Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-16
Col. Harris and Col. TruesdeII
Address Local Railway
Association.
RECREATION CENTER
AT THE ISLAND PARK
Driveway to Encircle National Capt.
tai Is Being Planned by the
Engineer Corps.

" nat army engineers nave uoHe Ioi
Washington to make it city beautiful
was described by Col. George Tuesdell.
former Commissioner of the District of
Columbia, and what they will do. fol-
lowing out the plans of their predeces-
sors, to make it the most beautiful city
in the world was told by Col. w. w.
Harris. L. S. A, of the Engineer Corps.
officer in charge of public buildings
and grounds in Washington. speaking
last night before section No. 4, Amer
lean Electric Railway Association, AID
its guests, the commercial section of
the Potomac Electric Power Company,
meeting at 231 18th street.
Col. Harris presented views of WASH
ington, past, present and future, illus
trating his talk on how the site was
chosen: how it was planned by Maj.
Charles L'Enfant of the engineer corps
of the French army; how the city de-
veloped to that plan; how the plan
was elaborated but not altered by later
city planners and the development con-
tinued; how army engineers have re-
claimed the river swamp lands to make
healthy recreation centers of the made
ground; how the city beautiful scheme
is to be followed out in the future.
Z
Most particularly did Col. Harris tell
of immediate work He stated that
plans will soon be submitted to Con-
gress for the development of the made
island that forms the lower part of Po-
tomac Park into a great recreation
center, with a stadium that will hold
from 10000 to 10000 people: public
baths. field house, tea house. crick-
ct, tennis, foot ball and base ball fields,
a race course, gymnasium and other
features.
Another plan that is going to Con-
gress in a few days, he said. has to do
with the connection of the parking sys-
tenn, so that the city is encircled by
future plan that will encircle this circle
with wider ring of parkway. In the
immediate plan the valley of Rock
Creek is to be improved and made
beautiful and healthful.
Incidentally, he predicted that Wash
ington will be a city of 100000 in
habitants within two generations. In
planning the development of the city,
he said, it is borne in mind by the
army engineers that the National Cap
ital will have that number of inhabi-
tants within a least sixty or seventy
years.
introduce Col. Harris, made some intro
ductory remarks Incidentally he told
that he. himself, asked for the first
charter for an electric railway in
Washington, the lexington and Sol
diers' Home line. later the City and
Suburban railway, now part of the
Washin gton Railway and Electric sys-
tenn.
Construction Halted by Senate.
When the charter had been granted,
the construction of the road begun,
and the pillars and wiring on the
ground for the completion of the work,
he told that the Senate passed law
prohibiting the erection of overhead
electric wires within the District of
Columbia. 1t was the then Engineer
Commissioner. Col. William Ludlow, he
said. who advised him to go ahead with
construction work, taking the point of
view that the Senate could not by reso-
luton prevent him from carrying out
plans authorized by both houses OF
Congress, and that Congress would
make the government liable for dam
ages by interfering with what ii had
once authorized.
Discussing what Washington owes to
army egineers, he cited the work OF
Maj. L'Enfsnt, French army engineer
in planning the city: o. Col. MeiGs Of
the army Engineer Corps. who con-
etructed the water works and Cabin
John bridge. in its day the wonder OF
the world for the then unique breadth
of it's span; of Col. Casey. also an
army engineer, responsible for the
construction of the Washington Mon
ument and the Library of Congress: of
Col Seweil, the army engineer who
built the government printing Office,
the largest in the world, and the War
College, and others.
The meeting was called to order by
G. S. Kimball. president of the section.
He resigned the chair to John c. Nc
I.aughiin, manager of the commercial
department of the power corporation.
who in turn called on Col. Truesdel
to preside.