Evening star., 1924-08-06
PARK CONVERSION
REPORT IS DENIED
City Heads Have No Plan to
Make Franklin Square Auto
Parking Space.

Although the Commissioners are
considering a recommendation for the
widening of X street between Four
teenth and Sixteenth street, they de-
clared today they have no intention
of seeking to convert the attractive
Franklin Square into a parking
ground for automobiles.
Il certainly am opposed to using
Franklin Square for the parking Of
automobiles" was the comment OF
Commissioner Rudolph, chairman of
the board.
Such a proposal has never been
brought to my attention and 1 am
not convinced that it would be an
advisable move" said Engineer Com
missioner Bell, who is also a member
of the newly created National Capital
Park Commission.
Inspector Albert ]. Headley, chief
of the Police Traffic Bureau, credited
with having put forth the proposal
said he had merely suggested it as
a possible way Of providing parking
space, but he declared he had no in
tention of recommending it and that
he felt sure it would not be done.
Would Buy Property.
What the Commissioners are con-
sidering is that part of the $500, 900
to be collected annually from the
gasoline tax be used TO purchase
private property near the congested
section for municipal auto parking
lots.
AS to the widening of K street,
Mai. Bell said recommendation had
been made by the highway division,
but had not yet been approved by the
Commissioners.
1--WE probably will give the prop
erty owners on that street al oppor-
tunity to be heard on the proposal"
Mai. Bell added.
The Engineer Commissioner in
dicated that he is in favor of using
the small triangular park in front
of Center Market at Ninth street for
the marking Of automobiles, but with
out removing the large trees located
there. Mai. Bell said that is not a
particularly attractive park
1t developed today that Assistant
Engineer Commissioner William ii.
Holcombe, chairman Of the Trahc
Roard has other downtown streets in
wind that he would like wild
ened. He mentioned E street within
the congested section, Tenth street
north of F street and certain
stretches of Twelfth street.
Opposes One-way Streets.
Mai. Holcombe said he does not be-
,ieve washington needs one-waV
streets and that the gradual widening
of the main traffic arteries downtown
would he a step toward the ellmlna-
tion of the one-way rule
In the widening of streets now
ever. approval of Congress is oo-
+ained in the annual appropriation
acts. r,
The width of K street from build
ing line to building line is l4f feet
inches. There is now oo-root
-oodway bewteen Fourteenth ano
SiXTaenth streets, with 10 1eet Oh sloe-
--.lL and 33 feet 10 inches OF park
ing on each side.
The recommendation being con-
.;sarad bv the Commissioners is that
thara he a 25-foot sidewalk on each
s,sa and two 3o-foot roadways FOR
tra@c separated by center strip
- 81 feet inches wide for parking
of automobiles -..-.,
Circle Included in Plan.
The plan further contemplates cir
-. at sixteenth and K streets as
traf5c regulation Improvement Maj.
Holcombe pointed out there are two
,inss of trees on K street and that in
the proposed plan the interior row
would be retained.
Roth Maj. Holcombe and Inspector
ueadley declared today that in order
70 solve the parking problem down.
town the man who leaves his car on
the streets all day must be brought to
the point of parking it outside the con-
eested area and walking a few blocks
to his Office.
aside from the fact that II Is neces-
sary TO eliminate the all-day parker
CONTINUED on Page 2. Column 81