Evening star., 1925-04-19

Transportation and for interchange of
traffic between vessels and the rail-
roads and highways, respectively. in
Guiding any recommendations which
may be deemed advisable for co-ordi-
mating the full commercial use of said
water front and the approaches with
the Identification thereof
Program for Study.
So what is to be worked out this
Summer is a new development plan,
thoroughly considered and co-ordi-
mated between engineering and artis-
tic features, utilitarian considerations
and harmony with the general park
way scheme, which will be approved
by the District Commissioners and
the Federal authorities.
Mai O'Connor will have this survey
ordered by Congress made in August,
and he figures 1t will be about six
weeks job. In the meantime informa-
ton is being collected from all avail
able sources. The engineer officer for
the District of Columbia and the ex.
ecutive officer for the Office of public
buildings and grounds and the Ma
tional Capital Park Commission are
cooperating. The interests to be con-
sidered are not only the shipping in
terests on the water front such as or
dinarily are found in mostsindustrial
cities, but it is well recognized that
there must be a proper boulevard to
connect the Potomac parks with Ana
costa Park by way of Washington
Barracks and the Navy Yard.
Attention must also be given to the
appearance of the water front, so as
to have 1t in keeping with the beauti-
full park development just across
Washington channel.
Need Co-ordinated Plan.
The development to be recon-
mended to Congress must be based
upon a co.ordinated plan before the
details are worked up. At present the
Engineer Commissioner is trying to
supervise activities along the water
front SO as to prevent anything being
done that would interfere with the
development of q proper plan later,
and at the same time derive reason
able return from the property owned
by the District on the water front.
through leasing to various concerns
on short-time notice structures which
are erected, in the cost of which the
leasing company often participates.
All of this becomes the property of
the District of Columbia within rea-
sonable time, so there will be no
private property rights that would In
terfere with any plan that may be
approved.
The appearance of the waterfront
has improved considerably during
recent years, but a development can
not be expected which will be In keep
ing with the surroundings and give
the proper. terminal facilities for com
merce without the expenditure of
funds, and Congress wants to see how
funds can most advantageously be
spent to get the desired harmonious
development.
In Charge of O'Connor.
Mai. O'Connor. who is to supervise
the survey for the Engineer Corps OF
the Army. has SUPERVISION, over the
water and channel and navigation;
the District Commissioners are par
ticularly interested in the existing
structures and Lieut.. Col. Clarence y.
Sheriff.. as executive officer OF the
National Capital Parks Commission, Is
deeply concerned about the essential
boulevard and the parkway develop
ment. so that it will not only pe at
tractive but will fit in as a connection
between the chain OF parks SURROUND
ing the Capital.
In what is commonly known as the
"McMillan plan" for improvement Of
the park system of the District, aIter
a comprehensive survey and very
careful study, edited by Charles Moore.
now chairman of, the Commission of
Fine Arts, special consideration was
given to this waterfront as an integral
part of the parkway system, saying:
..It seems highly important that the
waterfront improvement should be
utilized to the utmost in providing a
southern parkway connection between
the Anacostia section of the District
and Potomac Park. That report was
made in 1902 and all of the Potomac
Park deyelopment in the last % years,