Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-31
BY HARLEAN JAMES.
Secretary, American Civic Association.

| When the committee of 100 on the
| Federal City made its preliminary
| report to the American Civic Assoc
| citation in January of 1924. many
| needs of Washington We're outlined
| by the 10 subcommittee which had
/ been at work. But there were two
outstanding needs which the COM
mittee set out to achieve; These
were set forth by Frederic A
| Delano, chairman of the committees
| in these words:
| l. Just as the founders looked for
ward 100 years in their planning. 50
| we must look forward. Correcting
| past errors is expensive. Intelligent
| planning for the future is economy.
| Some machinery adequate for such
| planning should be set up.
.. This Federal City was set
| amidst hills and valleys that We're
| notable for their trees and shrubbery
| of n remarka bic variety. If that con-
| dition is to continue in the future
| ample reservations for forests and
parks should be made. Other cities
| in our country are far in advance
of Washington in these respects.
Responsibility Recognized.
Mr.. Delano made plain that the
search to discover the needs of the
CAPITAL was made in no complaining
spirit. We are proud of Washing
ton" he declared, but as citizens of
the republic, resident here, we recog-
niZe our responsibility of calling the
attention Of those residing else
where TO what is happening. Only
through the intelligent foresight Of
our generation can the next and
those to follow retain the birthright
which we have received in trust for
the future"
The preservation of the areas suit
able for parks and Fairgrounds i'm
pressed the committee with the need
for Immediate action. The bill then
pending in Congress to create the
National Capital Park Commission
was called 10 the attention of such
technical organizations as the Amer
lean Institute of Architects, the
American Society of Landscape
Architects. the American City Plan
ming Institute and the American
Society of Civil Engineers. These
organizations formed committees to
cooperate in the effort to make
Washington the most beautiful cap
ital in the world The field commit
tees Of the American civic AsSoci
alton on the Federal City developed
keen interest and the bill passed
Congress and was signed by the
President in June of 1924.
The National Capital Park Com
mission created by that. act is now
funCtioning body. Its accomplishments
in building up an adequate park syS-
tenn for Washington and its environS
are only limited by the appropria tions
at its command. The work OF acquir-
ing park areas is in capable hands.
Plan Commission Necessary.
But the experience in city building
all goes to show that the exceedingly
intricate modern problems Of plan
ming highways. parks and parkWayES,
drainage. sewerage and water diStrihu-
tion. the development of water fronts.
the plating of subdivisions, the Choos-
ing of sites for public buildings. the
coming of unOcCupied areas and al the
numerous other elements of planning
must be brought together and CORE
lated before really satisfactory results
can be achieved. Each of these ele-
ments must be placed on the same
map. If the grades are esta blished 10
meet one set of conditions and the
land could be plated to better advan-
tage in another way, 1t is obvious that
there must be some accommodation.
The only way yet discovered to bring