54 ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL BOTANIC GAKDEN. 



Mr. Clarke. In the northwest. As a result, we had to move our 

 paint shops to Eleventh and Florida Avenue NW. This makes it 

 very expensive to repair cars in one place and then move them to 

 another quite distant place to have them painted. So we have drawn 

 up plans to have our great repair shops at this strategic point at 

 Fifteenth and H Streets NE. There we have steam connections with 

 the Baltimore & Ohio and Pennsylvania Railroads further out Ben- 

 ning way ; so the Graceland Cemetery tract makes an ideal place for 

 large repair shops. If the plans discussed to-day for the botanical 

 gardens are carried out, our company would not for a moment oppose 

 the extension of Maryland Avenue, but suggest that if it is done, 

 some other little collateral things should be done to protect our 

 interests. All we hope is that the District authorities will cooperate 

 with us and see that we have space enough to the south of Maryland 

 Avenue for the extensive improvements we have in mind. Thank 

 you very much, Mr. Chairman. 



The Chairman. Of course, the extension of Maryland Avenue 

 does not come within the province of this committee, but of the 

 District committee, and really, I suppose the only reason why we 

 are considering it at all is because the decree of the extension of 

 Maryland Avenue depends upon our action with relation to the 

 Mount Hamilton site. Are there any other gentlemen who want to 

 be heard ? 



Mr. Wood. Mr. Chairman, I do not know whether I made it dis- 

 tinctly plain to you or not, but the point which was desired to be 

 made plain was that the key to this whole situation is owned by a 

 local corporation, and with the situation existing, the purchase of 

 this site will be practically useless because you would have no en- 

 trance to it and would have to go up Bladensburg Road. I think you 

 will all agree that Maryland Avenue should go to this site. 



The Chairman. You have not said that before, as I understand it. 



Mr. Wood. Xo: I have not. 



The Chairman. Do you think if the Government should take this 

 Mount Hamilton site for botanic garden, that they should also take 

 this property that you have pointed out there? 



Mr. Wood. It would be so highly desirable to extend Maryland 

 Avenue from Fifteenth Street to that point 



The Chairman. I am not talking about the extension of Mary- 

 land Avenue alone, but do you think that the Government ought to 

 take all the property owned by the railroad company? 



Mr. Wood. Oh. not at all : not at all. 



The Chairman. As I say. I suppose it is the business of the Dis- 

 trict Commissioners to report on the advisability of the extension 

 of Maryland Avenue, is it not? 



Mr. Wood. Yes. 



The Chairman. And not the business of this committee. 



Mr. Wood. Xo. 



The Chairman. But what you urge to this committee is prompt 

 action as to whether or not the Mount Hamilton site will be pur- 

 chased ? 



Mr. Wood. Well, the engineer commissioner stated that if it was 

 decided to purchase this tract, he would recommend an amendment 

 to this bill stopping it at that point and that the commissioners would 

 amend their report, you see. 



