Evening star., 1922-11-04
BACK KBETTERPARK
PLAN FOR DISTRICT
c. of c. Committee Indorses
Suggestions of Board of
Trade Probers.

Believing that the parks and reser-
vations committee of the Washing
ton Board of Trade had made an ex-
haustive study Of the park situation
In and near the District, and that the
report of the committee was not only
comprehensive but accurate, the
parks, highways and bridges com
mittee of the Washington Chamber
OF Commerce last night unanimously
indorsed the report Of the trade
boards committee and agreed to sub
init 1t to the board of directors OF
the chamber at it's next meeting.
The crux of the committee report
lies In the suggested appointment OF
park commission for the District
this commission to be authorized to
acquire such lands as, in it's judg-
ment. shall be necessary within linn
Its OF the appropriations made for
such purposes. for suitable develop
ment of the National Capital park
parkway and playground system.
Personnel Of Commission.
As proposed the commission will in
ciude the Secretary of the Treasury,
the official charged with protection of
the federal finances; the Secretary of
war, under whom the chief of engi-
neers and the officer in charge of pub
lie buildings and grounds have for
many years had general charge of the
existing parks: the chairmen of the
committees on public buildings and
grounds of the Senate and House of
representatives. whereby both houses
OF Congress may be directly in touch
with the work of the commission and
participate in the selection of lands to
De ACQUIRED and tho Entrinaer
missioner of the District. representing
the people whose taxes will pay a
large percentage of the total eXpendi-
lures.
Systematic. comprehensive and con-
tinuous study by standing commits
sion is the only practicable way to
orlng results" says the report
adopted by both the board and chamber
committees.
"Haphazard selection of additional
lands Is not good policy. The inter-
ests of all sections of the District must
be considered. Propositions for local
improvements from great variety of
sources cannot produce happy results"
Hit Neglect Of Lawns.
Two other matters relating to the
beauty of the city were taken up in
dependently by the chamber COM
mittee last night. They dealt with
the condition of lawns in front of
HouSeS anu the Str1pS or grass which
run between the sidewalk and the
street
Members of the committee pointed
out that lawns in front of many
houses are not cared for and that in
some cases, where houses were va
cant and the lawn unkempt. the
whole appearance of the street was
marred. Horseback riders. according
to members of the committee, are re-
sponsible for the trampled-dow ap-
pearance of strips of grass in the out
lying sections of the city
In connection with these matters it
was urged that some law be put into
force which would compel all owners
OF property to care for their lawns,
whether occupying houses or not, and
to prevent the mutilation of grass
strips by horseback riders. The
board of directors of the chamber. at
the meeting scheduled for Tuesday
night at the Homer building, will act
on the suggestions of the committee
A meeting of the membership COM
mittee of the chamber has been an
nounced for Tuesday at o'clock.
Ivan c. Weld, chairman, will preside.