Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-28
.ARTER|AL STREETS
ARE DESIGNATED
Park Commission Now Takes
Up Potomac Prob
lem.

having given It's approval YESTERDAY
to plan for development of the major
thoroughfares of the city, the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission
today turned its attention to one of the
most important questions confronting
it-namely, whether 1t is feasible to
have both water power and park de-
velopment on the upper Potomac
The commission spent more than two
hours this morning in executive ses-
sion going over the Great Falls and
upper Potomac problem, but had taken
no action up to noon. Indications
were that the remainder of the day will
be devoted to the subject.
Maj. Brehon Summervell. United
States engineer for this district, sat IN
with the park commission this morn
ing and explained in detail the report
of the Joint committee representing his
Office and that of the Park Commission,
which committee made a thorough
study Of the possibilities of having
both a water power project and park
development along the upper Potomac.
1t is understood that the committee re-
port is largely fact-finding document
dealing with various water power lay
outs and how they would affect the
plans of the Park Commission for the
preservation of the natural scenery and
park advantages of the Potomac region.
The thoroughfare plan adopted yes
terday afternoon deSignates the streets
and avenues that should be regarded as
the main arteries of travel from the
heart of the city to the outlying areas
as we'll as those which logically form the
connecting links between different por-
lions of the city. This plan is expected
to be taken into consideration in pre-
pairing future street paving programs
and in studying traffic problems.
The story of how the park commits
sion hopes to save the District several
millions of dollars in the opening up
and paving of new streets by making
certain changes in the undeveloped por-
ton of the highway plan also was I'M
folded at yesterdays meeting.
One-Way Streets Suggested.
In connection with the major thor
oughfare plan, the commission recon-
mended that consideration be given by
the municipal authorities to the desig-
nation of Columbia road as a one-way
weSt-bound street from Soldiers Home
to Sixteenth street and Harvard street
one-way east-bound from Sixteenth
street to Soldiers Home The commits
sion believes this arrangement would
afford better connecting links between
the already wide Columbia road west
of Sixteenth street and the equally spa
ciouS Michigan avenue east Of Soldiers
Home. 1t was suggested further that
the diagonal turns in Harvard street
at Fourteenth street and at Georgia
avenue be Strengthened as much as
possible.
The details of how this is to be ac-
compliShed remain to be worked out,
out it was suggested that some i'm
provement could be brought about by
cutting back the corners Of these in
tersections somewhat.
Thoroughfares Classified.
Under the thoroughfare plan as ap-
proved the routes are classified as
those already adopted, those requiring
further study and those passing through
parks. The adopted routes are again
divided into radial, or those EXTEND
ing out in all directions from the city;
croSs-town and connecting links.
The important radial thoroughfares
marked on the plan include Benning
road: combination of Fourth street,
Park place and Fifth street northwest:
Michigan, Massachusetts,, Connecticut,
Georgia, Rhode Island and New York
avenues: Pennsylvania avenue south
east. and Sixteenth street northwest.
The following were listed as connect
ing thoroughfares:. Arkansas. Colo
RADIO, Alaska, Illinois, Iowa and Idaho
avenues. Forty-first street northwest.
and proposed connections across Rock
Greek Park. approximately on the line
of UpShur, Kennedy and Aspen streets.
Florida avenue and Columbia road were
listed as circumferential or croSStown
arteries.
CavinUc hv Chau0ac discussed
Before taking up this major thor
oughfare plan the commission conSid-
cred the report on savings which may
be effected by changes in the uns'evel-
oped portions of the highway plan.
The commission believes that by study
ing che remaining undevelCped areas
of the District, where the streets have
not yet been laid out, large sums may
be saved in the cost of trading, paving
and similar improvements through the
adoption of certain PRINCIPLES of high
wav planning.
The most important of these prin-
ciples are the .lengthtEing of blocks,
changing of routes of proposed streets
to conform more nearly to topography,
thereby eliminating expensive grading
and reducing the cost of sewer con-
struction.
Figures were presented to show that
by following these principles in the
changes made since the COM
mission was created less than three
years ago, a saving already has been
effected of $67400O in the original cost
of street work. with an additional saw
ing of $4,000 a year in maintenance
charges on those streets.
Probable Future Economy.
BY applying the same principles IN
changing the highway plan of other
streets. the commission SECS
a possible future saving of S2778000
in the original cost of laying out thos"
streets, with an annual saving on main
tenance of 100000
There is still another group of pro-
posed streets, for which the land has
been dedicated but not opened, WHERE
1t would be possible to save 500, 900 il:
original cost and $4,000 on annua'
maintenance by applying these princi-
Piles of highway change. In the case
OF this last group. however, Legislation
by Congress would be needed to PERM
the commission to change the line
a proposed street where the land ha
been dedicated.
The total savings possible frop
changes thus far made and by eX-
tending the program 10 the 1900 acre
of remaining undeveloped area in tn
District would aggregate $36570O J.
original cost of building the streets an
$337,000 annually in maintenance.
See Beauty Of City Enhanced.
Mai. Carey H. Brown, executive Of
ficer of the commission. and j. c. Mich
OILS of Kansas City, member, empha-
sized that these principles of highway
change not only result in financial saw
ingS to the District, but at the same
time enhance the beauty of the city.
BY adhering more closely to topography.
they said, trees and hillsides are pre-
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