FIFTIETH CONGRESS, 1887-1889. 1181 
District of Columbia insist upon some legislation to reach them. Efforts 
were made by subscription; a large amount has already been obtained 
by subscription, and, as I understand, a considerable amount has been 
promised; but because of the fact that here and there some person will 
refuse to give way or allow his property to be used for the purpose at 
any compensation, hoping to be able at some time or other to demand 
from his fellow-citizens blackmail of 200 or 300 per cent over the value 
of the property, it is necessary that some such steps should be taken 
to allow the exercise of the right of eminent domain, if this work is 
ever to be prosecuted. Because, as I have said, when this land is built 
up, it will be very difficult and very expensive to get possession of it. 
Mr. Biount. Will the gentleman permit me a moment? 
Mr. Henverson, of Iowa. Certainly. 
Mr. Birounr. For many years we have been told when making the 
appropriations pertaining to the Potomac Flats that the Government 
would gain thereby about 700 acres of land. I wish:to ask my friend 
if in the investigation of this matter that subject has been considered. 
Mr. Henperson, of Iowa. We did not have that matter before us, 
I will state to my friend from Georgia. 
Mr. Brounr. If my friend had heard my question I think he would 
not have answered me in that way. He has just stated, when he was 
referring to the need of securing the land which it was desirable to 
secure possession of for the purposes of a national park, that it would 
be difficult after awhile, or in a few years, to get suitable lands; and 
in that connection I asked the gentleman whether he or his fellow-con- 
ferees in discussing the feasibility of getting lands for this purpose had 
turned their attention to the large amount of land which would prob- 
ably be reclaimed from the Potomac Flats. 
Mr. Henperson, of Iowa. No, sir; it has not been urged upon us 
as either desirable or available for that purpose. On the contrary, the 
region of Rock Creek, it is represented, is a beautiful region of coun- 
try for the purposes of the park, equally adapted for that purpose as 
the Philadelphia park, and better perhaps than Central Park in New 
York. I do not know as to the accuracy of that, for I have not 
inspected them. I simply lay the matter before the House and ask an 
expression of its judgment. 
Now I would like to answer my friend from Ohio who is on his feet. 
Mr. Bens. Burrerworrnu. I wish to ask if it is not possible to make 
substantial progress in this matter by ascertaining first what lands can 
be obtained, surveying the outlines, and then get the next Congress to 
act upon it, if we are not now ready to do so? I understand that 
neither the price of the ground is known, nor in fact the exact limits 
the park is proposed to occupy. 
Mr. Henperson, of Iowa. They have made and submitted very care- 
ful estimates of the-cost. 
