Evening star., 1925-04-19
Survey to Be Made This
Summer as First Step in
Project for Boulevard.
WILL LINK ANACOSTIA
AND POTOMAC PARKS
Two Bridges Under Consideration.
Leaders in Capital Are Back
ing Proposal.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

By WILL p. KENNEDY.
Transformation of the now insight
ly yWater front of the National Capital
into beautiful riverside boulevard.
winch VIII be the completing stretch
In motor highway entirely surround
ing the Capital, linking together the
chaln OF great park areas and at the
same time taking adequate advantage
or facilities for water-borne commerce.
VIII be urged upon Congress when it
reassembles in December as the next
big step to be taken in DEVELOPMENT
OF the city of Washington
congress itself has called for recon-
mendations for this great DEVELOPMENT
through specific appropriation in the
rivers and harbors section of the War
department appropriation bill for a
survey of the water front of the Ma
uonal Capital. to see how it can be
best improved with the experience of
other great cities as guide and with
the best engineering talent directed
upon this problem.
Has Strong Support.
The recommendations that go IN
congress will have the support of the
president, the Engineer Corps of the
Army, the District Commissioners,
the National Capital Park commits
SION, the Washington Board of Trade,
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tlons, and of all interested parties. 1t
will represent a drive by Federal. as
well as District officials and residents,
to make the most of the scenic and
esthetic as well as utilitarian possibil-
tiles of the historic Potomac as a
water entrance TO the Capital City.
Three important agencies of the
= ont
ing an agreement on the recommend
atlons to be made to Congress: The
Engineer Corps of the Army entrust-
ed with rivers and harbors improve.
ment, with the survey conducted un-
der the direction of Maj James A
O'Connor; the District Commission.
ers, through Lieut. Col. j. Franklin
| Bell, and the National Capital Parks
/ Commission, through its executive Of
! heer, Lieut.. Col. Clarence o Sheriff..
Must Embrace Full Extent.
While Maj. O'Connor interprets the
law directing him to make this sur
vey as calling only for a study of the
comparatively small stretch of wa
ter front between the Washington
Barrack grounds, and the end of
Washington channel where it is
crossed by the railroad trestIe, the
recommended improvements must
work in neatly with the general plans
for Capital development. especially
with the park system, and must take
care that this locality which first
catches the eye of railroad travellers
! from the South must present a pleas
ing appearance.
For this reason, while specific rec
! concentrations are contemplated by
! Maj. O'Connor to cover only what is
! now known as Washington CONNER
lf~io aY,Y- y, -,
| this Summer by all the agencies in
| terested in the water front develop
ment will include the following pro-
posed improvements:
| ~ A beautiful boulevard from Po-
! tomac Park East, crossing the end of
| Washington Channel, along Water
street on the city side of the channel
| past the Washington Barracks
grounds, past the Navy Yard and
crossing the Anacostia River to con-
| meet with the new Anacostia Park de-
| velopment, and connecting with the
motor boulevard through the parks
entirely surrounding the city.
~ Eventually monumental bridge
from either Hains Point at the end of
| Potomac Park East or from the
| Washington Barracks to the Anacos-
! tia side of the river. This is the next
| important bridge contemplated to be
| built after the Arlington Memorial
| Bridge has been completed, in from 3
| to 10 years.
Cleaning up Water Front.
| (3) Cleaning up the water front and
| providing model quays and docks to
care for water-borne commerce and
boating, with special study given to
providing terminal facilities for inter
change of railroad, water and highway
cargoes.
! % Establishment of a commercial
water front on Anacostfa River be
tween the P, B. w. Railroad
bridge and the Washington Navy
Yard Opposite Anacostia Park.
| (5l Encouragement of commercial
DEVELOPMENTS on the Georgetown and
Anacostia water fronts. 1t VIII be
emphasized that Georgetown was once
! a famous port.
| (6) Erection of a small bridge at
the point of Washington channel, just
! east of the present railroad tressle,
| so as to swing the water front boule.
| bard from East Potomac Park onto
| the city side along Water street, thus
avoiding the bad street car conges-
| ton between the Bureau OF EngraV-
ing and Printing and the Highway
Bridge and affording much needed
relief for heavy traffic in that section.
New Bridge Planned.
| (O Erection of a new bridge to re-
place the Pennsylvania avenue bridge,
| southeast, as an outlet for the pro-
posed commercial zone.
(s) Relocation of street car lines
serving the water front.
(9) Parkway Identification all along
the water front, with the principal
plaza at Seventh and L streets. with
a large triangular park where F and
G. streets run to the boulevard and
smaller triangles between G and II
and n and Sixth streets.
The wording of the rivers and har-
bars act shows that Congress contem-
mates establishment of terminals
1 the water front for interchange of
traffic between the river, the railroads
and highways. 1t says: THE water
front on the north side of Washington
Channel, District of Columbia (which
is from Washington Barracks to the
Tidal Basin), with a view of surveying
the same and preparing and submit
ting plans and estimates of cost for
/ the construction OF an adequate ter
minal or terminals which would pro-
vide appropriate facilities for water
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