FIFTIETH CONGRESS, 1887-1889. 1183 
buildings and parks than we get in South Carolina or any other city, 
but they have no general park here that belongs to the public. 
They have no public buildings where the city authorities have a 
permanent abiding place. They have no post-office fit for any city of 
this country or any country that is civilized. In fact, there has been 
nothing done for the people of this city that has not been done for 
people of other cities of this Union not as large. Therefore I trust 
that gentlemen will not view this question unfavorably upon the 
theory that there has already been as much done for the people of this 
District as the Government is under obligation to do. Now there is 
scarcely a city of any size in the United States that has not a public 
park. While there are a number of small parks in this city, there is 
not a single one of any size, where the people can go out into the 
country, as it were, and get the fresh air and have all the invigorating 
influences that come from the country, that does not belong to some 
private party. There is, it is true, a number of small reservations, 
but they do not accommodate the large portion of the city growing 
out toward the west, and if the same spirit governs us in the future 
that has in the past, the whole of the park in which the Smithsonian 
Institution is situated will be occupied by public buildings. 
Mr. Bianp. Does not the gentleman from South Carolina think 
that if the obstructions were taken away that have been created by 
the Pennsylvania Railroad and the ground cleared that that would be 
a very desirable park ? 
* * * * % * * 
Mr. Hempuiti. I will state, Mr. Speaker, that if there is any por- 
tion of this District in which we could well have a park it is this 
portion through which Rock Creek passes, and I would say that if the 
people of this District are to have a park for such portion as would 
be an honor to this city, being the capital of this nation, they can not 
get it unless they get it under action of this Congress. There is no 
power in any governmental officer here to condemn land or to put his 
finger for a public purpose upon a single piece of property in this 
District, and therefore whatever is done must be done by action of 
Congress. 
Now I know, Mr. Speaker, that 2,000 acres of land is a very large 
park for a city of the size of the city of Washington, and if we were 
to legislate for to-day or for the near future it would be too large; 
but we all know that this city is growing rapidly, that property is 
going up in price, and that if we are to have a national park in this 
city this is the most opportune time the Congress of the United States 
will ever see. We can get a park here in this District now at a cost 
which will not be any more than one-fifth or one-sixth of what has 
already been expended for the purchase of land by the city of Phila- 
delphia or New York or any of the large cities in this country. In 
