Mr. WOOD. Yes, sir; I would.

The CHAIRMAN. Where the botanical garden is proposed to be located?

Mr. WOOD. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. What, in your opinion, is that land worth?
Mr. JOHNSON. You mean the

average value?

The CHAIRMAN. Yes; the average, by and large, of the 400 acres$250,000; is that the price?

Mr. WOOD. That should read "300," instead of "200"; I think perhaps it was a mistake of the typewriter. It is proposed that the appropriation shall be $340,000.

The CHAIRMAN. Is that the price at which the property is held by the owners?

Mr. Wood. I think it could be secured within those figures.

The CHAIRMAN. As it stands, what do you think is the value of the 400 acres of land?

Mr. WOOD. It is worth from $500 to $600 or $700 an acre; $700 an acre on an average, I should say, would buy the whole thing.

The CHAIRMAN. I do not mean taking a particular section of it, but taking the whole 400 acres as one parcel. Do you think it is worth $200,000?

Mr. Wood. Yes; more than that.

The CHAIRMAN. Is it worth $300,000?

Mr. WOOD. Yes. It is assessed at $211,000, which is two-thirds of its value.

The CHAIRMAN. Or claimed to be?

Mr. WOOD. Yes: claimed to be.

Mr. JOHNSON. What civic society do you represent?

Mr. WOOD. The Northeast Washington Citizens' Association.
Mr. JOHNSON. Are you a member of it?

Mr. WOOD. Yes.

Mr. JOHNSON. Is your membership based upon residence out there or what?

Mr. WOOD. It is based upon residence and public spirit. The constitution of the association says that any public-spirited person or one interested in Northeast Washington may become a member.

Mr. JOHNSON. Do you own any land out there?

Mr. WOOD. No, sir; I do not own a foot of land. Mr. Tucker, the president of our association, is here, and I would like him to say a word.

The CHAIRMAN. Just a moment, so that this gentleman's testimony may be connected with yours as to the intentions of the power company

Mr. WILSON (interposing). If you will allow me to interrupt The CHAIRMAN. I think we better have this other gentleman's testimony first.

Mr. WILSON. I just want to ask a question.

The CHAIRMAN. Oh, if you desire to ask a question right on this subject, you may.

Mr. MOORE. Mr. Chairman, in regard to the different prices, let me say that the land to be taken comprises an area of 367 acres; and the full valuation, based on the assessors' books, is $254,520.

The CHAIRMAN. Now, Mr. Wilson, you may ask your question.

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 inhabitants 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 expensive 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 extension 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 anybody over in the project for the botanic gardens or the project in regard to 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 commissioners on the bill for the extension of Maryland Avenue, and you will see in the House bill which is before you, which has been recommended by the commissioners in a report which sets forth most distinctly and plainly the condition of that territory and the necessitythe absolute necessity-for the opening of Maryland Avenue. I hope you will get all the information you 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 citizens in that district, not any rich interest, but just the plain property owners. I thank you, Mr. Chairman.

STATEMENT OF MR. 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

our company was, no doubt, unintentionally placed in rather a false position.

We do stand as the owners of the Graceland Cemetery tract, but from what was said I rather gathered that something improper or even suspicious seemed to turn upon our ownership which, I think, I can very easily convince your committee is not the case. About eight years ago the property came on the market and we bought it. A company operating 175 miles of street railway has got to have the proper tools for its trade, and "tools" in that sense means sites for necessary conveniences in the District of Columbia. I hardly need suggest these are mighty scarce and there is none other like the Graceland Cemetery tract in the entire District on account of its being so near the center of the city, and of such great advantage for the needs of a street railway and electric light company. Since purchasing it we have put no improvements upon it whatever, except a little trackage above ground which simply rests on the ground for the temporary storage of old cars. Prior to that time, with the consent of the commissioners of the District, we had built a little loop there which stands slightly in the line of Maryland Avenue, and was placed there long before there was much talk about the extension of Maryland Avenue, and, as I say, with the consent of the commissioners. We built it to turn our cars back instead of running them out to the District line, which would have involved great waste in “dead” car mileage. As a matter of fact, all our improvements there, temporary tracks and all, can be removed in the space of 24 hours.

Long prior to the time of our purchase of the Graceland Cemetery tract a considerable purchase had been made at Fifteenth and H Streets NE. by the Washington, Baltimore & Annapolis Railway; a station was erected which was used as their Washington terminal. The White House Station does occupy part of Maryland Avenue, but only a small part, and it is my impression that it would not be very difficult for the railroad to remove it.

At the hearing last Wednesday, day before yesterday, our president spoke in regard to the extension of Maryland Avenue and said that our company could not afford, nor would it consider for a moment, antagonizing or hindering any important public improvement. The Maryland Avenue extension bisects our property on an angle of approximately 45°, but it leaves a tract of about 12 acres on the south side of the extension, which will be sufficient for our needs if we are met with a spirit of cooperation in the matter of closing two or three of the smaller streets within the tract. We have spent over $5,000 in preparation of plans, but not for a power station, as has been suggested; we have no intention whatever of putting a power station on the Graceland Cemetery tract. We have our splendid power plant out at Benning, farther out on the Anacostia River; but we have need of a great car barn and repair shops, and a substation for local distribution of current might be included. It will be remembered by this committee that about four years ago a bridge was placed across Rock Creek on Q Street, and that bridge and the extension of Q Street cut our present repair-shop property into two parts and destroyed its efficiency.

Mr. JOHNSON. That is in the northwest?

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 Benning 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 distinctly 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 entrance 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. No; 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 Maryland 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 District 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. No.

The CHAIRMAN. But what you urge to this committee is prompt action as to whether or not the Mount Hamilton site will be purchased?

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.

The CHAIRMAN. I understand that.

Mr. JOHNSON. This property fronts on Bladensburg Road, does it not?

Mr. MOORE. It does.

Mr. JOHNSON. You could get into it from Bladensburg Road?

Mr. MOORE. Certainly. Of course, the natural approach will be along Maryland Avenue extended. Another thing, Mr. Chairman, there is a law already for the taking of all land needed for the Anacostia improvement. An amendment to that legislation would accomplish the results now sought.

The CHAIRMAN. The present law provides for taking lands below the tide lines.

Mr. MOORE. Below the 10-foot contour.

The CHAIRMAN. Is there anybody else who desires to speak either for or against this project? If not we will consider the hearing closed.

(Thereupon, at 1.15 o'clock p. m. the hearing was adjourned.)

Mr. CHARLES MOORE,

BISMARCK, N. DAK., May 27, 1920.

Chairman Fine Arts Commission, Washington, D. C.

DEAR SIR: I have heard something of the proposed creation of a new botanical garden in the vicinity of Washington. In this connection it occurs to me that it would afford an excellent opportunity for a living outdoor museum for the people, by which they might learn much of the native flora of America in distinction from the many introduced species now escaped and naturalized over much of our country. As the case now stands most people have no clear idea of the distinction between the native flora and the introduced forms.

Another service from such a native botanical garden would be the facility it would afford for study and experiment in domestication and amelioration of the native plants which were utilized in their wild state by the native tribes of America for various uses in their economic life, for food, dyestuff, fibers, perfumes, medicines, and various other uses.

A third use such a native botanical garden would serve is the demonstration of the several cultivated crops for which the world is indebted to the aboriginal American cultivators. Here could be brought together in a living exhibition a nation-wide collection of the varieties cultivated and adapted to the various area of differing conditions of climate and soil, as they were developed by the tribes resident in the several areas. For instance, it would be most interesting to the public from many points of view, to have growing near the National Capital plants of the agricultural crops of the very stock cultivated by the Mandans on the upper Missouri River which made possible the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804 and 1805. For it was the food supply obtained by that expedition from the Mandan Indians which made it possible for the expedition to remain on the upper Missouri through the winter and thus be that far forward on their journey next spring.

All these uses would serve as real factors in the process of Americanization, about which we hear so much in these days. And in my view a real and appreciative knowledge and understanding of physical America, and an appreciation of America's native distinctive character must be no slight factor in the establishment of Americanism.

For all these reasons I am intensely interested in the project and hope that it may be accomplished. I am specially interested in such a project, and as curator of the State Historical Society of North Dakota have planned such an outdoor museum as the planting scheme for development of the State capitol grounds and its execution has been authorized by act of the legislature. Yours, truly,

MELVIN R. GILMORE,

Curator of the State Historical Society of North Dakota.