Evening star., 1928-05-22
The Mount Vernon Boulevard.


Mount Vernon Memorial avenue, or
highway. bill, leaves with President
Coolidge the Anal step in approving
great project conceived more than forty
wears ago. and which long since mas
taken its place as one Of the major
features Of the plans for future develop
r,srt NJ the National Capital and en-
vtrons. The boulevard will cost anout
s4sno 900. and will probably not ex-
cAed fifteen miles in length. While 1t
win serve the utilitarian purpose OF
connecting the Arlington Memorial
Bridge and Mount Vernon, It cannot be
classed simply as road-building prop
osition. or merely as the provision OF
an ADEQUATE highway to care for the
ever.tncreasinE army of Americans VINO
annually visit the tomb of Washington
The highway is to stand as one OF the
monuments erected By a grateful Ma
ton to a man whose name is lndelibly
written on its corner stone; It is to pro-
vide one of the monumental entrances,
from the South, to the National Capi-
tai; II is one Of the component parts
cf the Arlington Memorial Bridge de-
yeIopment. and its completion, in 1882.
has been planned to coincide With the
bicentennial celebration, marking the
sooth anniversary Of the birth Of George
Washington
As the President especially directed
the attention Of Congress to the pro-
posed Memorial Highway in his mes
sage at the opening Of the session. his
approval Of the measure is expected.
II viii enable the Presidents BIZ
centennial commission. which must
choose the route. to begin Immediately
On this important work. The surveys
and estimates for the two suggested
routes for the boulevard have been
made by the Bureau of Public Roads
and the advantages Of each pointed
out, but the road engineers have rec
commended that the road be built ap-
prcxImately along the river front, all
tse way from the Memorial Bridge To
Mount Vernon. The choice Of routes
has lain between the so-cailed upper
route" which would run west OF Alex
andria, as topography and conditions
Of the developed country permit. and
the river route" along the river shore.
In recommending this latter route the
engineers point out its advantages in
scenery and the opportunity rendered
for extensive development OF the city's
PARK system: the fact that 1t would
penetrate = territory replete With asso-
cations With washington, and, flnally,
that the grades on the river route are
better than on the upper, or western
route. which follows . rolling country.
Suggested In 1855 By M. B. Harlow.
then tEeaSurer Of the City Of Alexandra,
the general plan for memorial boltls-
ward between Washington and Mount
Vernon has been repeatedly indorsed
BIZ scores Of individuals and organiza-
tisnz. ard has been before the commit
tees Of Congress for approximately thir-
ty-six years. The approaching bicen-
tennisI celebration, in 1882; the nearing
completion Of the Arlington Memorial
Bridge ard an awakened consciousness
throughout the land upon the impor-
tsncs Of Capital development. have al
played . part In the success which has
marked consideration Of the scheme bT
Congress this year. II the highway
s'sre Simply 3 highway one could under
stand and appreciate objections 10 the
plan, based on economy and the road
building participation policy OF the Fed
eFsl Government But the symbolic
nature Of the Mount Vernon Boulevard,
sS well as the important part IL Is 10
play In development Of the American
Capital. place the project on an entire
iy different footing.
Congress Ia N BE- Congratulated upon
the wisdom shown In It's favorable coli
siosrstion. With the President lies the
hnzl act necessary " make this dream
Of nearly half q century a reality ane
blessing for generations 10 come.