Evening star., 1921-06-23
CITY HEADS MAKE
PLEA TO SAVE PLAN
TO EXTEND 14th ST.
Continued from First Page.)

alternative method exists for reaching
the territory beyond the hospital. he
asked that the alternative proposals
Mr.. Shoemaker was the fourth ana
last witness to respond to Secretary
Weeks invitation that opponents oi
the extension plan present their VISws
When 1t appeared there were no otners
present to object to the propHsa. roinnsr Ru. M
dolph, president Of the board OF DIS
trict Commissioners.
Following a brief statement to the
effect the Commissioners unanimous
ly approve the proposal to carry M. NJ
Rudolph Introduced Engineer Com
missioner Kutz. who presented In de-
tail the Commissioners position;
At the outset Commissioner hutZ
reviewed the steps that led up to the
highway commission being requested
by Congress to report on the lttn
street problem. He said that former
Secretary of War Baker originally
opposed the suggestion that I4th
ter Reed zone. but Subsequently noti-
fed the Commissioners that ne
would not object to the extension
being made on depressed grade.
Cor, missioner Kutz pointed out that
the wadsworth bill. pending in Con-
kT -.
pital reservation has the approval OF
the Commissioners. with the exception
that they consider 14th street should
be extended through the reservation:
In suggesting that the extension be
made on a depressed grade, the Com
missioner expressed the convictioh
that this plan would sufficiently safe
guard the members Of the hospital
colony and in no way would interfere
with the development of the reserVa-
ton. He said the extension would
meet the hospitals need of more ade-
quate transportation facilities. not to
mention the transportation needs of
the growing suburban districts lying
north of the hospital.
A. to Cars Noise.
The Commissioner questioned the
likelihood of the extension creating
noise that would be detrimental to
the patients. Inasmuch as the line
would not pass near the wards, but,
on the contrary, he pointed out. would
pass through that section of the res
ervation where it is intended to de-
velop a medical center. including a
library. museum and officers quar-
ters as an adjunct of the hospital
proper.
Figures were given by the Commits
81 oner showing the comparative cost
of extending 18th street through the
reservation on a surface grade, of
extending it on a sunken grade and
Of carrying it south of the reserva-
tlon under 18th street into ROCK
Creek Park.
The straight-line extension would
involve a basic cost of $4,000. he
estimated. To carry the line through
on a depressed grade would cost
$215. 200. while the plan to carry the
under 18th street into Rock Creek
Park would necessitate an ex-
penditure Of $4,000. he estimated.
Col. Kutx assured the highway
commission that the District Com
missioners have the deepest interest
in the development of Waiter Reed
Hospital, and would not recommend
the extension Of 14th street through
the reservation at a depressed grade
II they were not convinced that the
plan, in no way would retard the
proper development Of the institu-
tion.
II hold in my hand practically the
dedication of 18th street from the
boundary down to where the car line
now ends.' Charles C. Glover told
the highway commission. Mr.. Glover
explained later that he has obtained
promises for the dedication of more
than 80 per cent of the right-of-way
| of 18th street, north and south of the
hospital reservation.
ut would be little short of a crime
against the people of the Distric,
to cut of this passage to the NORTH
end of the city. when the problem ii
SO easy of solution" Mr.. Glover con.
tinued.
Former Senator Lee in q strong ap.
peal for the opening of 14th street
told the commission that it should dis.
tfnguish between the Walter Reeo
| II ospital proper and .he :::ed:CA. cen
| ter which it is proposed to develop
there.
the buildings of the hospital proper
are now actually closer to Georgia
avenue with its car line and steady
flow of traffic than they would be to
14th street If that thoroughfare
should be opened through the reser.
He told the commission that wher
the Army officials 'wers erecting the
present hospital buildings they had
the entire tract to pick from. and de
cided to put the buildings practically
within a square of Georgia avenue.
The witness said he did not ques.
ton their judgment in making tina,
decision, and consequently. is unable
| to understand how any of the hospita
off1cials can now oppose the opening