Evening star., 1927-04-24
PLANS FOR GROWTH
OF CAPITAL STUDIED
BY PARK COMMISSION

Continued frcm First Page)
ments into well.laid-out lines by fore
sighted persons.
For months, William d. Hudson,
traffic expert, has been studying the
railroad traffic into and out of the
District and the adjacent metropolitan
areas, including the terminals, and
preparing data on the location of
terminal facilities to meet the ex-
pected growth, and fit them in with
the highways, boulevards and other
urban developments which usually fol-
low city growth But the idea of
the study is to gather a mass of data
which will enable the city planners
SO to lay out the city to prevent mis-
takes which In later years will prove
nothing but eyesores and great blots
on the Nations Capital map. The
result was a report which was pre-
sented to the commission yesterday
by Mr.. Hudson. @
THE purpose of this investigation"
said Mr.. Hudson's report, is to de-
termine the best manner in which
future RAILROAD development may be
co-ordinated with the plans now being
formulated for shaping the physical
growth of the District The recon.
mendations contained in the report
are in the nature of forecasts of what
is likely to take place in local rail-
road territory. rather than detailed
statements of facts that must hap
pen if the railroads are to continue
to operate. The essential thing is
that the findings set out should be
sufficiently comprehensive and exact
as to form a reliable guide to those
who are laying out the future broad
arterial highways, now and wider
streets, boulevards and parks, to the
end that free and unobstructed rail-
road transportation may be likewise
provided.
Increased Efficiency Sought.
at is far from the intention to
subordinate to any degree railroad
transportation agencies to the other
elements of the District plan, and it
will be found that there is no recon-
mendation in the report but that has
for It's purpose increased operating
efficiency.
Naturally no plan, whether it be
for city, industry or railroad, is
complete unless it also suggests cor
rective measures for eliminating
existing faults; and to this extent the
analysis of railroad operating cond1-
tions may be considered critical, but
it is believed constructively so.
ANY report prepared by this
office and all other plans affecting
the physical aspect of the District
should be submitted to each railroad,
in order that they may be In posi-
ton to suggest amendments that will
bring into closer harmony their own
plans and those of the commission.
Broadly speaking, the principal
factors that will determine railroad
policies In the District and vicinity
are, the continued and increasing
productivity of the Southern States.
the increasing consuming power OF
the North Atlantic and Eastern
states. and the expansion of Wash
ington itself.
Tonnage Flows Northeast.
"The great flow of tonnage is to
the Northeast from the South and
Southwest. 1t consists of vast guam
titles of raw materials and food prod
ucts. The return tonnage to the
South is of smaller quantity but
higher in value, consisting of manu-
factured articles, imported goods,
meats and seasonable produce. Prod
uce in ever-increasing quantities ar
riyes from the South. 1t carries a
high freight rate and when its han
ding is properly systematized 1t is
a profitable movement for the rail-
road. AS long as the Northern and
Eastern States maintain q manufac-
turing supremacy and become more
and more densely populated, and the
Southern and Southwestern States
are able to furnish unlimited quanti-
ties of raw materials and food prod
ucts, the flow of railroad traffic
through the Washington gateway Will
grow In other words, as long as
the North and South each produce
that which is essential to the other,
the railroads operating through this
gateway are assured tonnage.
"The growth of Washington and
the District, while a minor factor in
the railroad problem at the present
time, presents potential complications
that may be OF utmost seriousness
later on. Even now the restrictive
influence of local conditions is felt
on roalroad operations at their peak
loads. During the war congestion
here was keeniy felt.
Benefits Are Outlined.
Washington is a city of destiny
and the District as whole must
share in it's ever-increasing prosperi-
ty and Importance. This means higher
and ever higher property values,
more streets and highways. parks,
boulevards and country clubs, each
offering an added obstruction to and
higher cost to railroad construction.
If the railroads contemplate any
radical change in their routing OF