The Washington times., 1925-09-23
SUMS
SET ASIDE
YEARLY
Colonel Sheriff. Says Mont.
mental City Is Far Ahead
of National Capital

The National Capital is pla.
ing a poor second to its neighbo
Baltimore, in the development 0
adequate park and public recre
ational areas, it was stated todaa
by Lieutenant Colonel G. o. Sher
rill, director of the office of publ
buildings and public parks, fol
lowing an inspection of the Bal
timore park system yesterday aft
ernoon.
Colonel Sheriff. made a thor
ough inspection of the Monumen
tai City's park facilities, follow
ing an address which he made be
fore the Baltimore Rotary Club
in the course of which he urge
the development by Maryland o.
great park areas and a par
boulevard between Washingto
and Baltimore. The plea was re
ceived with the greatest enths
siasm by the Baltimore busine
men, Colonel Sheriff. stated.
Capital Lays Behind
Baltimore is rapidly outstrippn4.
Washington in the development OF
parks and sports facilities for irs
people" Colonel Sheriff. said. ''The
city government there is setting
aside annually a large sum for
park purchase and for park main
tenance and Improvement. AS
result purchases of necessary park
lands are being made at pace
in keeping with the growth Of the
city and development of the pur
chased areas is following rapidly.
The Baltimore system of develop
ment is being pushed forward in a
sound, progressive manner ard
should bring great permanent Eene-
fits to the city"
While Washington sweltered dur
ing the summer without a single
adequate municipal bathing beach,
Colonel Sheriff. reported, its nearest
neighboring city maintained four
great artificial pools at various
points throughout the city, and be-
gan construction of a fifth pool
The city government there now is
turning it's attention to provision Of
bathing beaches for Baltimoreans
along the shores of Chesapeake bay.
The artificial pools are Of the most
modern construction, and the ba1h
houses contain every facility for
the comfort of bathers, Colonel
Sheriff. said. Great laundry plants
have been provided by the city
government to insure an adequate
continuous supply of fresh bathing
suits and towels.
Favor Boulevard Plan
The business and professional
men of Baltimore, Colonel Sheriff.
was assured, will support whole
heartedly the plan for construction
of the proposed park boulevard from
Baltimore to Washington through
the Meade National Forest, the
wooded valleys Of the Patuxent,
Middle Patuxent, Little Patuxent
and Anacostia rivers and other
forested and comparatively unde-
veloped areas between the two
cities.
Preservation of great park areas
in the valleys of these streams as
a. means of protecting the river
flow and providing great outdoor
recreation and health resorts for
the populations of the National Cap
ital and Baltimore also have the
hearty support of Baltimoreans,
Colonel Sheriff. was told.
Ii is understood that both the
boulevard and river valley park
projects will be taken up officially
in the near futuer for presentation
to the Maryland legislature.
While the National Park Com
mission, under the act of Congress
by which it was created, has ample
authority to secure the Maryland
park areas, the lack Of adequate
funds will prevent the taking of
any steps toward their acquisition
TO" many years, it is held, and
unless Maryland officials are dis
posed to get behind the project and
reserve the lands until funds can
be secured, much of the land may
be destroyed for park purposes.