Evening star., 1926-03-13
TRAFFIC BAN HIT
BY TRADE BOARD
Exclusion of 18th Street Cars
Through Walter Reed
Grounds Scored.

The Washington Board of Trade to-
day mailed to every member of Con-
gress u letter protesting the exclusion
of street cars, busseS and such traffic
from the proposed extension of -Four.
teenth street through the Walter Reed
Hospital grounds.
The letter points out the need of
Fourteenth street as traffic artery
to Maryland and the necessity of its
extension. If the proper development
OF the city is not TO be hampered. The
board also points out that the senti-
ment of the residents in the vicinity
of the hospital and the patients favorS
the extension of the street car line
through the grounds.
Cites Three Reasons.
The board concludes it's letter with
the presentation of three reasons for
mot depriving the citizens OF Wash
ington and Maryland of this thorough
fare" The reasons read:
al. II the rights and wishes of the
community are 10 be consulted, the
original plan for the extension of
Fourteenth street will be adhered to.
"2. If the wishes of the soldiers OF
Walter Reed Hospital are TO be con-
dema nding that n street car be run
through the reservation for their bene-
fit. 1t may he said that to run
car line through Walter Reed Hospital
grounds would disturb the quletude
and peace so much desired by those
who are sick and invalid. The answer
to this Is that q car line has been
running in close proximity 10 the
wards of the patients along Georgia
avenue and has not apparently, all
these years. seemed to have been a
disturbing factor in the welfare OF
the soldiers.
"It might also be added that during
the Spring. Summer and Fall months
foot ball, base ball and other games
are PLAYED on the reservation, the
noise and connotion of which car, he
heard for six or eight blocks-often'
times 10 the discomfort of the resi-
dents of the community, although no
one has contended that II interfered
with tho patients at The hospital.
Furthermore, 1t was established al the
hearings on the original bill that TO SO
depress the car tracks as was planned
would In no wise interfere with the
comfort and welfare of the patients.
Urgent Need for Outlet.
"3. Tho growth of the city 10 the
north demands additional outlets into
Maryland. and to crcumscribc the
running of Fourteenth street through
to the Maryland line will prove great
mistake and a drawback to the proper
DEVELOPMENT of that large and grow
ing section. In other words, VIC have
the situation where the so called well
fare of a. hospital is, and has been,
used to choke the growth Of an I'M
portant section of a. city. When 1t IS
remembered that there are so few
streets leading to the northern bound
ary Of the District. it becomes q high
ly important query whether the city's
growth is to be throttled and shut off
by a hospital. or whether the hospital
should he removed. especially when
the hospital is located in Il place
where it cannot develop and grow as
a. large national hospital should.
"There arc places in the suburbs
where such hospital could spread
out over rolling country. where there
are rivuiets and beautiful natural
scenery, and where there would be
ample room to develop an ideal home
and surroundings for tho manned
wounded and sick soldiers of the late
war. The ground for such a hospital
| would cost the Government about one
tenth Of what it is costing in the at
tempt to squeeze 1t within the con
fines of a growing city
Ask for Justice.
"Eut the Board Of Trade and other
civic and citizens bodies have never
advocated the removal of the hos
pital-they simply ask that justice be
done to the Capital City. when to dc
so will not in any manner interfere
with the present plans OF enlargement
Of the hospital. Large sums have been
appropriated for the development OF
the hospital. but very little has been
expended, and it is not too late to pre-
vent what we feel would be a great
detriment to the northern section or
the District. should the bill In It's
present form be adopted.
'It has been suggested that the medi'
cal authorities Of the Army have made
certain plans for the esthetic develop
ment of the greater hospital. and that
this influence is operating to prevent
the extension of Fourteenth street
along the lines as originally planned.
We have no basis for such state
ment. nor do we subscribe to the same
but are merely stating q SITUATION
which confronts us. which IS tnat,
against the practically unanimous
sentiment Of all citizens associations,
and civic bodies. there seems 70 oe
a small minority which has nan IN.
duence enough to thwart the oeslIes
of the public in their snafuraI oeslie
to see the city grow and develop as II
should.