Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-08
PLAN OF DRIVEWAY
ON POTOMAC CLIFF
NEARING FRUITI0N
CONTINUED from First Page.)

| is approximately 100000 square
feet. The land is not expected to
prove very expensive as 1t Is low
! land, subject to inundation in case or
flood as it was several years ago, but
! ideal for park purposes because OF
| the virgin condition. But it will be
a matter of some Is years, it is esti-
| mated before this part of the river
side project could be finished if work
| is started Immediately, and because of
| the possibility Of long delay the Plan
ming Commission will be asked to re-
quest the Department Of Justice to
assign Immediately a special attorc
| ney to the task Of getting the neces-
| Sary legal data together looking to its
acquisition.
There are many entanglements to
| lie Strengthened out, and one of them
| is the matter of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal. There are some cases
| pending in the local courts now in
which these land rights are involved,
and when the Government starts the
work of looking into the ownerships
of the proposed parkway, it was
pointed out, this will come up again.
The canal will run right through the
proposed development. This water
way is being used now principally for
supplying water power to certain in
dustries in Georgetown and there has
not been any extensive navigation on
it for a long time. In the legal study
Of the situation some attention will
be given to the canal question, par
ticularly the requirements under the
canal grants for navigation purposes.
Keeping Canal Sought.
Even those having the proposed
park project in charge say that it
would not be desirable, under any
conditions, to close the section of the
canal where it runs through George
town, in the lock sections, as it pre-
sents such a quaint picture, not to
be found anywhere else in this part
of the country. They admit that it
could stand a, good deal of cleaning
up, lined as it is with rubbish, junk
and other materials, but in the end
1t should be retained as one Of the
beauty spots left over from old Wash
ington.
With the acquisition of the land be-
tween the canal and the cliff drive
will come a fulfillment Of the plans
to connect tho Canal road with Po-
tomac avenue and Conduit road by
a road up the cliff side from the Chain
Bridge. At present time those driv-
ing along the canal road either must
turn across Chain Bridge at it's end
or turn back. To provide for a con-
tinuation Of the drive up the Potomac
it is proposed to extend a connection
from Canal road at the Chain Bridge
TO the higher level cliff drive and
thence onto Conduit road
Coming almost simultaneously with
the start of the cliff drive project Is
the proposal, to be considered by the
District commissioners tomorrow, to
widen Conduit road between FoXhall
road and the District line to a mag
niticent 120-foot boulevard, with a
19-foot parkway in the center. The
plan also allows for wide walks, with
parkings on either side of the boule.
ward. which the Conduit road section
has lacked because of Federal juris.
diction over the road. A recent act
of Congress placed control of the
road In the hands of the Commits
sioners.
Conduit road is now of" irregular
width.
Five Other Proposals.
Five other important changes in
the highway plan of the District will
be considered by the Commissioners
at the same Time. One widening
project provides for making Blair road
from Oglethorpe to Underwood streets
a 90-foot boulevard. 1t is now 80
feet wide. The plans also contem,
plate making all property between
Blair road and the Metropolitan
branch of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad free of streets so that it
may be developed commercially.
Another change provides for shift.
ing the lines of streets in north
Brookland and the absorption of Ser.
geant road by Michigan avenue. The
present highway plan calls for the
abolition of Sergeant road.
Preservation of the famous grove
of old oak trees in Wilson Park south
east as well as the surrounding nat.
ural contours and topography is pro
vided in a plan to be considered for
changing the highway ARRANGEMENT
south of ST. Elizabeth's Hospital be-
tween Nichols avenue and Boiling
Field.
Under the present highway plan
rectangular streets would be cut
through this section with the result
that many old trees would have to
be felled.
Plan for Benning Road.
Another proposed change involves
the property on the south side of
Benning road just west of Anacostia
Park. The new plan for highway de-
velopment in this section will follow
the property lines. The present plan
probably will never be carried out be-
cause it provided for cutting di-
agonally through improvements.
The final proposed change provides
for the Curving of the streets in the
section bordering Southern avenue
from the District line to Branch ave-
nue.. The rugged topogra ply of this
territory makes such a highway plan
ideal, Mr.. Hazen pointed out
The co-oriinating committee OF the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission already has approved the
proposed changes. If they are in
iorsed by the Commissioners follow
ing the public hearing. the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion VII be required 10 put on the
final stamp of approval before they
are carried out.
All of. the proposed changes accord
ing to Mr.. HaZen, involve considerable
condemnation and dedication of prOp-