Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-23
NAVY PLANS SWAP
FOR STRIP OF LAND
House Bill Proposes Aban-
donment by D. c. of In.
dustriaI Home Site.

At the request of Admiral E. w.
Eberle, Acting Secretary Of the Navy,
bill was introduced in the House
late yesterday by Representative
Magee of Pennsylvania, which pro.
vides for a land swap between the
Federal and District governments,
Property Proposed In Exchange.
Under the terms of the bill as
drafted by the Navy Department teh
department would turn over to the
District of Columbia Naval Observa-
tory property at Massachusetts and
Wisconsin avenue lying Immediately
outside the observatory circle, just
east Of Massachusetts avenue. In
return. the District turns over to the
department Industrial Home property
lying within the observatory circle.
Less than an acre is involved in the
swap.
But the Commissioners are author
lied to utilize or SELL" once the ex-
change has been made, all the re-
vamped Industrial Home site. In case
the property is sold the bill provides
that the District government must
take all the proceeds from the prop
erty embracing the original site and
half of the proceeds from the prop
erty acquired from the Navy Depart
ment to purchase a new site and
erect another industrial home.
Wording of Bill.
The bill reads: Provided that the
said Board Of Commissioners are
further authorized and empowered on
behalf Of the District Of Columbia to
utilize or sell, as they see f1t. all OF
that remaining portion Of the said
Industrial Home School site with I'M
provements thereon lying outside OF
the said observatory circle, and also
all the land and improvements there
on east of Massachusetts avenue
hereunder authorized to be &C
quired ."
Commissioner Cuno H. Rudolph de-
MED emphatically today that the pro
vision in the naval appropriation bill
proposing an exchange OF land be-
tween the Naval Observatory and the
District would mean the abolition Of
the Industrial Home School. The
Commissioners, he said, are In hearty
accord with the general provisions or
the bill.
The Navy Department, under the
terms of the BILL would turn over to
the District the Naval Observatory
property at Massachusetts and Wis
consin avenues lying Immediately out
side the Naval Observatory Circle,
Just east Of Massachusetts, avenue.
In return the District would give the
observatory property in the Indus
trial Home School grounds.
Would Keep School Site.
The transaction, according to Com
missioner Rudolph, would leave in the
possession of the District the Indus
trial Home School. proper, in addition
to a valuable piece of land fronting on
Massachusetts, avenue. The plans OF
the Commissioners. he explained, is
eventually to sell this property and use
the funds to erect new and modern
building for the Industrial Home
School. There is no intention, he de.
clared, to abandon the institution. A
iproviso in the bill authorizing the Com
missioners to utilize or sell, as they
see fit" all the remaining portion of
the Industrial Home School site after
the exchange is made. Mr.. Rudolph
said, was inserted at the request of the
Commissioners. This was done, he
said, with the idea Of permitting the
Commissioners to use the land for the
best interests of the District Part of
the land, he suggested, may be desir-
able for school, park, playground or
highway purposes.
Doubts Move Justified.
Mai. w. II Holcombe, Assistant En-.
gineer Commissioner, who had made a
detailed study of the proposed ex-
change of land, reported to the Com.
missioners last month when they had
the bill under consideration that he
did not believe there is sufficient need
for additional park space in the vi
cinity of the Naval Observatory to
justify developing the high-priced
Massachusetts avenue frontage for
that purpose
"If Sold" he said, this ground
would, no doubt, be developed with
attractive residences, and substan.
tial revenue would be derived from
the sale. I believe this money could
better be used to help provide new
facilities for the Industrial Home
School, or for purchasing less expen-
sive park property where the need
therefore is greater"