Evening star., 1925-12-04
by WILL r. KENNEDY.

Grounds. the National Training
School for Boys and Anacostia Park,
which will link up seven Of the most
important old forts about the Ma
tonal Capital. will be presented 20
Congress for approval as part of the
permanent highway plan OF the Dis
tritc of Columbia.
Because Of intensive building opera
tions within the last few months these
plans have been materially changed In
many important respects from the
system of drives contemplated by the
Capital planners for the last quarter
nf century This emphasizes the
need for prompt action now, before
lie more desirable routes are further
blocked. or old fort sites leveled by
building operations.
Where Lincoln Was Under Fire.
Very definite developments in Piney
Bra nch Valley east from Sixteenth
street to Kansas avenue. including
Fort Stevens. where President Lin
coin stood under fire the only time
in the history of this Government
when a President actually stood on
the battle line-and Fort Slocum. have
been charted. Congress also will be
asked TO authorize a proposed devel-
opment from Kansas avenue to Fort
Totten.
This same route will ultimately lead
TO Fort Lincoln, on the grounds of the
National Training School for BOYS, on
the east side Of the District and to
Anacostia Park. Then a study will
he made Of the chain of forts on the
AnaCostia side down as far as Blue
Plains. From there. eventually. the
fort drive will be extended 10 include
Fort Foote and Fort Washington, on
the east bank Of the Potomac. and on
10 Marshall Hall. This drive down
the river would be a counterpart TO
the Mount Vernon boulevard. on the
opposite bank
The importance OF some such inter.
parkway connection and fort drive
through the section Of the District
east of Rock Creek Park was empha-
sized in the famous Mcmillan report
on the park systems OF the District
which was prepared by Charles Moore.
now chairman Of the Commission OF
Fine Arts. which said:
II is of the utmost Importance to
secure an agreeable parklike connec.
tion between Rock Creek Park and
Soldiers Home as bringing into
organic relation two OF the largest and
most beautiful places of recreation
wing within reach of the principal
rssidence district of the city. Such a
connection would form one of the
links binding the eastern and western
parks into comprehensive system. .
Importance Of Forts.
With specific reference to the
projected fort drive, the Mcmillan re-
port SAID: 1t is necessary to mention
he chain Of forts which occupied the
higher SUBMITS in the northern part
Of the central section, extending from
20 arl-
10 Fort Thayer. near the reform
school The yiews from these points
are impressive in proportion to their
commanding military positions. and
ihey are well worth requirement as
future local parks, In addition to any
claim their historical and military In
terest may afford. With Forts
Stevens, Totten. Slemmer, Bunker
f4ill and Thayer. northern park cir
cult OF great interest would be form
ed, having views of into the country
In contrast with the principal inner
circuit OF larger parks. presenting
views chiefly south toward the city
In the section east of the Ana
costa similar chain of hilltop forts
marks the points OF most commanding
views. With the Anacostia and the
Potomac below and the City of Wash
inston spread out beyond and the
hills of Virginia In the distance. these
are the most beautiful of the broad
views 10 he had in the District. Forts
Nahan, Chaplin, Sedgwick Du Pont
Davis, Baker. stanton Greble and
Battery Ricketts, can be linked to-
Eether readily by means Of the per
manent system OF highways with a.
few notifications and some widening.
into a drive comparable in beauty
with that along the Potomac Palisades,
but utterly different in character"
It is proposed TO widen the Piney
Branch parkway. already owned west
Of Sixteenth street. to the tops of
1he hills on each side. covering the
forested area. Then the parkway de
Nelopment would proceed eastward
under Sixteenth street at the Tiger
Bridge. which was built for 1ust this
purpose, and continue for some dis
lance in the valley Of Piney Branch,
thus taking advantage of one Of the
most charming passages Of natural
valley scenery in the District part of
which has been used recently as a
Dump. Proceeding along through
land which is now being acquired
under condemnation proceedings. the
development will extend to Upshur
street and Alaska avenue. There two
routes would be opened for light
driving.
Would Link Valleys.
One route would proceed by way
of Cpshur street and Kansas avenue
in northeasterly direction, passing
by Fort Slocum. and by a viaduct
under the Metropolitan branch of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad into an
attractive valley which leads into a
larger valley in Maryland and which
Will link up with future parkway
valley acquisitions in that State.
The other route Is by way Of
Arkansas avenue and Fourteenth
street to the Municipal Hospital,
whore the grounds will always be
maintained in park-like and attrac-
live fashion, and to Fort Stevens,
which site has recently been acquired
This road would give access to the
old National Cemetery containing the
bodies OF those who fell at Fort
Stevens. Thence the drive would con-
tinue by way of Piney Branch road
TO Takoma. The park commission
already has purchased a playground
site between Third and Fourth streets
and Van Buren, and Whittier, to be
called the Takoma Park playground.
Development Of Sixteenth street as
q great artery of traffic is also COM
Drehended in the plans that are being
worked out, leading by Ala ska avenue
where IT reaches a hill crest, now be.
ing ISvsled, where a large circle has
been shown in the spot at one time
conndsred for the Roosevelt Mono.
rial. Then the development passes on
TO the limits OF the District. where II
ID planned to introduce a large oval,
Trim which 1t is hoped that an ade-
quate parkway will lead in the general
direction OF Columbia road to Ellicott
City and thence to Baltimore, furnish
ing a very beautiful route to that city.
In the region Immediately west of