Evening star., 1927-04-17

grave problem. Congress was asked
by the District Commissioners to ap.
proprlate 100000 for purchase of a
new site for the Farmers Market, but
this measure was not passed. The Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning Com
mission has been giving some study TO
this problem, which is expected TO be
covered in the report on a terminal
survey made by special engineer
which is TO be made to the commits
sion on April 22.
In addition to the $50, 900, 900 Fed.
eral building program, a special ap.
preparation of Sl,500.00 was made by
Congress for acquisition of the square
facing the Capitol, between First and
Second streets, East Capitol street
and Maryland avenue northeast, as a
site for a supreme Court building
Condemnation proceedings are In
progress to acquire this site. and 1t is
expected that the incoming Congress
Will make an initial appropriation for
erection of the building, which should
cost upward Of S25,000,000 10 be in
harmony with the Capitol and the
Congressional Library, just south
across East Capitol street.
The next Congress is expected also
to take early action to make possible
the prompt erection of new House
Office Building directly south OF the
Capitol The House passed bill un.
der suspension of the rules, which re-
quires a two-thirds vote. authorizing
the appropriation OF $4,000 for pur.
chasing the site between New Jersey
and Delaware avenues, B and G
streets southwest, and $8,500, 900 for
~ htt{1AfNAsw ta
ure got caught in the Senate jam.
For the removal and enlargement
of the Botanic Garden to make IL the
best of its kind In the world, two items
of appropriation totaling S1,G96,39S
were pending in Congress. One of
these for sS20,000 TO acquire the site
was included in the second deficiency
appropriation bill which failed behind
the blockade and the other did not
have a chance to be put on as an
SO the Greater Botanic
Garden is delayed for a full year.
Fountain Being Removed.
The famous Bartholdi fountain which
is one of the features of the garden
is being removed from its present loca-
ton at the expense of the State of
Pennsylvania, so that the unveiling
of the Meade Memorial which is close
to it. may not be delayed. The Bar
tholdi fountain is to be stored by
George w. Hess, director OF the
Botanic Garden, on the property which
the garden already has along the old
James Creek Canal, which is used by
the District Government for street
surfacing work.
The establishment of q National
Arboretum in the Capital, under the
administration Of the Department OF
Agriculture. is authorized by bill
which passed both houses of Congress,
with O. limit OF cost of 100000 on
purchase of the site. There was no
time, however, to get the appropria.
ton through. The Department of
Agriculture is negotiating for the
land and win have a report ready for
Congress when it meets. The ad-
visery council authorized in the sub
stantive legislation, made up of repre-
sentatives OF great national botanical,
horticultural and arboreal associations,
is now being organized.
The proposed river site boulevard 10
Mount Vernon which has been under
contemplation for more than 30 years,
which was delayed so as to link in
with the Memorial Bridge project, and
which is expected to be completed as
the most important National Capital
feature of the celebration of the
of Washington birth in
1882, will be pressed as soon as Con
gress meets. By direction of Con-
gress. the Bureau of Public Roads of
the Department of Agriculture made
q survey of the area between Wash
ington and Mount Vernon. and staked
tho hAf3layar I'D
With the concurrence of the Com
mission of Fine Arts the riverside
drive was recommended and estimates
of cost submitted, with recommenda-
tions for an initial appropriation Of
81, !, 900, 900.
Cost to Be s7,OOO,0OO.
The boulevard Will cost from $1,000
600 to $40, 900 900. The House commit
tee on roads. however, allowed this
report to remain unacted upon, al
though the chairman protested fire.
quently that he was smoothing the
way for its easy passage before Con-
gress closed. The special commission
appointed by the President to arrange
for the Washington bicentennial cele-
bration is earnestly in favor of this
boulevard.
A comprehensive program of water
front development to give the Ma
tional Capital river entrance de
luxe, truly American and unmatched
anywhere in the world, will be
brought to the attention of the incom-
ing Congress. The engineer officer in
charge Of this river and harbors dis
trict has prepared a comprehensive
detailing many important wa
ter.front improvements on both SIDES
of the river, so that any work done
by the Government along the water
front might be in harmony with this
program.
The new Engineer Commissioner Of
the District. Col. Ladue, who is to
assume office in June, is thoroughly
familiar with this PLAN as it has been
under consideration in the ONCE or the
supervising engineer for the Atlantic
Coast. He is also familiar with the
Anacostia parkway improvements.
which are projected to create here the
finest water front park in the entire
country.
Although Congress failed to act
upon the bill directing the acquisition
of the old Civil War defenses on either
side Of the Potomac River, Forts Hunt
and Washington, which are now held
by the War Department, as part of
the National Capital park system,
there Is encouragement that they may
be eventually turned over for this
purpose. They have not yet beer
sold. although declared superfuous
by thee War Department. In the COM
ing session of Congress the effort to
have them transferred to the park
system will be vigorously renewed.
Negotiations are on foot for the
purchase of a part of the Patterson
tract, which is also known as Camp
Ordway and Camp Meigs, on Florida
avenue northeast, just west of Col
umbia Institution for the Deaf, as
new park for the northeast section
Of the city. The park site purchase
for the coming fiscal
year was boosted from $500 600 TO
$4,000 with the understanding that
a great part OF this sum would be