Evening star., 1926-10-16

4
should not shun responsibility for the
development Of the National Capital
into the greatest governmental center
in the world, and, in so far as develop
ment of it's artistic features is con-
cerned, should not saddle the expense
on the District of Columbia or the
city's environs in Maryland and Vir-
ginia, was the declaration of M. B.
Medary of the Fine Arts Commission
and the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, before mem
bers of the Interfederation Confer
ence, representative Of organized citi-
zenship, at a dinner last night at the
Cosmos Club. The commission and
members of the conference were din
ner guests of Maj. u 8. Grant, Sd.
head of the National Park and Plan
ming Commission.
Want Beautiful Capital.
In the free interchange Of views on
steps essential to realizing the broad
plans for Identification of the Ma
tional Capital and it's environs Mr..
Medary declared that the people Of the
Nation want q beautiful Capital, one
in which they could take pride. Ex-
planning that existing plans never
system of appropriation, nor If the
burden were placed on the District or
nearby Maryland and Virginia, Mr..
Medary declared the people of the Ma
tion would gladly contribute by virtue
of their intense interest. He strongly
backed the suggestion that the Gov
ernment advance, through bond issue
or otherwise, the millions Of dollars
sufficient to carry out the plans as al
ready outlined.
1--WE have heard much Of spending
| $50 900, 900 for Government buildings
in Washington. 1t is but a small step
in eliminating the nondescript homes
Of Government activities. Why, the
American people spend $3.50, 100000
| a year to go abroad to see Europe's
beautiful cities. Why should they not
contribute to the Identification and
! orderly planning of their own Capital,
| which will stretch miles into Virginia
| and Maryland? My impression Is that
| they are willing and desirous of aiding
If proper machinery is afforded
Raises Finance Question.
Frederick L. Olmsted, a member of
| the Planning Commission. declared
that in any and all plans. contention
over proper equities in the financing
but that this should be eliminated at
the earliest possible juncture in order
that planning work might go forward
| with speed and at a saving to future
generations.
| Mr.. Olmsted, who was one Of those
participating in the formation Of the
Macmillan plan for the development
of the Capital Is years ago, declared
| today many of the tracts that then
were recommended for purchase in the
general city planning proposed at that
time now were beyond the. realm of
purchase. He strongly urged that
early steps be taken to arrange a CO.
ordinated financial plan which would
| make possible the acquisition of lands
far out into Maryland and Virginia in
order that future generations may be
| protected. He declared it was utterly
ridiculous to think that improvements
| In the District proper should end
sharply at the imaginary line separat.
| ing the District and the two nearby
States, and If Washington was to be
q great Capital immediate activity in
Maryland and Virginia was impera.
| tive.
Tremendous Possibilities Seen.
| J. A. Nichols Of Kansas City, q
member Of the commission declared
that in nearby States there were tre.
mendous possibilities for beautiful
and characterful development, possi.
| bly, greater opportunities than existed
in any city in the United States. To
see these territories develop in hap
hazard fashion would be crime, he
said These territories should attract
thousands Of people who desire to
come to Washington to make their
home. But to realize the dreams OF
a greater Capital, Mr.. Nichols pointed
out, 1t Is essential that the work OF
| the Planning Commission be carried
out posthaste. before the naturally
desirable sections become overrun
with unsightly and disorderly devel.
should not be looked at from purely
an artistic standpoint, but from a
financial standpoint as well, and
pointed out that purposeful develop
ment and planning now would save
millions Of dollars to future genera
tions, upon whom would fall the task
! Of eliminating present mistakes. Char
acterful development he said, meant
high prices for property and increased
| taxes, these repaying In the long run
expenses that might be incurred at
| the moment in advancing the WORK
of the Planning Commission. He par
ticularly stressed co-ordinated action
in Maryland and Virginia.
Jesse c.. Suter, president OF the
| Federation Of Citizens Associations
of the District of Columbia, outlined
purposes of the Interfederation
conference and what it hoped to
achieve through cooperative endeavor
in the development of the National
Capital and its environs.
Would "SelI" the Capital.
Oliver owen Kuhn, president of the
Montgomery County Civic Federation
and a member of the Maryland Plan
ming Commission appointed by Gov.
iRttchie to cooperate with the National
| CAPITAL Commission, declared that II
| Washington was to achieve the goal
set for it with q minimum of friction
sectional or municipal jealousy, the
| fertile fields of love and respect for
the National Capital inherent in the
hearts and minds Of people all over
the United States must be cultivated
| There must be built up a burning
desire to see created here. the greatest
| Capital in the world, and he outlined
the plans of the Interfederation Con-
| ference to organize a great publicity
bureau in the Capital to sell
| Washington to the Nation.
With the people of the country bet
| ter understanding what Is desired In
developing the Capital there will be
less inclination to "pettyfogging' on
the part of captious members of Con
gress, he explained, for they will real
| lie that one of the things nearest the
hearts of the people is growth Of their
National Capital along expansive and
| beautiful lines. There will be more
inclination on the part of the people
as a whole to bear their share of the
expense, said Mr.. Kuhn, II they better
understand what Is transpiring and
f, what Is hoped for. Mr.. Kuhn declared