bottom, to avoid excessive grades, but to do be to ignore the opportunity here offered by the topographic

filling

would

conditions.

way

Instead of so doing,

we

should advise carrying the park-

level out to the very brink, there ending

course

commanding

in its perfection the sunset

the intrusion of future buildings

by the

it

in a projecting con-

view, preserved from

acquisition of the slope in

PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

94

view below; then, turning the road,

it

can be carried

very easy grade by means of two reverses on

down

the hillside,

ujDon a

giving the

opportunity at some future time of developing a splendid series of terraces facing the view and the mile-long continuation of the park-

way

and the District

to the reservoir

The

line.

receiving reservoir grounds, ^81. 76 acres in extent, situated at

the westerly edge of the District, close l^artly in the State of '

the District

this land

mac.

is

Potomac River,

lie

That portion

in

heavily wooded and the land

No views

basin-like formation.

to the

Maryland.

is

of a

of any importance are to be had

from

except that portion which touches the palisades of the Poto-

From

to be had,

this portion,

and

in the

however, views up and down the river are

remainder time and care will develop some very

beautiful woodland scenery to which the large pond-like reservoir will

This land should, therefore, be treated consist-

give great interest. entl}'

with a view to

its

ultimate development as a park.

An

adjacent

block of land, including the site of Battery A'ermont, purchased by the District for a girls' reform school nal purpose,

is

no longer needed for

its origi-

and may be grouped with the receiving reservoir for park

purposes.

At

the receiA'ing-rt'servoir grounds

is

I'eached

the gorge of the

Potomac and the popular Conduit road, which provides the only way, except by trolley cars, to see the gorge from above. Potflmac Itrivc.

As

.

its

construction was a mere incident to the installa-

tion of the water siipplj', the location of the

with regard to {esthetic

effect,

Conduit road was not

but from the fact that

in

many

fixed

parts of

No. 14.— Typical svction of Polonmc Drivo, n short dittimce iibovo Aqueduct Bridge.

its

course

line views,

it

follows near the edge of the declivity, presenting very

and because

its

grades are generally good,

it is

more

resorted

P^"''"i^'.«lP*

THE SECTION WErtT OF ROCK CREEK. to than

any

We

ton.

di-i\o

leading out of

believe that

ends that are

th(>

95

District, except the

permanent provision should

one to Arling-

l)e

made

for the

a temporary' and. partial manner hy the Conduit

filled in

road and that this provision should take the form of what might be called a

eliff

drive along the Potomac, including in the holdings, in

order to prevent ob]'ectionable occupancy,

from the top of

At

down

blutf

the unoccupied steep land

all

to the I'iver.

the upper or landward edge would run a street for traffic and for

house frontage, next below would run the trolley

from

its

line, altered in places

present location, and then, in the best position to present the

changing panorama of the river, would come the pleasure drive and the promenade, fitted to the steep and irregular hillside by well-adjusted slope and wall. its

Still

farther

down comes

the picturesque canal and

bordering roadway, and in places there might be

No.

16.

down by

close

call for a

road

—Typical section of Potomac Drive below the Chain Bridge.

the river's edge.

The arrangement

of these several

parts would vary with the varying conditions of the bins', as

gested in the accompanying typical sections, but always the

is

sug-

eli'ect

would be picturesque and always the plunging views from the upper lines

would be

slope

is

fine.

Merely to provide for

not enough, for, although the land

much commercial

steep to haA'e

a street at the top of the is

for the most part too

value, yet here and there ugly and

oifensive buildings are likely to creep in, as they have done in the past, unless the slope is all

treatment. drive,

and

Years ago it is

least so far as

New York showed

the way in the Riverside

high time that the example should be followed here, at

concerns the acquisition of the land.

But such a treatment of the river

side logically ought not to stop at lies

beyond, espe-

in the neighborhood of Cabin John Bridge and

in the region

the District line. cially

somewhat

acquired with a view to a consistent

Indeed, the best of the scenery

96

PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

just iibout

and })clow the (Ireat

Falls.

The Great

Falls of the Potomac,

considering their proximity to the capital, are quite as well worth preservation for their grandeur and natural ))eauty as the greater passages

Even

of scenery in the national parks of the West.

the only means of approach

which the road

by canal or

is

()\'er

at present,

when

the hilh' detour hj

carried around the most interesting scenerj', the

is

Washington public goes

Great Falls

to the

in sufficient

numbers

to

maintain the pay bridge to the islands, erected by private enterprise,

and with increased

become

facilities of access the place is likelj' to

The

a deservedly popular resort.

falls

form one of the greatest

cataracts of oui- Atlantic watershed, and while they themselves can not

be injured, yet the great trees that once clothed

and

cut,

detract greatly

banks have been

theii'

hands the surroundings maj' be so injured as to

in private

fiom the

beautj' and

grandeur of the scene.

Without

interfering with the future utilization of the water power, the sur-

roundings of the Great Falls on both sides of the river should,

in

our

opinion, be converted into a national park, to be connected with the city l)y a continuous river drive.

The beauty river-side

of the scenery along the route of this proposed noble

improvement

is

so rare and, in the

of so great value not only to

can and foreign, that

it

all

minds of the Commission,

Washington, but

to all visitors.

should be safeguarded in every wav.

Ameri-

No build-

ing should be allowed between the drives and the river, and no change

should come to pass in the character of the canal that will tend to transform its primitive character and quaint lieauty. The canal has a

charm the

of its

ti-ees;

served,

is

own,

as, half

and not the

disclosed and half revealed,

least part of this

the slow, old-fashioned

it

winds among

charm, so desirable to be pre-

movement

people on and near this ancient waterway.

of the boats and of the

Already the canal

is

used,

from the navigation of commerce, by pleasure seekers in canoes, and by excursion parties in various craft. More and more will the aside

canal be thus used as an attractive route between the populous city and the natural charms of the picturesque region between Cabin

John

Bridge and Great canal in

its

to a scene

Falls.

The preservation and continuance

of the original character will thus add elements of gayety and life

much

to

be enjoyed by the passers-by on the neighboring

and upper roadways.

Beyond the canal

and there bowlder-strewn and availabl(> in part for pasture.

set

As

lies

an area of lowlands, here

with clumps of trees. a ^vhole

it is

in

It is

now

keeping with the

THE SECTION WEST OF EOCK CEEEK.

97

uncultivated hilltops of the Virginia Palisades, and would best he left without formal treatment.

One

of the boldest of the hills rising to the north of the

Palisades

is

that occupied by Fort Kemble. °^

Fort Kemiii,. Park.

of

'*® ^'^^^ *°

the

over which this view

On

^^^ southward, and

is

the

Palisades.

by the need

closely

more on account Potomac

be seen, we recommend the acquirement

to

Nebraska avenue and connecting road along

still

beautiful valley sloping toward the

of a park of about 17i acres, serving- as

the

Potomac

account of the extent

of

a southern terminus

by a park drive

it

The boundaries

in the valley

are

with

rather

fixed

preserving the views intact and securing

border streets on reasonable grade without excessive cut and fill. On a neighboring hill, the site of Battery Parrott is but little

important as a view point and local park. Battery Parrott.

of

less

Its boundaries, including

an area of about 1.82 acres, are fixed by ' the streets '

of the

highway plan and include what

is

needful to

preserve the best views.

To bring the upper Potomac into direct connection with the city and to provide an approach from Georgetown to the Zoological Park Georgetown Park- ^^'^ Rock Creek, a parkway is proposed from the end of Potomac drive at the valley of Foundry Branch,

"^"''-

half a

mile above the Aqueduct Bridge, to

Rock Creek parkway

near Massachusetts avenue.

The

valle}' of

Foundry Branch must be spanned by

a viaduct a

north of the present electric railway trestle, and as the valley

narrow, and picturesque,

parkwajr between the line

it

would be well

to preserve

New Cut road and the river.

it

is

little

deep,

as a part of the

From this valley the

would cross the ridge upon the end of which stands the Georgetown

observatory, and run on a direct line the Naval Observatory.

College,

which are likely

the width

drive

by^ easj''

grades to the gap south of

In passing through the lands of Georgetown to

remain alwa3rs agreeable and park-like,

might be reduced

to the

minimum

requisite for a single

Beyond New Cut road the arrangement should be Rock Creek

and paths.

similar to that indicated on the alternative section for

parkway on page

85.

In crossing the ridge at Thirty -fifth street and the Tenleytown road the central drive

would be depressed below the

side streets, both for the

sake of an easy gradient and in order to pass beneath those two busy streets.

East of this ridge the takings should widen out so as to pre-

PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTBICT OF COLUMBIA.

98

serve the charming valley scenery which extends from this point to

Rock Creek.

Here the parkway would be

section on page 86.

A

branch similar

in

of the type indicated in

treatment should connect

with the Naval Observatory grounds.

The boundaries are

so fixed as to provide for border streets on rea-

sonable grades, including the best of the valley scenery and permitting the construction of a central

destrojdng

its

drive,

and so forth, without

paths,

beauty; but, in addition to these absolute requirements,

a projecting piece of land of about 13.5 acres

is

included in order to

provide a dignified and convenient entrance to the park system from

U street, local

Georgetown, and

park and playground.

at the

same time

to afford a

much-needed

THE SECTION EAST OF ROCK CREEK.

TURNING

from the

westei-n to the central section,

utmost importance to tion

between Rock Creek Park and Soldiers'

into organic relation

of the

it is

.secure an agreeable park-like connec-

Home as bringing

Uvo of the largest and most beautiful places of

recreation lying within reach of the principal residence district of the

and considered

cit\',

in relation to the

proposed new holdings such a

connection would form one of the links binding the eastern and the

western parks into a comprehensive system. Starting from the Piney Branch entrance of

Rock Creek Park at Six-

teenth street, the line would continue for some distance in the valley of

Piney Branch, thus taking advantage of one of the most charming

passages of natural valley scenery in the District.

grounds of the Municipal Hospital, which in a park-like

and attractive fashion.

will

This leads to the

always be maintained

Rising from the valley by an

easy grade along the southerly side of the hospital grounds, which the

parkway takings would round out and complete, the route would enter a formal plaza to be created at the Seventh street entrance to the hospital,

where there will be a convergence of

adopted highway plan, from eight point and the Soldiers'

Savannah

Home

it

street, a magnificent

terminated on the west by the

by the

Soldiers'

do not

latter

new building, tially

Home

itself.

streets,

according to the

diii'erent directions.

would be easy

Between

to form, ])y widening

formal boulevard 4,000 feet

new

this

in length,

hospital buildings and on the east

While the present buildings

of the

lie

exactly on the axis of Savannah street, the projected

if

placed so as to complete the quadrangle already par-

formed, would come precisely at the head of the proposed

botile-

vard, forming, with the hospital, a composition of great dignity.

Swinging around the new building of the Soldiers' Home to the north, the continuation of the parkwaj' would pass south of the two S.

Rep. 166

U

99

PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

100

cemeteries and would follow the valley along the boundary of the

Home

to

Harewood

To

road.

secure good grades and preserve the

beaut}' of the valley certain additional lands

would have

and thrown into the grounds, compensating for strips that

would elsewhere have

to

Harewood road the parkwa}' would

to

be acquired

some of the boundary

be taken from them.

Following

skirt the beautiful open valley to

the west, and near the southeastern corner of the grounds would turn

within the edge of the woods into the valley and follow

No.

]7.

—Section of

its

course,

Savannah Parkway.

thus aA'oiding a grade crossing of the electric cais and surface

now

of Michigan avenue, which

pass (iver the

The oi)-2

parkway by

Soldiers'

Home

crosses the valley in

a suitable bridge.

grounds are a highly developed tract of land,

acres in extent, heavily treed in

Koidiers-

Homo

Groiiiiiis.

'"^

'^"

some

sections,

and

Open meadow-likc appearance.

road system

numl)erof large

till

traffic

and would

is

old soldiers of the Regular

others hav-

An

extensive

already constructed, and there are a

These grounds are

liuildings.

in

Army, and

s(>t

apart as a

home for

are maintained out of the pro-

ceeds of tines imposed for breaches of discipline: but by courtesy are usually thrown open to the public, forming in eifect a most beautiful

park.

If they wer(> to be considered

simply from the point of view of

the casual \'isiting public, the grounds might be improved

l\v

some

rearrangement of the road system, lessening the grades and doing

away with some

of the alirupt turns

on certain main

would then attract the greater part of the other roads,

many

of which,

narrow and steep, although attractive.

It is to

ti-a\(>l

lines

which

and thus relieve the

for use by large numbers, are crooked, in

themsehes very picturesque and

be hoped that the future will see the continuation

iNOTTW o e

THE SECTION EAST OE

EOC'K CREEK.

101

of the policy Avhich has l.een wisely followed in the past of concentrating- the buildings at a limited number of points, and of keeping

the greater part of the landscape perfectly simple and not disturbed

by attempts

At

at ornamentation.

the head of North Capitol street there

opportunity for a very

is

grand formal entrance, which should take the form of a triumphal arch commemorative of a great soldier and statesman.

On account of Howard Park, Howard

riiivcrsitj-

Kfservoir

its

in the

^^

growing section of the

'^s

in

of

Home

the Soldiers'

Home grounds

District,

considerable expanse

element

reservoir can be

To

situation between the Soldiers'

made an important supplement

and

and on account

forming an

water,

landscape, the to the

park

new

sj^stem.

that end a small strip of land should be ac(iuired on

Howard

side next at least a

acreage

its western University, to pro^-ide for a drive and to afford

fringe of landscape under public control. tiT.T,

is

or with the adjacent

filter

The present

grounds 101. T.

The

proposed addition would Iw about 3 acres in extent. The purchase of another block of land about 3l>(» feet square would be desirable,

Howard Park with the reservoir, and thus with Home grounds. Howard Park has a beautiful grove

order to connect

in

the Soldiers' of large

oak

trees,

and

thus connected and

if provided with a wider entrance from the neighboring Seventh street, would not only be more accessible and useful in itself, but would form part of a most desirable southwestern approach to the Soldiers' Home.

The connection from

if

Soldiers'

Home

Patterson property should follow at

to the

first

proposed park on the

the valley extending south

from Michigan avenue toward Eckington.

This val-

Ecklnirton Pjirkway.

ley,

now

crossed diagonally by Lincoln avenue,

charmingly wooded for a distance of half a mile, and

aim

the

fixing

in

the

boundaries to

preserve

this

boundary streets should be so adjusted to the surface what

lies

leave

be

considerable

the

the central drive,

breadth of the

if

charm. as not to

The mar

carefully planned, would

natural park-like

While the width would vary, the

somewhat

less

is

should be

within them, and the width of taking should be such that

the construction of

turbed.

it

effect

typical arrangement

as indicated in the cross section on

page

92,

undis-

would

although

Beyond the wooded portion of the vallev, width would be somewhat reduced and a formal arrangement rugged

in character.

would be adopted, although following curved

lines in order to avoid

102

PARK SYSTEM OF THE BISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

abrupt angles and in order to secure good grades without great

The Metropolitan Branch Railroad would

expense for construction.

be crossed by an overhead bridge and the parkwaj' would join the

wooded portion

of the Patterson property at a high level, so that

the continuation of the drive through the park woods would not be

complicated

bj-

the

new

location of the Baltimore

which should pass under

About

this

and Ohio

tracks,

part of the park by a short tunnel.

a mile and a quarter northeast of the Capitol, just beyond

Florida avenue and west of the large tract of finely Patterson Park.

wooded land occupied by the Columbia Deaf and Dumb,

is

Institution for

a beautiful piece of land, formerly che Patterson estate.

It is

on thaedge of the

hilly section overlooking the

city proper,

part, high

and

its

northern

and undulating,

is

covered with a grove of large old trees,

from the edge

which there

is

of

an inspiring

outlook over the open south-

down

erly slope leading

to a

broad gentle pasture enlivened

by a very few

There

trees.

is

outstanding probablj- no

better example in the whole District

the "park-like"

of

type of landscape, using the

word

acquisition

its Vista, Villa Albani,

Rome.

in its stricter sense, and is

desirable not

i only tor xu the sake of i

natural beauty, but because

its

stretch

j!

j!

-^

its

j.

great

of nearly level greensward,

lying between Eckington and Northeast Washington, would be of the utmost value to the future population of the surrounding region.

The grove about the

old mansion and to the north of

hardly less valuable, for

it

is

of such a character

comparatively gentle slopes as to adapt

it

to use

of people better than any other large piece of

it

would be

and upon such

by large numbers woodland

available

for park purposes.

The wooded portion for the Baltimore and

is

crossed by the line fixed by act of Congress

Ohio

tracks,

which would here be 65 feet below

THE SECTION EAST OP KOCK CREEK. grade, and

it is

veiy desirable,

if

the region

is

103

become a park, that

to

the hill should be tunneled rather than gashed by a wide, open cut. Parallel to the track and about 200 feet

York avenue,

as

from

shown on the highway-extension

it is

the line of

plans.

New

If the tracks

are placed in a tunnel the avenue might be diverted slightly to the

north around the

and made the limit of the park, or

hill

it

might be

carried straight through as a traffic street below grade in a comparatively

narrow cut crossed by the park

arches, as

New

is

done

dri\'es

and paths upon masonry

in the case of the transverse streets in Central Park,

York.

In the development of the Patterson property as a public park the first

aims should be to keep the open

meadow and

hillside landscape

simple and undisturbed, to preserve the charming frame of woods upon the east and north, to create,

by planting,

a similar margin on the west

and south, and to preserve the sylvan character of the

rest of the estate,

but would be well to set apart, in the grove and in the margin of the open, certain limited areas for popular amusements other than mere enjoj'ment of scenery.

It

might be well to convert the interesting old

mansion into a sort of casino for the

sale of refreshments

and for

other public uses.

Between the Patterson property and Mount Hamilton there are no much attractiveness and a formal type of parkway

natural features of Hamilton Mount»,..,.

Mount

of the would seem to meet the requirements ^

Xwo

Pnruway.

routcs are open

Olivet Cemetery,

—to the north or to the

case.

south of

Either would be convenient and agreeable,

but on the whole that to the north seems the better, chiefly because of easier gi-ades in passing the base of Mount Hamilton and continuing on to Anacostia Park.

Here again considerations

of

land

cost as ascertained by negotiations with the owners should largely

influence the final selection of route.

Mount Hamilton, one Rock Creek,

rises

of the highest hills between the Anacostia and

above the general

level as a steep, isolated

summit,

point just east reaching ,,. „ & an elevation of 225 feet, at a Hamilton Mount. „ Park. of the Bladensburg road and about three-quarters of a mile west of

the Anacostia

extensive projects.

flats,

over which

it

commands very

In other directions, also, the views are remark-

ably good, especially across the city in the direction of the Capitol, to which it is nearer than any other hill of such considerable height. It is

correspondingly conspicuous

in the

views from a large part of the

PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

104 District.

It

is

timbered with a growth quite

heavily

Southern mountain scenery, which gives

it,

tj'pical of

together with

its

very

steep slopes, a distinct character, to be found so perfectly nowhere else in the District.

In addition to these reasons for preserving

it

as a park, the cost of

grading streets and cutting the land down to a level practicable for ordinarj- uses

would be very

excessive.

In other words, the place

admirably adapted for park purposes and vei'v thing

else.

The area which

it is

ill

is

adapted for any-

is indicated on map The boundaries shown on good grades.

proposed to take

No. D-288, and amounts to about 119 acres. are adapted for the construction of streets

In the development of to

Mount Hamilton

preserve and accentuate

its

the leading motive should be

peculiarly mountain-like character of

vegetation and surface, and to that end paths and other structions should

1)0

reduced to the

venient use by the public. build a single drive on a

woods

It will

its

con-

probably be desirable, however,

good grade, winding

to a concourse at the

artificial con-

minimum compatible with its

way through

to

the

summit, where a single white marble

pavilion might be erected to serve as a shelter and to accentuate the

peak as seen from a distance.

A short

link of informal

Mount Hamilton Park with of the Anacostia River.

parkway should be provided

to connect

the area to be reclaimed along the banks

THE ANACOSTIA WATER PARK.

THE

present outrageous condition of the Anacostia River has been so f ullj- discussed before Congress in various reports during several years that there

in detail again. ^

Suffice

it

is

no occasion for us to describe

to say that within the District of

it

Columbia

the Anacostia

is a fresh-water estuary with a normal tide of about 3 which alternately covers and exposes to the sun a great area of reeking mud flats upon which the aquatic plants constantly entangle

feet,

additional deposits of

mud,

slime, and putrifying organic matter. Those parts of the bottom not exposed at low water are for the most part shallow and support a vegetable growth that prevents a rapid and

cleansing

movement

of the tide, while above ordinary high-water level

meadows which are flooded at varying water of the Potomac is raised b}^ flood or con-

there are broad marshes and intervals,

whenever the

trary winds above

its

normal

level,

No

innumerable stagnant pools. to the

and which retain after each flooding conditions could be

more favorable

development of malaria, and because of these conditions the

disease has

made havoc with

the inmates and officers of the Govern-

ment Hospital for the Insane,

of the

jail,

and of the workhouse, and

with those occupied at the navy-yard and Washington Barracks,

whom the

(several thousand in number) are compelled

Government

to subject themselves constantlj^ to

by the its

all

of

action of

influence

—not

to mention, in addition, those unfortunate private citizens who, for

one reason of another, must live within the great area affected by these deplorable conditions.

The pressing sanitary problem

is

simply to do away with the low,

amphibious areas which are alternately flooded and exposed, and to convert them either into deep water or into dry land; but incidentally the

improvements may be made

to provide increased commercial water

frontage, while a part of the reclaimed lands

may

be used as a park.

'See report of Colonel Allen with references to previous reports. 105

PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

106

Plans and estimates for the improvement of the river, with a view

commercial occupancy below Bennings Bridge, were prepared by

to

For the portion

Colonel Allen and submitted to Congress in 1898.

above Bennings Bridge the time and the appropriation did not

suffice

for complete surveys and estimates, and the possibility that this section would ever be used for commercial frontage, even if improved,

was thought

to

be so slight as not to be worth considering.

contemplated the dredging of an adequate channel and the

The

plans

filling of

the remaining flats and low land to a level above the highest freshets,

An

14 feet above low water.

alternative provided for filling to a level

merely above ordinarj' high tide and for excluding the higher

by

dikes.

In the ujjper section,

floods

above Bennings Bridge, a similar

treatment was proposed, but with the channel widened into basins, the shores of

As

which were to be parked.

tidal

to this section the

report did not go into detail.

Coming

to the studj^ of the

problem from a different point of view,

with the benefit of Colonel Allen's investigation, slight modification of his project

For the commercial Allen's

section of the river

we should adopt

Colonel

made land on

meet altered conditions, and to throw more of

the valuable

Washington

ment above the commercial channel, to give a separate explanation.

subject,

devised a

project bodily, except for certain possible changes in the

lines of the channel to

the

we have

which seems to have several advantages.

we have assumed

in

restricted river

treat-

necessary

Pending a public discussion of the

Coming

point as the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge,

way

it is

the line of Massachusetts a\'enue as the

upper limit of commercial development.

fourth in the

But for the

side.

the park section,

its

at almost the

same

draw would be

the

of river traffic, and the developml?nt of the less

below those two bridges would increase the water

front of the city by 143 per cent; or,

by 301 per cent— enough

if

the Anacosta side be included,

to provide for

any probable development

without further extension.

The

principle of treatment, however, which

we propose for the park

section remains the

same whether the sctlion begins at ^Massachusetts avenue or at Bennings Bridge. That principle is to exclude the Potomac floods by a dam at the head of the commercial channel, thus avoiding the necessity for raising the large area of

meadows now

subject to

occasional overflow.

The proposed dam would have

a

permanent

sill

cither at half tide

THK ANACOSTIA WATER PARK. level

(el.

datum).

—0.61

datum), or at high tide level

city

(el.

+0.89

city

In the hrst case the ordinary tides would flow back and forth

across the dam, rising at high, tide to

behind the dam, below the

107

dam would have

el.

—0.61.

+0.89, but never falling

In the second case the water behind

a constant level and would be renewed

Upon

of the Anacostia Rixer alone.

would be erected movable gates or of flood in the

el.

this

permanent

sections,

Potomac the dam would be

—Bacing on the

Oxford

11.89, completely excluding the

sill

by means

))y

the flow

in either case

of which in time

raised in effect to elevation

Iris.

Potomac

floods

from the Anacostia

basin.

The watershed

of

the Anacostia

itself is

that its outflow could accumulate behind the

so comparatively small

dam

for several days

during such floods without raising the level of the ponded water

enough

to give trouble.

Between the dam and the District line practically all the flats now covered at ordinary high water would be dredged out to a depth of 12 providing a great basin or series of basins of deep, clean water, the dredged material going to supply the additional filling needed on the feet,

commercial

section.

Such fragments of

flats as

were not thus exca-

PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTRICT OP COLUMBIA.

108

vated would be raised by

filling

above ordinarj" high- water mark, but the

greater part of the meadows, with their numerous and beautiful clumps

would not be raised, thus avoiding about 500,000 cubic yards of and preserving a great deal of charming natural scener}'. If the

of trees, filling

flow of the Anacostia pro\'es upon closer investigation

summer cient to

replenish and renew the water of these

be excluded completely

;

but,

'

if

not, the half -tide

basins, the tide

dam would be adopted

and the water would be refreshed by the regular ebb and flow. a,

constant water level, or with a tidal rise and

half, the shores could

suffi-

would

fall

With

of only a foot and a

be treated with a natural looking gravel beach

or low stone shore in place of a sea wall showing

more than 12

high above the ordinary water level, such as would be called for

feet

the

if

Such a wall, dignified and eflfective floods are not excluded by a dam. in formal urban embankment, would not only be tedious and dreary in appearance about a park lake having 7 miles of shore, but would :i

add enormously

The

to the cost of construction.

result of the

enough

to be clean

proposed treatment would be a great lake, deep

and free from vegetation, refreshed by a

flow of water, kept free

from mosquitoes and malaria

the unobstructed sweep of the wind, and by

its

bj- its

sufficient

depth,

b}'

clean shores, and sur-

rounded by natural meadows and groves that need

be

culti-

vated and protected from inundation to become a charming park.

The

onlj' to

lake would provide opportunities for boating, such seized

upon where they exist near other great

l:esides their

To

cities,

as are eagerlj'

and the meadows,

landscape beauty, would provide the best of playing

fields.

protect and inclose this landscape and to give points from which

could be adequate!}' commanded,

we should propose

and crests of some of the bordering of which

is

already

owned

part of the marsh land

of the proposed park

hills

page

—

,

side,

one

the

acres, of

which 535 would be occupied

claimed

is 1,1-13

on the Washington

Reform School, while a large Government. The total area

the District )\v

The proposed boundaries, which

by water. to face

is

b}^

it

to include the faces

are indicated on the

map

are such as to permit the construction of border streets,

and, in fact, coincide for the most part with the lines of streets already laid

down upon the highway extension

streets, there

plan.

In addition to the border

would im a main drive within the park on each

side of the

water, generally near the boundary, in order to leave the central area

unobstructed, and in order to keep upon higher ground overlooking '

See report of Colonel Allen with references tn previous reports.

THE the

AJSTACOSTIA

WATER PARK.

109

meadows and

the lake, but sometimes running close along- the shore. Secondarj drives and cross connections would be required in places,

and, of course, a series of paths.

modate

slvaters in winter,

where the park facilities

Boathouses, arranged so as to accomshould be important features at the points

reached bjmain lines of transportation, and bathing should be freely pro\ided.^ is

At

the northwesterly corner of the proposed Anacostia park is a group of commanding hills occupied by the Boys' Eeform School. A portion of this land should be transferred to the control of the park

Henley—A

suggestion of Anacostia Park.

on account of the importance of the

authorities, both

hill in

the land-

scape of the park and because of the view which can be obtained from it

down

transfei'

At

the Anacostia Valley.

the southwestern corner a similar

should be made of a portion of the city farm, which

is

occu-

by the jail and temporarily by the almshouse. The buildings Reform School and of the jail are few in proportion to the area

pied

of

the

of

their

the

grounds, and

park

will

if

treated with due regard to their appearance from

supplement '

its

landscape materially.

See Appendix

A

on public bathing

places.

THE FORT DRIVE.

WHILEminor

for the reasons already discussed no systematic series reservations has been selected for the outlying dis-

of

necessary to mention the chain of forts which

tricts, it is

occupied the higher summits in the northern part of the central section, extending from Fort Stevens, near Rock Creek Park, to Fort Thayer, near the Reform School.

The views from these points are impressive proportion to their commanding military positions, and they are well worth acquirement as future local parks, in addition to any claim in

their historical

may

and military interest

shown upon map No. D-288, are

fixed

afford.

The boundaries,

mainly with respect

to the character of the views from each fort and the possibility and impor-

tance of keeping

parks

^

them permanently open. The areas of the proposed somewhat adjustable, depending upon the atti-

are therefore

tude of the landowners.

To connect

the series advantage

the purpose in the

highway

liberal The Eastern Ports.

feet

taken of the street laid out for

is

plans, but

should be increased to a more

it

width than now provided, which i

is

onlv j 90

H street in

the city.

7

between houses, the same as

—

With the forts indicated on the map Stevens, Totten, Slemmer, Bunker Hill, and Thayer and with such other small parks and view

—

points as interest

may

be selected

later,

a northern park circuit of great

would thus be formed, having views

off into

the country in

contrast with the principal inner circuit of larger parks, presenting

views chiefly south toward the

city.

In the section east of the Anacostia a similar chain of hilltop forts

marks the points of most commanding view. the

Potomac below and the

and the

hills

With the Anacostia and

Washington spread out beyond

of Virginia in the distance, these are the most beautiful ^

S.Rep.lce

city of

15

Given in Appendix

I,

p. 167.

111

PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

112

of the broad views to be had in the District.

Sedgwick, etts can

Du

Forts Mahan, Chaplin,

Pont, Davis, Baker, Stanton, Greble, and Batterj' Rick-

be linked together readily by means of the permanent system

of highways with a few modifications and

comparable

in

some widening

into a drive

beauty with that along the Potomac Palisades, but

utterly different in character.

In connection with this hill-crest circuit, starting from the northeastern end of Anacostia

mac

Park and returning to the shore of the Poto-

at the southern corner of the District, it

is

important to secure

four other areas of considerable extent in the eastern section.

THE ANACOSTIA SECTION.

DIRECTLY on the axis of Massachusetts avenue, extending from the lowland near the river to the ridge occupied by the fort drive,

is

an area of successive plateaus and ridges falling into

a curioush' balanced relation about the line of the avenue.

It

seems

hardly likely that another large park would be needed so near the

posed Anacostia park, but the land a large public institution that it

it

is

pi'o-

so admirably adapted as a site for

would be

a wasteful use of land to cover

with private houses for which the adjacent ridges are just as good.

The area which seems particularly adapted

shown upon map No. D-288, streets

is

to such a public purpose, as

defined

by symmetrical boundary

upon good grades, with comparatively

amounts

to

about 270 acres

little

cut or

fill,

and

—about the same size as the Reform School,

Government Hospital for the Insane, or the new Poor Farm, somewhat larger than the Columbia Institution for Deaf and Dumb, the

and smaller than the Soldiers' Home. will be

It

is

to be

purchased by the Government while

it

hoped that

this land

remains undeveloped

and the opportunitj- exists.

About

-2

miles southwest of the proposed Hillside Reservation the

valley of Stickfoot stickfoot Parkway.

Creek

the valley is

Creek runs down from the Fort Drive on the

™^i" "^^® *° *^® ^'^^^^ ^* ^ P"^"* oppo^i*^ *^® navyyard and near Anacostia Bridge. The upper third of included in the grounds of the Government Hospital

middle third runs Sheridan avenue, following the right bank of the creek and bordered by open land, and the lower A parkway should be third runs through open lowland and flats.

for the Insane, in the

provided for in this valley to give convenient and agreeable access to

Fort Drive from the Anacostia Bridge. The lower third, where should there are no topographic features to determine its character, the

be a formal affair, with a central drive, parkings,

and two side

The central drive would pass under Nichols avenue and

in the

streets.

middle

113

PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTRICT OF COXUMBIA.

114

third of the valley

would follow the brook, with a narrow irregular

border of valley scener}'.

Sheridan avenue would form one side street

and the opposite boundary, as drawn, would provide for another, rising gradualh' along the hillside so as to reach the edge of the plateau in the

upper third of the valley on the Government hospital

land.

The main drive should connect with the Fort Drive. The land taken from the hospital is for the most part entire!}' unavailable for building or for cultivation, while, with

its

good

tree growth,

it

would

provide a most agreeable approach to the drive along the ridge, dividing

it

into a northern

and southern circuit of convenient length.

South of the Government Hospital for the Insane the ridge continues nearly level to Fort Preble and Bald Eagle Point, with a steep slope all

along to the lowland along the Potomac.

The

Giesboro Parkway.

views from this ridge are so remarkably steep slope

is

so

ill

fine,

and the

adapted to ordinary city subdivision, that a wide

parkway, running nearly parallel with the present Giesboro road,

much

is

to be desired.

It should provide at

the edge of the nar-

row plateau a street for house frontage,

with

together

a

park drive and paths conimanding the

view,

and

it

should include the

whole slope below, in order to control

the outlook No.

183.- -Terrace,

Venice, illustrative of water-front treatment in connection with a formal design.

venting

liy pre-

the

erec-

tion of obstructive

buildings and the too continuous growth of

tall trees. The boundashown on map No. D-288 not only provide for these requirements, but include a very beautiful oak grove upon the plateau,

ries

on land otherwise as well adapted for building as for park purposes. the southern end a small portion of the land recently acquired for

At

the almshouse should be transferred to the parkway, to provide for a connection between the ridge and the shore of the Potomac.

THE ANACOSTIA SECTION.

115

Provision should be made for the public control of the entire water front

from the Government property trict to embank-

Aimcostia ">*"•

at the southern

Anacostia Park

at

end of the Dis-

Massachusetts avenue.

Along the Potomac, from Shepherds Landing

to Gies-

boro Point, the shores are nearlj' level agricultural land 10 or 20 feet

A margin

abo^'e the river.

about 200 feet

in

width should here be

acquired, with a view to the construction of a road and such other

means of making the water, front available

as the

development of the

back country maj' ultimatelj' require.

Along the Anacostia, from Giesboro Point to Massachusetts is a wide margin of flats which must be reclaimed as

avenue, there

discussed in connection with the

The greater

Anacostia Park.

part of the reclaimed lands will best serve the interests of the

community

com-

utilized for

if

mercial purposes under private

ownership, but the portion in

Government

front of the pital

hos-

should be added to the

grounds

institution.

that

of

Whatever disposition may be

made

the

of

however, the self

and

should control. its

its

reclaimed land,

embankment

it-

immediate margin

remain

The

under public

final

character of

improvement can well await

the future

development of the

conditions

which are

arrangement a

proposed

commercial quay

will

to

surround

No. 198.—The Quays at Venice.

it,

but

it

is

not unlikely that the

for Georgetown Harbor (page

84),

^vith

and a separate high level dri^-e and esplanade,

prove desirable in the future here.

WASHINGTON EMBANKMENT AND POTOMAC PARK.

ON

the Washington side of the Anacostia Kiver

it

important that the permanent public control of the water front should be

made

improvement and

a part of the channel

that a consistent comprehensive project should be adopted for

ment

eqiiall}^

is

its tieat-

improvement of the western water front

in connection with the

along Washington channel, recentl}^ brought under public control by the decision of the courts.

ment

A

upon the method of improve-

decision

involves, in addition to questions of appearance and expense, the

careful consideration of so vasinj interests, private 'property rights,

the needs of the navy-37ard and of the school of engineers and war college^ at the

Washington Barracks, and, above

of commerce, that the Commission

recommendation; but

it

improvement should be

all,

the convenience

not prepared to

is

make

a definite

seems highly important that the water-front utilized to the

utmost

providing a southern

in

parkway connection between the Anacostia section of the District and Potomac Park, against which the Washington embankment would terminate at the northwestern end of Washington channel on the line of

Long

Bridge.

Potomac Park in extent,

is

a low-lying tract of land and water about 739 acres

between Washington Channel and the Potomac River. is

Fotomac Park.

crossed at about

mg

..

its

Long

center by .

,

,

i

•

i

the tracks of the Alexandria and

Railway, and also a carriage drive.

It

It

Bridge, carryti^ V\

i

•

±_

ashmgton

was formed on a shoal

in the

river by the deposit of material dredged in the ordinary operations of

preserving and improving the channel.

above ordinary water

level,

but

it is

Its

surface

submerged

is

a

few

feet

at times of tiood,

'The Secretary of War has caused plans to be prepared for an army war college and an engineer post and engineer school of application, all to be located at the Washington Barracks, at the junction of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers and bordering on the Washington channel. The contemplated expenditure for the war college is f400,000, and for the engineer post and school of application $860,000. (See

House Doc. No.

90,

Fifty-seventh Congress,

first session.)

117

PARK SYSTEM OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

118

and the engineer's plans contemplate additional filling. The greater part of the park is surrounded by a low stone wall, the primary object of which

is

to retain the

mud

dredged from the channel.

This gives the shore a rather formal appearance, emphasized by

rows of poplar and willow are

Di-edging operations

bind the earth together.

trees, planted to still

and material

on,

carried

is

being

deposited on the park area.

The form and situation of the land suggest at once the landscape of bottoms— a suggestion that can hardly be improved upon Of the many types of as a guide in the development of the park. natural river

river-bottom scenery, the one which seems best adapted to the conditions side

is

that of great, open

meadows, fringed

along the water

bj' trees

and diversified by occasional outstanding masses and single trees

serving to focus the

meadow

sitions without completely

connecting compo-

ai'ea into a series of

obscuring

its

On

extent.

account of the

view of the water and the sweep of breezes through the Potomac

park

VaJlej', the pleasantest portion of the

along the river

side.

is

bound

be the strip

to

Here should be carried the principal drive and

paths, running almost continually within a long and

narrow grove of

tall-stemmed river trees, which will afford shade without seriously obstructing the

summer

frequency than at

an}-

breeze, which

is

said to

point within the citJ^

area should be kept as simple as possible, in

blow here with more

The central part of the meadows unbroken by

paths and roads, except for a few cross connections devised to

with such occasional trees as the landscape

fit

in

while on the side

calls for,

toward "Washington Channel would be another nearly continuous mass If such a treatment

of foliage.

is

adopted

it will

be unnecessary to

fill

the whole area of the park above the level of the extreme floods,

for

if

the sides were raised to that level they would serve as dikes, and

their slight elevation

above the central meadow would enhance the

effect of the landscape, especially if the

gradual.

A

Budapest,

in the

inner slopes are

similar treatment in respect to the dikes

park of Margaretten-Insel,

in the

is

made very

to be seen at

Danube, where the

views from the paths that run along the dike are very beautiful, both

inward toward the meadow and outward toward the river.

Not the

least

advantage of such an extremely simple and absolutely

informal landscape for Potomac Park

is

due

to its position next to

the strongly formal and elaborate scheme of the central group, to

which

it

would serve as a very happy

foil

and contrast.

WASHINGTON EMBANKMENT AND POTOMAC PARK.

119

Except for a portion of the shore growth, where young- willows and poplars are already growing, the trees for Potomac Park will all have to be planted, and because of the richness of the soil and other favorable conditions the idea suggests itself that in selecting these trees a collection should be got together that

museum

would form a

living

of the greatest interest; in short, a National Arboretum.

considering this idea

we have

importance must be given to

as a park, the first

beautiful place of recreation; and

it is

have described.

its

perfection as a

obvious that the miscellaneous

introduction of a great variety of trees of

would utterly destroy the

all

colors, forms,

restful simplicity of the landscape

we

Nevertheless,

believe that

hj a wise choice and arrangement of

In

land has been set apart

felt that as the

it

would be

group

species, to

in

and

sizes

which we possible,

the planted

area along the easterly side of the park a great series of trees and

shrubs and herbs which should represent

important types of vegetable

and to do

so,

life

by the exercise of

in a s\'noptic

manner

sufficient care

and

skill,

without

degree injuring the character of the dominant park landscape. a collection

would bear the same

all

the

capable of growing at Washington, in

any

Such

relation to a theoreticall}^ complete

botanical series that the various collections exhibited to the public in the National

Museum

bear to the working collections stored awa}' in

drawers and boxes for the use of

specialists,

and

would contain the

it

most beautiful and interesting species of each important group. It

would add a feature of great

out interfering with

recommend

this

if

which

this

we may judge from and

to the

essential qualities of landscape,

Government

park with-

and we can

its

is

connections,

should at once be carefully laid

is

required for the completion

the whole area of

Potomac Park

out in accordance with the above

general scheme, the proportions and forms of planted areas carefully studied,

sure sooner or later to

the experience of other countries.'

Omitting the northern portion, which of the Mall

and value

treatment as the best provision for the systematic

botanical collections

maintain,

its

interest

and the

lines

its

different

open and

and grades of roads and

paths worked out in detail in conformity with these masses and with

new Long Bridge and railroad bridge, now going on may be economically applied

the necessary approaches to the in

order that the

filling

towai'd a definite result. '

S.

Rep. 166

16

Appendix E on a Botanical

Collection.

Potomac Park.

Wiir