Evening star., 1926-05-25
GIBSON PROMISES
HEARINGS ON FORTS
Will Press House Action to
Block Transfer of Two
River Posts.

the plan to prevent the transfer Of
Forts Washington. Md. and Hunt.
Va, on the Potomac River about IA
miles below Washington. by the War
Department to private individuals was
seen as strong possibility today.
Representative Gibson Of Vermont.
chairman Of the subcommittee on
parks of the House Distrist commit
| tee, today said he would hold a public
| hea ring on the bill introduced yester-
day by Representative Zihlman Of
Maryland, chairman Of the District
committee, which directs and author.
ICES the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission to acquire these
| two posts under the park ana pan
ming commission reorganization act.
1t was disclosed today in the report
of the Senate military affairs commit
tee authorizing the sale of these two
posts. among others. that Forts Wash
ington and Hunt were included In the
original list OF posts which the war
partment asked authority to sell,
but that they were eliminated by the
House committee on military affairs:
"No reasons were given for this
action" said the report Of the com
mittee filed with the Senate today. out
| II is understood II was at the instance
OF the National Ca apital Park and Plan
ming Commission, who desire tnat
Fort Hunt and Fort Washington,
across the river. be added to the park
system Of Washington. y. c."
Mr.. Gibson said he was intensely In
terested in the plan to save these two
forts for the park system or the me.
tropolitan district Of Washington. ana
was strongly opposed to their being
allowed to pass into private hands.
He said the Zihlman bill has not yet
been referred to his subcommittee, put
that when this was done he would
promptly call a meeting to CONSIDER
the proposition, and would hold a pub-
lie hearing. He added that he was
ready now to vote for the bill. and ex-
pressed the opinion that the othef
members of the subcommittee also
were In favor OF 1t.
Expects Actien This Week.
Mr., Gibson said that he would make
an effort to get action on the Dill thts
week. 40 that It might be reported to
the House for early consideration. IL
was pointed out by Mr.. Gibson that
action now was urgent In order TO pre-
vent the sale of the forts to private IN
diyiduals, perhaps later to ne pur
chased Nv the Government at a higher
figure.
II Is known that the Park and
Planning Commission has given some
consideration to the acquisition OF
these two posts as q part of the park
system. and Maj. Gen. Taylor, chief
Of engineers, who Is chairman OF tne
commission, has stated tnat they
should be kept under Government con-
troll, whether the Army Is recon-
Mai. u. s. Grant. Sd. director Of the
Office Of Public Buildings and Parks
and executive officer of the Park ana
Planning Commission. takes the view
that while they should he retained.
pevert heless Il should not be done at
loss to the Army, which needs the
money for the reconstruction OF per
manent buildings on Army posts
throughout the country.
Posts Described in Report.
Descriptions of the two posts are
included in the Senate committee re-
port, which says:
Fort Hunt is located In Fairfax
County. Va. IS miles below Washing
ton, y. c. 1t was acquired by purchase
from 1893 to 1905, at a cost Of $45.52S,-
81. for the defense Of the Potomac
River and Washington. Improvements
to the extent of $309, ,725.55 have been
made At present 1t Is on caretak-
ing status, all armament having been
removed The defenses lately COM
pleted at the entrance to the Cnesa,
peake Bay and the development OF
aircraft have rendered this fortifca-
ton obsolete for defense purposes.
This fort consists Of 197.413 acres.
Fort Washington, Md, is located
in Prince Georges County, on the
east bank of the Potomac, IA miles
south of the city Of Washington. 1t
consists Of 354.30 acres. and was ac-
nuired nv purchase and condemnation
between 1903 and 1914, at a cost of
s3s.117.s0. for the purpose of the
defense Of Washington. Improve
ments at this station amount to $7S4,-
3ss. At present 1t is garrisoned oy
one battalion Of the 18th United
States Infantry. and service detach'
ment. When the post is sold 1t is
contemplated that the Infantry troops
now chartered there be moved
Camp Meade, Nd, where the regi-
ment Is to be concentrated
Total Value, $1,127,755. !
The total value Of the land. at the
original purchase prices, and the
value of the improvements thereon
is placed at $1,127.755.42. Before the
tracts are sold the Secretary of War
is required to have them appraised.
and in the making of the appraisal
the act requires that due regard shall
be given to the value Of any improve.
ments thereon and to the historic in.
terest of any part Of said land. This
may make this figure 60 up or down.
depending upon the matters that the
appraisers take into consideration.