Evening star., 1924-04-21
CITY PLAYGROUND
SYSTEM INDORSED
House District Committee Urged to
Act Favorably on Bill
Reported by Ball.

Hearty Endorsement of the bill fa-
vorably reported by Senator Ball Of
the Senate District committee for a
comprehensive development of the
park and playground system of the
National Capital was given at the
first hearing today before a special
subcommittee of the House District
committee.
This bill provides for the establish
ment of the National Capital park
commission, composed of the chief of
engineers of the Army, the Engineer
Commissioner of the District of CO.
lumbia, the director of the national
park service, the chief of the forest
service, the officer in charge of pub
lie buildings and grounds and the
chairmen of the Senate and House
committees on public buildings and
grounds.
1t proposes an appropriation repre-
senting l cent from every citizen
of the United States to be used in the
development of this parks and play
ground system in the Nations Capt.
tai
CoIdren Quotes Statistics.
Fred A. Coldren, chairman of the
committee on parks Of the Washing
ton Board of Trade and of the COM
mittee of 100 for the Development of
the Capital, said that the District
was very far behind the other states
in the acquisition of sites for parks
and Fairgrounds for future develop
ment of the city.
He quoted statistics showing that
from the time of LEnfant, who draft
ed the original plans for the District,
total of only 2,05S acres at a cost
Of $3,380,998 has been acquired in the
entire history of the Capital city.
He quoted other statistics with refer
ence to Chicago, San Francisco, st.
Louis, New York, Philadelphia, Cleve-
land, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Detroit
and Los Angeles, and other large
the bottom of the list in providing
park property.
Mr.. Coldren emphasized that this
proposed measure would provide the
much needed method of control and
urged that Congress should establish
ratio of participation as between
the federal government and the Dis
trict, Maryland and Virginia, in ac-
quiring park sites. He assured the
committee that none of the Maryland
or Virginia state delegations are op-
posed to this and that the foresters
and Governors of Maryland and Vir-
ginia heartily indorse the plan.
Frederick A. Delano, a member of
sonian Institution and chairman of
the committee of 100 on developm ent
of the Capital, discussed the LEnfant
scheme for the Federal city as a won
derful plan that was laid out for the
establishment of the city by the
founders, but that nothing has since
been done. The machinery is too
cumbersome, he said. This plan is
merely to simplify the procedure. 1t
sets up a commission and provides for
a definite continuing program.
Favorable Action Urged.
Charles F. Consaul chairman of the
subcommittee of 100 which recon-
mended the bill and of the park COM
mittee Of the Board of Trade, also
urged favorable action by the COM
mittee.
Miss Harlean James, secretary OF
the American Civic Association, spoke
in Endorsement of the bill
Arthur c. Moses. representing the
parks and bridges committee of the
Chamber of Commerce. spoke of the
situation at 14th street and Park
road. Seven years ago, he said. the
ground for a playground was offered
sold three years ago for So foot.
There is now no playground in this
most congested area, he said.
Evan H. Tucker, president of the
Northeast Washington Citizens Associa-
ton and representing the federated
citizenship of the District, said that
the people of Washington unanimous
ly and heartily favored this legisla-
ton. There Is no division of senti-
ment. he said.
Representative Gibson of Vermont
again brought up the question of
some form of self-government for the
people of the District.