Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-07
FORTS ACQUISITION
AS PARKS DELAYED
Grant Says Army Will Hold
Potomac River Posts for
Time Being.

Enactment of legislation to author
ize the National Capital Park ana
Planning Commission to acquire Forts
Washington, Hunt and Foote, along
the Potomac River as links in the
park system is not necessary at TINS
time in view of the decision OF the
War Department 20 retain the 1ofls
for the time being. Lieut.. Col. Y. ,.
Grant. Sd. director of public buildings
and marks. told the Senate military
affairs committee today.
A bill under which the park com
mission would purchase the toftS
from the War Department was intro
duced by Senator Capper at the last
session, because at that time the war
Department had placed Washington
Hunt and Foote on a list of old forts
to be sold at auction.
Park Group Not Ready.
Col. Grant explained today that the
Parks Commission is not ready at this
time to proceed with the actual de-
.velopment of these forts into parks
but had sought the pending legislation
last year TO save these desirable park
sites from passing into private hands
If placed on the auction block by the
War Department Col Grant en-
planned that if these forts are to be
kept by the War Department for the
time being it is agreeable to the Park
Commission, since there would then
be no danger of the Government los
ing them for park treatment at some
later time.
One of the reasons why the Park
Commission is not DESTROYS of press
ing for the immediate acquisition of
the forts is that definite plan has
not vet been perfected with the au-
thorities of Maryland and Virginia for
dhe purchase and development of park
areas in those States. The sole pur-
pose of the Park Commission. Col.
Grant said, was TO make sure that the
forts would not get away from the
Government before the time when
they can be added to the park system.
Committee Is Interested.
Members of the military affairs
committee displayed interest in Col.
Grants explanation of the attractive
place these forts could be given in the
park system surrounding the National
Capital at some later time. Senator
Fletcher. Democrat of Florida wanted
to know if there are good roads con-
Meeting Fort Washington with the
National Capital. Col. Grant said it
is not a boulevard, out Is a very g0Od
road to that point.
The saving of Fort Hunt on the
Virginia side is very important. Col
Grant said, because Of it's proximity
TO Mount Vernon and because it
would fit in with the proposed Mount
Vernon boulevard. The other fort is
on the Maryland side of the river.
According to Col Grant. the view of
the National Capital from Fort Wash
tngton is one of the most attractive
that could be obtained. He also told
the committee that whenever Fort
Washington is made park the
Bureau of Fisheries could establish
there the fish hatchery now occupying
rented quarters at Bryans Point. Md.
including public exhibition of fish
ponds in connection with the park.
Sale of Fort Foote, in MARYLAND.
which is much smaller than the other
two. by the War Departmnt, has
already been authorized. The pending
bill included Fort Foote, but was in.
tended primarily to safeguard Forts
Hunt and Washington from private
ownership.