Evening star., 1922-12-04
BEACH ASKS FUNDS
FOR PUBLIC WORKS
Increased Playground Appro.
priations in Estimates
Given Congress.


Liberal appropriations for various
trict of Columbia and for increased
recreational facilities in the parks
are urged by Maj. Gen. L. H. Beach.
chief of engineers of the Army. in his
annual report to Congress today. He
leaves the submission of detailed
estimates to the director of the bud
set and confines himself to a simple
statement of his ofiicial opinion rs
to "the amounts that can be profit
ably expended" on the various
projects mentioned during the next
fiscal year.
The principal local items in that
category are $3.036.000 for the project
for increasing the water supply of
the District and sl.337.3a0 for the
maintenance and improvement Of the
public parks of the District. Other
interesting items are $4,000 for the
preparation OF plans for rebuilding
the second and third floors and the
roof OF the Executive Mansion and
10000 for extraordinary repairs
and refurnishing' Of the mansion.
The reconstruction OF the upper
portion of the Executive Mansion"
Gen. Beach says, lis very necessary.
because the existing roof is OF old
frame construction. which is very in
fiammable and constitutes q serious
fire hazard. Furthermore. the ex-
listing construction has been in place
Tor over century and has so badly
deteriorated and is in such bad con-
ditton that 1t has been necessary to
shore up portions of the third floor
and roof to put the maj sion in fairly
safe condition" Including these two
items. the total estimates for the Ex-
ecutive Mansion for all purposes are
$4,000.
Plans Public Golf Course.
The sum of 100000 is asked to
complete the new sea wall at the site
Of the Lincoln Memorial: $25.oeO for
proper road to the birthplace of
for care and Improvement of Rock
Creek Park and Piney Branch park
way; $4,000 for the construction OF
an eightee n-hole public golf course
In Rock Creek Park; 81 900 for prepa-
ration of designs for development OF
Rock Creek and Potomac parkway
$4,000 for West Potomac Park: $50
NJ
comfort station at Hams point:
$4,000 for widening the road in that
park: $4,000 for maintenance of tour
lists camp in East Potomac Park
$4,000 for increasing recreation IA
cilittes in the parks: $275.000 for Me-
ridian Hill Park. including the con-
struction Of the main entrance and
improving the hillside area: $4,000
for publication of water at tidal
basin bathing beach; $4,000 for en-
lArging the bathing beach; $4,000 for
improvement of Seaton Park: $2.500
for operation of fountain in Dupont
Circle: 100000 for a recreation park
on reclaimed area of Anacostia river
between Pennsylvania avenue and the
Anacostia bridge. one-half of the
amount to be Immediately available
$4,000 for using the old Washington
Monument powerhouse in heating
the propagating gardens, and $4,000
Tor lighting the public grounds. in
Guiding Rock Creek Park and the
Lincoln Memorial grounds.
+ Colored Peoples Park.
In urging an appropriation Of $780,
600 for park for colored people
the large recreation parks thus far
constructed are conveniently located
for the use of the colored population
10 is no more than just that a park
be constructed which will be easily
accessible to the colored population
said he. that the item of 5o,ooI
is submitted for the commencement,
of this urgently needed improve
ment" He says also that the $25.00C
appropriated for the construction OF
a bathing beach and bathhouse for
! the colorcd people. will constitute only
a small portion of the esta blishment
needed. He therefore submits an item
OF $4,000 additional to provide "suf-
ficient bathing facilities" Plans to
Columbia Island. near the Virginia
shore. have been suspended for the
present.
Gen. Beach says that the demand
Tor facilities for outdoor sports has
"is now entirely inadequate to meet
more than q small portion Of the
demands made upon it," Maintenance
OF existing base ball diamonds. tennis
courts courts croauet hockey and other
sports, eAhausts the available appro-
priatlons and he has increased his
estimates in order to provide needed
additional facilities
L. s. Watches District.
Tho city Of Washington, in the Dis.
tr1ct OF Columbia" says Gen. Beach
should be placed in a condition to
be an example to the entire United
States. The District of Columbia is
not by any means to be classed as
half million people. such as is found
IN the various parts Of the United
states. but it is the center and sea,
or the national government-the prop
erty and pride of all the people OF
the United States: and anything tha,
Is done for development of character
physical. mental or moral well being
among the permanent or Temporary
residents or the occasional visitors
in the capital is money well spent
returning dividends MANIFOLD to the
national government. Even If nc
charges for these privileges what.
ever were made to those enjoyine
rnment would still be great and
would fully justify the expenditure
on account of the Increased efficiency
and contentment of the government
employees who are the principal users
or the recreattonal privileges But
since the most important activities
can be so operated as to be entirely
self lf-supportng, then it seems to me
to be self-evident that the national
government Is failing in its duty il
1t does not as rapidly extend these
privileges as reasonable expenditures
make feasible"
Concerning War Buildings.
In advocating the removal of the
dtiaptdated wartime buildings in
tho parks" Gen. Beach says:
During the war there were built
In East Potomac Park large number
Of temporary wooden buildings for
the housing Of troops in training.
After the conclusion Of the war these
buildings were turned over TO the
general supply committee as q tom
porary place for storage Of surplus
now arrived when the Improvement al
Eaat Pofnmac Raric In xaaiai.. -