Evening star., 1923-12-08
CITES CITY SAVING
IN PARK EXTENSION
Board of Engineers Report
Defends Economy of Ana
costa Project.

The large savings to the District Of
Columbia and federal government
that can be made by continuing the
Anacostia Park project above Ben
ming road are emphasized in the re-
port of the board of engineers to Con-
gress, which also discusses the pro-
posed establishment of a national
aboretum and botanic garden in this
tract
AS the city grows an increased
number Of children's Fairgrounds will
be required. the report points out.
The cost of city squares for play
| grounds is now great and will become
more so. Anacostia Park, both above
and below Benning road, will provide
ample area for playground use i'm
mediately adjoining home sections of
the city and at practically no addi-
tiona1 expense.
The District has for a number of
years been vainly looking for areas
in which to establish a nursery for
trees which Il uses in planting along
the streets and in small park areas,
A suitable area can be provided with
out any extra cost in the section
above Benning road and so treated
that 1t viii be an asset to the park
Provides Dumping Area.
Another matter that the board of
engineers believes is of much con-
Germ to District officials has been that
of obtaining public dump locations
for city refuse. Areas of this char
acter are exceedingly scarce. Under
the notifications proposed in the
engineers report to Congress. there
will be 160 acres available for DUMPS.
subsequently. a thick layer of the
rich marsh loan will be pumped over
these refuse dumps to preserve the
planting integrity OF the park
Regarding national arboretum
and Botanic Garden. the board of
engineers calls attention that for
many years past the Department of
Agriculture has been deeply inter-
ested in the establishment in or near.
the city of Washington of a national
, arboretum and Botanic Garden ade-
quate to the needs of the country
and in particular adequate to the
requirements of the department as
an adjunct to its important work of
plant breeding and plant introduc-
ton.
Plan Aquatic Garden.
The present Secretary of AgricuI-
ture, like his predecessors. has trans
mitted to the board of engineers re-
quests that certain areas in Anacostia
Park above Benning road and near
the District line be set aside for an
aquatic garden, which is to be one
of the attractive features of the pro-
posed Botanic Garden. About 13o
acres of marsh land can be set aside
for such a garden. No extra expendi-
lures by the District of Columbia
need be made for purchasing Land, as
this area lies below the high-water
shore line and is claimed by the
United States, and it is understood
that the cost of the development
would be borne by the Agriculture
Department. The board of engineers
agreed to such a proposal, as it will
not only reduce the cost Is the park
project, but also save the District fu-
ture park maintenance charges.
Discussing the capital invested in
plant and equipment. the engineers
report says:
"One Of the basic features of every
reclamation project is the assembling
of the necessary plant and equipment
for carrying on the work. In the
present case the engineer department
has built up an efficient organization
and has a plant and equipment valued
at more than 100000 in splendid
operating condition. After having
gone thus far it cannot be considered
less than good business judgment to
provide funds for the final step to
give the District and the nation one
of the finest of parks