52 ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL. BOTANIC GARDEN. 



STATEMENT OF MR. NATHANIEL WILSON. 



Mr. Wilson. Mr. Chairman, I wish to remark that this particular 

 locality east of the Capitol belongs to a great many people, quite a 

 considerable population here and on the other side of the river. I 

 am now and for years have been perfectly familiar with all that 

 territory. In the District we have five or six associations of inhabi- 

 tants for mutual protection and benefit, and they are actual residents 

 and owners of property ; and between the river and the bridge over 

 the river and the Fifteenth and H Streets, along the line of the 

 Government Printing Office, is quite thickly developed, not with ex- 

 pensive houses, but with a great many small houses and quite a large 

 population, and many people have resided there for a great many 

 years. All the population this side of the river and the other side of 

 the river are very much interested in this present situation and the 

 acquisition by the Government of this ground for a botanic garden, 

 but primarily for the extension of Maryland Avenue from the Capitol 

 to the eastern boundary of the District. They have been, in season 

 and out of season, doing everything they could in regard to both of 

 those propositions, both in respect to the botanic garden and the ex- 

 tension of Maryland Avenue. 



I have to request, now that the occasion is opportune, that they 

 may have an opportunity of presenting in print whatever they wish 

 to say through the commissioners, saying in advance that they are 

 willing to approve the conclusions that the commissioners make in 

 regard to both of these propositions and desire to be considered as 

 supporting the policy and the conclusions of the commissioners, 

 who, on examination, shall recommend what shall be done in regard 

 to one and the other, subject, of course, to the decision of Congress 

 and of this Commission. There is no opposition on the part of any- 

 body over in the project for the botanic gardens or the project in 

 regard tq the extension of Maryland Avenue, which is recognized 

 as an absolute necessity. Every property owner there is in accord 

 with it. You have before you the recommendation of the commis- 

 sioners on the bill for the extension of Maryland Avenue, and you will 

 see in the House bill which is before you, which has been recom- 

 mended by the commissioners in a report which sets forth most dis- 

 tinctly and plainly the condition of that territory and the necessity — 

 the absolute necessity — for the opening of Maryland Avenue. I hope 

 you will get all the information 3 r ou can from the people affected 

 before the matter is finally closed, so that you will know distinctly, 

 definitely, and promptly from them what the situation is there and 

 what it is that is asked for by the plain owners of property and citi- 

 zens in that district, not any rich interest, but just the plain property 

 owners. I thank you. Mr. Chairman. 



STATEMENT OF ME. WILLIAM L. CLARKE, ASSISTANT SECRETARY 

 AND ASSISTANT TREASURER OF THE WASHINGTON RAILWAY & 

 ELECTRIC CO. AND THE POTOMAC ELECTRIC POWER CO. 



Mr. Clarke. Mr. Chairman, we had no expectation of asking to 

 be heard here at all. but I came merely to gain information as to the 

 project : but from part of the testimony given it seems to me that 



