Evening star., 1927-10-30
Congressional Tour Might Help
TO Forward Capitals Park Plan

Of all their difficultles-there would
be no need of congressional sight
seeing junket as proposed.
y X y
Boston and Providence have not
settled their problems nor become
exemplary model cities in any sense
of the word. Both of them have q
good many fights now in progress be-
meath the surface, some of them
amusing. In Boston, for instance, an
enterprising automobile dealer has
succeeded in erecting q huge electric
sign. Seen from many points in the
city, 1t entirely eclipses the state
house on Beacon Hill, for one cannot
look at the statehouse and see the
sign; one is forced to look at the sign,
and. if possible, see the statehouse.
Ihls IS causing a great deal OF digni
he'd Bostonian regret. A very prom
inent architect of Boston related the
story OF the sign to the American
Civic Association, almost in tears,
He said that the sign man told him
the sign would put Boston on the
map" Imagine that as an argument
in Boston.
And the subject of skyscrapers is
causing lot of discussion in both
cities. Skyscrapers and narrow
people up in the air does not mean
they won't have to come down again,
and when they all come down the
streets are unable to take care of
them. In Providence there is fear
lest the urge to make the city look
like New York by creating a jagged
skyline Of tall buildings will do just
that thing-and at the same time de-
stroy the real charm Of Providence.
The charm of Providence is-E.ovi-
dence. These New England cities
now are being urged not to lose their
peculiar individuality by trying to ape
other cities. But some Of them are in
danger The urge of a wrongly di-
rected civic pride is very strong.
* X X
The problems of the National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commission in
it's regional development of Washing
ton are not unlike those Of other re-
gional planning boards. But, happily
for Washington, they are not as hard
to solve. The difficulty in this regional
planning work is to set up a machin.
cry that will either supersede the au-
thority of the political units within
| the region or work with them CO.
operatively to accomplish what domi-
nation would accomplish. The trouble
| is that unless there is domination and
complete power, the regional develop
ment is apt to strike a snag in the
objection of some city or town suffer-
| ing an acute attack of bullheaded.
ness. This is what is holding many
| regional planning boards back. In
| Washington the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission has au-
thority to go into Maryland and Vir-
! ginia for the acquisition of park sites,
| and to plan regional highways. In
| Maryland there is a cooperating body
which is cooperating, but only be-
| cause the personalities of the two
boards happen to mix. If they did
not mix, or If they clash sharply in
| the future. regional development, of
course, is endangered.
| In Arlington County. Va, the re-
gional development plan has progress
ed little beyond the talking stage, for
there is either an insufficiency OF
money in the county. or else a dis.
/ position TO wait and let George do il.
And although the National Commits
sion has funds with which to pur.
chase land in both States, it has not
used them, for these funds represent.
to large extent. District revenue.
| Using 1t would cause a howl. and the
Park Commission has adopted the
fair-minded policy for the time being
of not using it.
In many things Washington has
cause for thanksgiving, when other
cities are considered. But the fact
would only add to the value of a con-
gressional tour, as proposed