Evening star., 1928-06-07
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

/ that ordinary glass shuts out the ultra
violet rays of the sun, legislation should
require modern glass which admits
those desirable elements of sunlight
preventing rickets in children and con-
serving health generally.
The principle OF coming is urged. III
fuller development. SO as to stabilize
the character OF houses in each locality
but decentralization of factories and
other industries Is advised also. for the
purpose Of forcing them away from
congeSted centers, yet their location is
TO be controlled to prevent their mixing
In resident sections.
The height of buildings is TO be re-
stricted to the width OF the street they
face. except that towers and setbacks
will be permitted, providing the angle
of light shall always be not less than
IS degrees One and two family homes
will be subject to the same control as
tenement houses, and no nom tire-re-
sisting buildings VIII be permitted.
The improvement OF the water front
is urged, with the substitution of me-
chanlcal means Of loading and unload
ing ships IN place Of work by steve
QOftA. ALSO the ESIaDIiSIlItlCIlt VI illhi .
Kets on the water front.
The subcommittee on parks recon-
mends the fun control of parks 10 be
placed In "A park council OF nine MEM
bers and the development of more
parks for recreation of both children
and adults. together with the abolish
ment of the system of closing certain
streets for Fairgrounds.
What is there in the New York
recommendations that apply TO Wash
ington conditions? What are the local
aims and problems of control OF streets
and parks?
The whole matter Is controlled here
BY a National Park and Planning Com
mission appointed by Congress, by act
adopted In 1924 The commission in
cudes the Chief OF Engineers u, $.
Army, the Engineer Commissioner of
the District, the director OF the Ma
tional Park Service. the chief of Forest
Service. the Senate and House chair
men OF committees on the District the
director Of Public Buildings and Parks
| and -four eminent citizens well quail
fed and experienced In city planning"
the latter not necessarily residents of
Washington
Thus the District already has II per-
manent commission such as the New
York committee recommends for It's own
service.
The National Capital Park and Planning
Commission has analyged the possibil-
ties, not only OF Washington. but of the
enVltons for distance of 20 miles
Within That radius there are residen
tlal lands capable OF containing popu-
latipn of 4bO0 600, and the plans con-
template even that tremendous pupu~
lation for Washington within 10 years
| TO plan for that long period Is Just
what the foresight of President WASH
ington and Mai L'Enfant accomplished
In 1891
The commission hopes TO anticipnte
| the growth Of the city by buying park
ing area while It can he gotten nt
reasonable price, and particularly before
realtors get hold OF the land and ruin
IL by leyellng 1t and cutting off the
trees,
Washington Is unique among cities
! IN having IA "pnyvaA .yougo" ay3tem
AZ present the appropriations permit
annual investments tapart from upkeep
OF The pnrksl limited 10 only about
5000 600 year, project which meets
, with much favor ia 10 induce Congress
10 permit bond issue or Il loan from
the Federal Treasury of $40 600, 900, IN
installments' $4,000 900 or 81 900 900
year for the purchase of park prop-
erty. the loan 10 be repaid III 40 yeara
Even with interest amounting Ia total
/ Ut, say ~ 900 900, the investment would
be far less than the ultimate cost og
The same area III small blocks al It's
increasing valuations
II Ia noteworthy that since the Mo
MILAN Commission ~ 1901 made It's re-
port the park area has grown "a per
cent, but the population has grown 40