24 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



of Rock Creek. It will, however, entail some new difficulties which 

 should be met at once. The road does not skirt the boundary of the 

 park at all points, but touches or leaves it according to the contour 

 of the ground and the practicability of the grade. Some tracts of land 

 are therefore left between the drive and the park, and if these become 

 built upon, a succession of private houses will be thrust directly upon 

 the boundary, marring the air of seclusion that was one of the objects 

 for which the expenditure of the first purchase was made, and which 

 is still a principal attraction of the valley. 



In order to avoid this the land in question should be added to the 

 park, the eastern boundary of which would then lie along a broad and 

 excellent roadway affording access to the park at several convenient 

 points. The accompanying map shows the land which should be added. 

 It involves a strip (C) lying immediately south of the bear pits much 

 needed for the security of the animals confined there. At present the 

 boundary of the park is so near the pits that the bank is very steep, and 

 as it is composed in considerable degree of soil and decomposed rock it 

 constantly crumbles under the action of the weather and precipitates 

 loose stones and debris into the pits, thus endangering the safety of the 

 animals and gradually undermining the boundary fence, which must 

 sooner or later fall inward. It should also include a tract of land lying 

 on a hillside to the north of the Quarry road and forming a portion of 

 the property of Mr. H. D. Walbridge. This is an exceedingly impor- 

 tant tract, as its possession would extend the park toward Kenesaw 

 avenue, which will doubtless be the principal route of access upon the 

 eastern side, and it would be desirable to extend the park on the 

 southern side by taking in the cemetery that now lies near the Adams 

 Mill entrance and constitutes a serious blot upon the surroundings of 

 the park. 



In one particular it seems desirable to amend these recommendations. 

 As the cemetery situated to the southward of the park is probably of 

 considerable value and it would entail considerable expense to add the 

 entire tract to the park, it is believed that the interests of the Govern- 

 ment will be equally well subserved by establishing a roadway through 

 it along the route marked in dotted lines on the map, and adding to the 

 park only so much of the land as may lie between such roadway and 

 the present boundary. 



On the western side considerable readjustments of boundary are 

 desirable. Commencing at Woodley Bridge, it seems proper that a 

 small strip (marked H) should be added to the park, so that it may 

 reach the line of a projected roadway shown in dotted lines on the 

 annexed map. This roadway extends along the natural contours of a 

 hill that slopes toward Rock Creek, and when it is established the 

 unsightly embankment made there for the purpose of entering the park 

 can be removed. It is recommended that the boundary run along the 

 eastern side of this road to meet the present boundary of the park. 



Another extension seems desirable near the present western entrance 

 to the park upon Connecticut avenue extended. Here the boundary 

 now runs at no great distance from the avenue and there is no prop- 

 erly legalized right of way over the property into the park. Notwith- 

 standing this, the service of the electric cars on the avenue makes 



