Evening star., 1926-03-17
BY WILL. p. KENNEDY.

for the Nations Capital City. drafted
In 1871. q well co-ordinated program
for Washington development to meet
present day needs and build ade-
quately for the future is being put
through he leRisla tive mill. Part Of
this Is being worked through the
present session Of Congress and
larger part will be In shape for pas
sage In the Sixty ninth Congress.
In the last session bill was passed
establishing the National Capital
Parks Commission. to get steady de-
and is on the Senate calendar where
preserve desira BILE valley and wooded
tracts. But Congress has never ap-
prOpriated more than $500 .00O q year
out Of the 81, ,l00.O 900 annually author
lied by that law.
In the present Congress enlarge
ment of that commission is sought
to assure continuous and consistent
development and Identification of the
Capital. Under that measure II is
hoped to get the best advice in the
country on the building up Of fsWash-
inston and TO get on the commission
representatives from Maryland and
Virginia to advise in the planning for
This measure has passed the House
and is on the Senate calendar, where
II will probably be reached in abou,
two weeks.
New Avenue Likely.
The extension Of the "a pitol grounds
to Union station, with a new avenue
from Union Station to the Peace Mon
ument. as originally pla by the
Mcmillan commission in 1901, ana
which has been deferred ever since
and especially since 1912 when con-
demnation proceedings were closed. IL
likely to he authorized at this session.
The Senate has pa ssed the mea sure
authorizing completion Of the pur-
chase Of privately owned land. part
OF which Ia now occupied by Govern
ment hotels. and for which Uncle Sam
The House comittee on public build
inEs and grounds held hearing YES.
terday at which there was strong In
dica ton that the committee will vote
soon in favor of the measure.
Also nearing nactment Ia the meas
ure authorizing an appropria ton OF
$500 600 to complete the work OF the
Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway
Commission ny acquiring the remain.
ing land for connection between
these two great parks. The House has
pased the hill directing that the
money he taken entirely from the
surplus funds Of the District. The
Senate District committee approved
an amendment by Senator Phipps
which would have the costs paid on
RI. $3.50 principle. This I. now await.
ing action IN the Senate calendar.
New Building Urged.
The public buildings bill. which ha 8
already passed the House and which
il on the Senate calendar and will
proba bly he acted upon in about two
weeks following the Italian debit
provides $50 .000. 900 for new Federal
buildings in Washington. This will
result In big improvement in the
ca pital City. beca 1t will make pos
sible the removal OF temporary fre
trap structures that are eyAsOres
and public menace Senator Bruce
Of MARYLAND. has an amendment pend
ing to erect these new buildings along
Pennsylvania avenue.
This would he a start on fulfilling
the Governments plan for many
years. which, has laid a dead hand
on properties along the south side
VI tfIS FtI CSt vi tnS NO
ton and prevented improvements by
private capital. so that 1t now pre-
sents a general dila pidated, rundown
sppea ra nee.
The widening and extension Of 2
street northwest from the Lincoln
Memorial along the north side of the
Mall Ii already authorized under the
Arlington Memorial Bridge act. This
is to be made the great Boulevard oi
Heroes, along which all great corteges
from the Capitol across the Arlington
Bridge TO the silent city of the dead
At Arlington will pass. Representa-
tive Underhill. Republican. Of Massa
chusetts has a bill pending. which he
is prepa ring to press in the next ses
sion. for purchas Sc of several squares
just west of the Capitol to allow for
the Strengthening Of p street, the
s0uaring up OF the Mall. which was
originally designed by Washington
and L'Enfant as great public sra aden
and will result In clea ming up one OF
the most disgracefully unsightly sec
tions Of the city. right where sreat
parades and pageants start.
Water Front Plans.
Two plans have been prepared by
the engineer officer in charge Of this
rivers and harbors district. by direc
tion Of Congress. for development OF
the water front. There 10 now beine
worked up composite plan for
presentation to Congress at this ses
sion. Suggestions for treating a water
front boulevard have just been made
by the park planning committee of the
National Capital Parks Commission n
In connection with the water front
development comes the demand from
civil leaders in Washington that the
tourists camp in East Potomac Park
must not be perma nent. A wear ago
the appropriation bill carried $50. 900
/ for starting permanent construction
on this site. A resolution il now pepd
ing before the House committee or
public buildings and grounds to prA
vent this permanent construction.
Washington welcomes the touris,
guests. hut II is felt that there should
he camp sites provided on All m.
principal avenues Of entrance to ths
city. because the Potomac Park site
while convenient to tourists from IN.
South. Is very inconvenient for tourist,
from other directions.
Purchase OF land in. klingle Vallav
west or Rock Creek and undercuttirs
connecticut avenue Is about comnInt
ed after long years Of negotiation.
Piney Branch Park In Dancer
Extension Of the park system
along Piney Bra nch. northeast. from
the Iiser Bridge at Sixteenth street
TO link In with Fort Stevens. where
President Lincoln stood on ths
ramparts under enemy Are. and
following the line of old Piney
Branch, which IL now piped a.
sewer. IL in a precarious situat;on
Condemnation proceedings have heen
started within the limits of the an.
preparations. II money is not an.
propriated soon to buy the land near
the bridge. contractors will All in and
block up the arches of the bridge
This Piney Branch extension, when