Evening star., 1927-10-25
D0UGHERTY URGES
AID FOR DISTRICT
Tells Civic Group Nation
Should Share in Capital
Development.
BY BEN McKELWAY,


BOSTON, Mass, October 25.-The
creation of the Boston Metropolitan
area as a natural solution of prob
lens arising from congested popula-
ton in 40 separate and politically
distinct municipalities, and the steps
that are being taken now to antici-
pate future growth are being Cx-
planned here to city and regional
planners gathered from all sections
of the United States under auspices
of the American Civic Association
for its "first travelling meeting. To-
day the visitors are continuing
trip begun yesterday. which takes In
most of the points about the Boston
Metropolitan area illustrative cf ITS
most interesting aspects.
The National Capital Is represent
ed at the meeting by a delegation
which outnumbers those from other
cities, and it's members are taking
a vital interest in the discussions be-
cause of their bearing on Washing
toms problem of regional planning
fer its metropolitan area. Nor IS
Washington's unique situation IN tnis
respect. the matter Of meeting the
costs, being overlooked.
Dougherty Speaks.
Proctor l.. Dougherty, chairman OF
the board of Commissioners OF the
District, replying yesterday afternoon
to speeches welcoming the visitors to
the city Of Salem, pleaded for the
interest of New Englanders in the de-
yelopment of the American Capital
and asked at the same time that they
take the part Of American citizens In
sharing equally the cost.
"The taxpayers Of the District are
called upon to bear too heavy a part
Of the burden of carrying out the
intent of the great city planners or
150 years ago." said Mr.. Dougherty.
I'm Washington, we are willing 10
carry the cost Of our own municipal
government and to meet the other
duties Of residents Of the Capitai.
But we feel that it is only fair that
the citizens Of the United states VINO
live outside their Capital should at
least share equally with us the cost
of realizing those wise plans made
long ago for the development and
growth Of Washington as the Capital"
The addresses which preceded that
by Mr.. Dougherty had dealt at some
length with the problems OF obtain
ing plans and carrying them into
effect, together with difficulties caused
by the failure Of the early inhabitants
Of this. region to realize in any way
the conditions found today. Mr..
Dougherty explained that In Wash
ington there was no lack of plan;
that George Washington, L'Enfant
and Thomas Jefferson had foreseen
the possibilities Of the Washington of
al (Nv hut
pense Of carrying out this plan has
fallen on the shoulders of those living
in the District, said Mr.. Dougherty,
and has brought and will continue to
bring hardships which they should not
be called upon to bear. New Eng
landers and every citizen should have
an interest not only in seeing that
the plans for Washington are carried
out, but should interest themselves
also in the manner in which they are
paid for. said the Commissioners.
Result of Planning.
With the wide interest throughout
the country in regional and city PLAN
ming attested by the number of ex-
perts gathered here, perhaps the chief
point with which they have been inn
pressed so far is the fact that the de-
VRlODIneUL VI DOSlOII . AVtlOPOlASdh
area is a direct and natural result
of lack of planning in the first place,
rather than of plans carefully drawn
in expectation of future conditions,
thus differing from the situation in
Washington today. While Massachu-
setts was a pioneer 40 years ago in
setting up a metropolitan district for
Boston. the original creation Of the
metropolitan district and the steps
since taken in its enlargement and de-
velopment have been brought about by
necessity-the same necessity that will
sooner or later face every part Of the
United States where the population
is becoming more dense.
Boston's metropolitan district today
comprises an area Of approximately
400 square miles, with 40 politically
separate municipalities In which live
some 100000 residents. Forty years
ago, the district originated when in
discriminate sewage disposal by
some 18 of these municipalities was
contributing to an alarmingly high
death rate. It became expedient and
necessary for these municipalities to
combine In q plan for disposing of
their sewage. and this was done by
placing the problem in the hands of
the Legislature, which created metro
politan district for sewerage. taxed
the communities in accordance with
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