Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-21
z|HLMAN MOVES
TO HELP PARKS
Offers Bill to Avert Destruc-
ton Pending Condemnation
Proceedings.

CHAIRMAN ZlnlmaD or the HOUSE LIS
trict committee. who is also member
of the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission. today introduced a
bill which he will urge upon Congress
as pressingly important, amending
the act of August 80, $780, relative
to condemnation of land for park pur-
poses
The object Of this bill is to pre-.
vent the destruction or injury OF land
selected for park purposes between
the time Of filing of petition for con-
domination and completion OF the con-
domination proceedings. by cutting OF
trees, grading. filling valleys ana
streams. constructing costly buildings
that will be of no value for park pur-
noses and add largely to the cost or
the property. A..
"It seems to be important, MI
Zihluan saws. ITO preserve from ue'
struction areas particularly valuable
for mark and parkway purposes,
which II has been decided, with the
annroval of the President, to acquire
nv condemnation. and it also Seems
desirable to prevent the construct!ito,i
on such property OF expensive JUN
ings. the result Of which coIlstrue ~ ~,
will be to so increase the Value =.
nronerty as to prevent Its acQulsA.ioii
~ a reasonable price for this purpose.
ut is believed that the bill TO De
submitted makes such provision lof
tbe nrotection Of the owners as u ie
move legal objections.
Reasons Set Forth.
The reasons for the legislation are
set forth in letter from Lieut.. liz
u. S. Grant, Bird. dlrector VI 80 az.
h,fildinss and parks, who is also
ao,,t;ve officer of the National Capital
pori. and Planning Commission as
follows: on.sa nron.
nrice reasonable, in the
cry nf the National Capltai
parI and Planning Commission, 'ne
law provides' that the land may p
aoouired nv condemnation unoer tne
,,,ayisions of the act, of August o.
1soo f26 Stat, 4l2-413. TO ACQUIRE
land in this way requires w .hT eS
faction by the National Capllai 6" 20,
and Planning Commission any y,
the approval of the President VI l'e
United States 4. e hold
.,,at during the period from date OF
cling the netition and the end or the
,roreedings. the owners retain luh
and unrestricted control of the prop
arty 10 do with it exactly as tne3
please It has already occurred tha'
IN vacant site. selected for pay
ground. in a section Where II was ca
tremalv difficult to find suff1clent I'M
oocunied ground for this purpose
r,hare II was very urgently needed
tho owner. on learning of the desire
of the commission, fastened TO con
tract for the construction OF large
building, the removal OF large quail
titles of material to the site anu eA
cayate and build foundRtion, with Tue
utmost speed to avoid the taxing Va
the land for this purpose. me resul.
was that these activities so $500
Increased the cost of acquisition lhds
tho project had to be abandoned. ana
Tins far it has been Impossible 10
provide a playground anywhere near
this location. =
"In another instance, the owner Is
opposed to the taking of the lano ioI
playground purposes and ne mas very
ser;nuslv threatened the cutting or
very beautiful forest located at the
center Of an existing parkway, more
than half a mile long, and construct
ing about so row-houses on TINS site:
In the Judgment of the. PARK aIo
Parkway Commission the result WouIo
be most deplorable and such eApert
enceS ShoulQ De pIcNchI0" - ~
no done in a legal way.
..It 10 believed the proposed bill is
90 framed that it meets all legal OBJ
jections.
Prohibits Tree Cutting.
at proyides % that on filing the
petition the possession and control OF
the property passes to the director OF
public buildings and public parks,
who is also executive officer or the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission. 1t prohibits cutting OF
trees or grading or construction OF
buildings on that property pending
the termination of the condemnation
proceedings.
For the full protection of the own
err. it requires deposit of money In
the court at the outset sufficient IN
the judgment of the court to pay Tor
the deprivation of use of the prop
erty from the date of the petition un-
til the proceedings are terminated,
either by decision of the President no.
TO take the property. or by the taking
after the proceedings are closed, and
further provides that if not taken
within two years the property shall
be returned to possession of the own
err: also that if the property is not
taken for public purposes the COM
missioners appointed by the court to
appraise the value Of the property
taken shall determine the value of the
deprivation of use of the property
during the time the owner is deprived
of its possession, and the owner shall
be remunerated to that extent out Of
the deposit made; that if the property
is taken for public purposes the
amount so deposited shall be credited
to apply toward the purchase money.
I'VE believe this meets with every
possible constitutional objection and
protects the owner
I'm view of the situation now eX-
listing and likely to arise any day, we
feel that this legislation is very inn
portant and it's enactment at the ear
lest possible moment is respectfully
urged"
Powdered peat instead Of cork is
used in making linoleum by a process
nnfs ad 1axs IL.