Evening star., 1923-12-03

BY COMMISSIONERS
IN ANNUAL REPORT
Continued from First Page.)
that if the library is to fulfill tife
complete educational function to the
community a well-cOnducted and
highly trained staff is required, and
that this can not be secured without
proper compensation.
River Front Improvement.
Referring to the water front i'm
provement, the report states:
The actual water frontage Of the
District of Columbia devoted to COM
merce, with the exception of canals,
is about two miles The total availa-
Bile water front is eighteen miles, of
which about eight miles is set aside
for parks and for other purposes of
the United States The largest amount
or wharf property under the control
of the Commissioners is along the
Washington channel
"A more noteworthy project than
one which would give the National
Capital a useful and attractive water
front could not be initiated. Civic
organizations, municipal officials and
others have been advocating an i'm
nrovement In the Washington water
front for many years. and notwith-
standing the present policy of econ
omy In governmental expenditures. II
is believed that initial funds for this
purpose should be appropriated in the
near future and additional funds pro-
vided progressively each year until
the project has been completed"
Under the heading of the highway
division the report again recommends
a. law to limit the weights of loaded
vehicles on streets.
An appropriation to purchase a site
for permanent tree nursery is an
urgent need emphasized in the report
of the trees and parking division.
Need of New Parks.
1t is pointed out that during the
year two tracts of ground which had
been used as nurseries had to be
a bandoned and that the city is now
using section of reclaimed ground
on the Anacosita river through ar
with the chief OF engineers
of the Army.
Melvin c. Hazen. surveyor. tells
Congress in his section of the report
that If public parks are to be ac-
CURED for the rapidly developing out
lying sections, they must be pur-
chased before building activity de-
stroys them.
The L'Enfant plan of the Federal
city of 1871 provided for a magnifi-
cent street and park plan" said the
surveyor. This plan stopped at
Boundary street (now Florida ave-
nue), beyond which there is no park
plan. and If provision is not made
for the acquisition of land for parks
over this area there will be a great
lack of them in the outlying sections.
There are many beauty spots. where
masnitcent ees exist, which should
be acquircd efore the rapid develop
ment of the city destroys them
Spread of Building.
The surveyors office has from
time to time recommended specific
tracts for parks where there is dan
ger OF their being lost for park pur-
poses. These are Piney Branch Park
way, klingle Road Valley and the
patterson tract. Attention is es-
pecialiy invited to rapid encroach-
ment up Piney Branch and KIingle
Road valleys. These sites have al
ready been reduced in size, and it is
believed that Piney Branch Parkway
viii be lost if not acquired in the
next year.
"Klingle Ford valley should be
made the length connecting Potomac
Park on the south with Rock Creek
Park on the north. This would elimi-
nate the necessity of traffic passing
Geological Park, which is a,
playground for children. where traffic
should be restricted"
Mr. Hazen also urges that, steps
De taken to preserve the forty or
more old civil war fort sites scattered
on the outskirts of Washington. All
OF them, he observes, are of great his
torical interest and should be linked
up by boulevards.
The surveyor recommends that
congress increase the annual allot-
nent for the purchase of small park
areas In the city proper.
Report ON Surplus.
The report of Daniel J. Donovan.
'ity auditor, informs Congress that
On June 80, 1923. there was in the
United States Treasury surplus Dis
,rict revenues amounting to s5.l22,-
Maj. Donovan's report further shows
that the District Government will be
entirely free of debt in August 1924
II the next appropriation act con-
for the sinking fund with which to
retire all outstanding bonds
Maj Donovan also sets forth IN de-
tail all of the collections and dis
bursements of the District govern
ment for the last fiscal year.
The Commissioners transmit in
their report a summary of conditions
In the public schools; as given them
summary showed a total enrolment
OF 7l.503 children for the fiscal wear
ending June go 1922.
The report of the traffic bureau
shows that during the year CO per-
sons were killed and many seriously
injured. Upon recommendations of
the police department the Commits
sioners revoked 3l2 permits of auto
mobile drivers, most of which cases
involved driving while intoxicated
Care OF Children.
The board of children's guardians re-
ports that it had 2,l10 wards under its
care during the year. OF this number,
l ,562 were permanent wards and 400
The problem of finding
suitable homes for and supervision of
this great number of children fell direct
1y on this department. The efforts have
not only been sincere and earnest, but
have met with a large measure Of sue
cess
The board tells Congress that the In
dustrial Home School has been reopened
as a modern temporary receiving home
for white boys and girls.
The need for more and better street
lights, which was referred to by the
police department. also is stressed by
Warren B. Hadley. electrical engineer,
who makes the following comment in
his report
"The street lighting. as a whole. is
inadequate, and a compre-
hensive material Improvement should
be inaugurated at once"
Necessity for larger appropriations
I..II Il l.