Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-28
scmerveI| Believes Potomac
Park and Power Projects
Can Be Combined.
NOTED EXPERTS CALLED
TO FURTHER PROPOSAL
Army Engineer Indorses Plea for
Reservation, but Doubts Wisdom
of Sacrificing Advantages.

With a view to drawing up a COM
promise plan for the water power de-
yelopment of the Potomac, which would
not destroy the natural beauty of the
gorge and the wooded slopes through
which it runs. Maj. Brehon Somervell.
United States Army engineer officer in
charge of this area, has decided to seek
the advice of a committee of experts
working under the direction of himself
and the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission.
The determination to make a further
study of the three power proposals and
attempt to reconcile the viewpoint Of
the planning commission, which Is in
sisting that the area be retained solely
for parks. before he submitted his re-
port TO the Federal Power Commission,
was made by Maj. Somervell after a
conference with officials of the planning
commission.
Committee Of Experts.
The committee is to be composed Of
Capt. H. o. Dram, Corps OF Engineers,
u. S. Army. who was In charge of the
Muscle Shoals project, and who has
been ordered here as assistant to Mai.
Somervell: Charles w. Eliot, Sd. city
planner of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission: G. A.
Peters, engineer in the Office OF Public
Buildings and Public Parks of the Ma
tional Capital: DR. A. Eugene Barker.
member Of the WeStchester. N. Y. Park
Commission. and Addison Fiurnoy of
this city. the latter two landscape
architects and graduates of the Har-
ward School OF Landscape Architecture.
Mai. Somervell said that he believed
that there should be park in the terri
tory affected. but he was not convinced
that 1t was the best thing for the public
interest. His attitude on the whole
question. he pointed out. was 10 find the
facts. He did not want 70 be led by any
hasty conclusion on such gigantic
project nor did he want 10 make re-
port with accompanying recommended
tions on an insufficient consideration OF
all the facts that enter into the power
parkway question.
Commission Opposed.
On the other hand. the National Capi,
tai Park and Planning Commission was
firmly on record that the area should be
held exclusively for development as a
natural playground for the people. ana
was insistent that nothing should be
done which would in any way destroy
the existing beauties in this more or
less virgin territory.
II even rejected the suggestion of the
representatives OF the Potomac River
Corporation. one OF those seeking a
preliminary permit for power develop
ment, that some way could be found
for simultaneous development for both
park and power purposes. 1t was the
stand Of the commission that. first. II
should be developed as a park. and.
second. that II there was TO be power
development. then II should be done
wholly by some governmental agency
and not by private interests.
In an attempt to find some middle
ground II possible, which will bring
together the conflicting interests. a
committee has been formed of experts.
some employed for the particular pur-
pose. and others taken from the Gov
ernment personnel.
A definite plan OF operation has been
laid down by agreement between Maj.
Somerpell and officials OF the local
planning commission First. plan will
be drawn for IA parkway with the river
and It's surroundings III It's natural
state: then another plan will be drawn
for treating the area jointly as park
and power project. The third plan
will be composite one. worked out by
the two subcommittee working on the
separate plans.
May Overlook Advantages.
IL was pointed out that those for the
park project very likely would not see
the disadvantages In their plan. but
only the advantages To be derived from
developing the section for park pur-
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