REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 25 



this the most frequented of all the entrances. The ground which it is 

 proposed to include lies between the park and Connecticut avenue, 

 extending southward to Cathedral avenue and northward to Klingle 

 road. It is marked I on the accompanying map. It is represented as 

 being excellent grazing ground for antelope, elk, deer, or llamas. 

 Pasturage for these animals is now insufficient owing to the wooded 

 character of the park. Should the Rock Creek Park be likewise 

 extended to Connecticut avenue as is proposed, the two public parks 

 would then have a common boundary along the Klingle road, which 

 would form a common avenue of entrance. 



It will be noted that there were mentioned in the appropriation act 

 two roads to be constructed within the park, one entering from Wood- 

 ley Lane road and continuing along the western bank of Rock Creek, 

 a second to enter the park from the Adams Mill road and connect with 

 the general park system. 



The first of these roads is the one mentioned in last year's report. 

 The amount of $5,000 appropriated for it, being immediately available, 

 was nearly all expended before the beginning of the present fiscal year. 

 Since this road has to be built within the boundaries of the park, it 

 became necessary to make a heavy and expensive filling of earth near 

 the Woodley road. This is at present a very objectionable feature that 

 can not be modified except by an additional fill sufficient to modify the 

 lines of the embankment so that they will simulate natural slopes. If 

 the modification of the boundary and the exterior road proposed by the 

 Commissioners is established here, this embankment should be removed 

 or made to conform to the grades that accommodate such exterior road. 



By consulting the annexed map it will be seen that this road soon 

 reaches the banks of the creek. At this point it becomes necessary to 

 cross, owing to the fact that the right or western bank becomes precipi- 

 tous and would not admit of the construction of a road except at great 

 expense and destruction of the natural features. It was first thought 

 that it would be necessary to construct a bridge here, but this seems 

 objectionable in some respects, as tending to give an artificial character 

 to a beautiful locality. It is thought that it may be well to try at this 

 point (marked A on map) the experiment of a ford, so managed that in 

 ordinary stages of the stream there would be but a few inches of water. 

 This would give sufficient access for carriages, and foot passengers 

 could cross upon a series of stepping stones. There would be but few 

 days in the year when snch a crossing could not be used with satisfac- 

 tion, and upon such days bat little traveling would be expected. 



The second road is in fact a restoration of the old road which led from 

 the mill formerly established here by President John Quincy Adams, 

 and accordingly known on the map of the District as the Adams Mill 

 road. The mill with its dam has long since disappeared, but traces of 

 the roadway and of the miller's dwelling still remain. It is believed 

 that a picturesque driveway can be made here. It must necessarily 

 be narrow, as otherwise it would deface too much the wooded bank 



