Evening star., 1927-12-08
POTOMAC GORGE EVELOPMENT|
AT u. S. COST ASKED BY GRANT
Project Suggested as Federal Contribution
to Regional Plan-Seen Solution
of Difficult Problem.

Development of the Potomac River
gorge AZ major project In the go
called metz opolitan district, entirely
at the cost of the United States, as TIE
Federal Government = contribution 10
the regiocal development, WAS ursed
in The annual report of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion, presented at the White House
today by Lieut.. Col. l.. =. Grant, 81,
executive officer of the commission.
If tho Federal Government should un-
dertake such project, then the com
mission recommends that Maryland
and Virginia be made to understand
that this would be the final cOntribu-
tion of the United States. and no
funds would be available for the pur-
chase of other park areas within the
metropolitan districts of the two
States.
The commission makes this recon-
mcndation az a possible solution OF
what may prove difficult problem. II
every project is to be the subject OF
discussion between the various COM
missions.
Another outstanding recommends
ton is that some legislation be en-
acted to allow Government control OF
the apDearance of private structures
adjacent to public buildings and park
projects.
Legislation Difficult.
TT is difficult to draft general 'egis-
lation for this purpose which VIII
cover adequately all cases and all
nroiects that may arise in the future.
saws the report, With reference TO re-
gi0uaI development, es1nce IN each
project the relative interests OF the
parties will be somewhat dlf1erent. IL
is believed that some general basis Tor
co.operative work as has for years
been administered satisfactorily in CON
nection with the Mississippi and sac
ramento flood control protects, woulc
be applicable to this case. This Wouid
amount TO giving the commission u
fund available for the United states
contribution to purchases Whlch couia
be entered upon in agreement WIN
the appropriate authorities or the ad-
iacent States. the proportion TO oe
contributed by the United states ana
bv the local authorities being left to
the commission to determine "ithih
general limitations.
tration Of such a law would involve
for each project a discussion ana
mutual agreement between the parties
thereto as to the relative interest OF
each in it and the whole matter might
be materially simplified by the adop-
ton of some major project to be car
ried out by the Federal Government
exclusively with funds appropriated
from the Federal Treasury as the
complete and full contribution OF the
Federal Government to the park sys-
tenn of the region about the National
Capital, it being understood by the
State authorities that no further con-
tributions to parks within the region
would be expected Of the Federal Gov
ernment.
Contribution by L. s.
Because of it's special scenic inter-
est and remarkable potentialitieS as
a public playground, bringing the out
door recreation of the distant country
and mountains to the very doors of
the Capital. the commission has in
mind recommending the development
of the Potomac gorge to and includ-
ing Great Falls as the most appro.
pirate Federal contribution, this area
lying partly in both States and partly
within the District of Columbia"
The commission recommends the
acquisition of land for the construc-
tion of a boulevard to Mount Vernon
by route near the rivers edge; also
an appropriation for the study, inves-
tigation and preparation of detailed
plans for developing the grounds
about the Washington Monument be-
fore 1882, and it renews it's recon-
mendations that Forts Washington,
Hunt and Foote, on the Potomac
River below Washington, be trans
ferred to the Office of Public Build
ings and Public Parks for mainte-
nance and use as part of the re-
gional park system.
Taking up the question of the con-
troll of the exterior appearance of pri-
vate buildings adjacent to public
buildings and park projects, the re-
port says:
THE large expenditures being made
by the Federal Government and the
Municipal Government for improve
ments, which must inevitably in
crease the values of the property in
their vicinity, seem to call for the ex-
ercise of some control over private
building operations, to prevent those
so incongruous as to detract from the
public improvement or exploit it for
the benefit of few and to the detri-
ment of the many. The commission
recommends legislation to provide for
Federal approval of such private
projects"
Street Closing Asked.
II also recommends the passage of
legislation permitting the closing of
streets which have not yet been con.
structed and only parts of which have
been dedicated when made unneces.
sary by changes in the highway plan,
and it also urges legislation for the
relocation and the Strengthening out of
Michigan avenue southeast Of the
Soldiers Home, to take out the bad
curves now existing there.
The commission points to the very
urgent need Of developing the regional
park projects. since the suburbs of
Washington have been growing very
rapidly in the last few years, and
many Of these projects are likely to
become impracticable If the land is
not Immediately reserved for park
purposes. Economically, the report
continues, it would also be sound pol
icy to proceed with the acquisition of
land needed for park purposes at the
earliest possible moment, as the eX-
perience of Washington itself since
1901 has shown the extravaganza of
postponing such projects while build
ing operations and an increasing pop
ulation raise real estate values.
Retention of the Potomac gorge as
a great nature laboratory is strongly
urged by the commission, which
names, as other projects for develop
rnenf nllt side of the Dist rict hut in