Evening star., 1928-12-31

~ ECISION that the Great Falls
and Palisades of the Potomac
should be purchased for park
~ purposes, after wrestling with
the matter for many months,
was one of the outstanding acts OF the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission during the year. Much
planning work was done by the body
during the 12-month period just closed,
but this was largely in changing the
highway maps of the city, and its re-
suits will not be visible to the public
for years.
The Great Falls problem proved Ii
difficult one, because of efforts to get
the commission to provide for at least
a Joint park and hydroelectrlc develop
ment. After the commission. early IN
the year, had taken a firm stand
against use of the area for hydroelec-
trio development. it was prevailed upon
70 reconsider, and a special committee
of experts was named to draw up
plans showing, first, complete PARK
development: second, a complete hy-
droelectric development and, third, a
Joint hydroelectric and park develop
ment.
After a study of all these plans the
commission again rejected the hydro
electric idea either as a joint project
or as a complete project, deciding that
the saving of this virgin area Tor PARK
purposes was paramount one.
Federal Purchase Asked.
During the year the commission took
the stand that this vast area should
be purchased and developed by the
Federal Government as the latterS sole
contribution to the joint parkway de-
in rN-nflnT0tinN with
States of Maryland and Virginia, under
the regional improvement scheme Tor
greater Washington. While laws nave
been passed by the States of Maryland
and Virginia providing for co-opera-
ton between the Federal Government
here and the two States in the deVel-
opnlent of a greater Washington, the
former to assist in making purchases
of lands in the two States, the COM
mission early in the year pointed out
that each small project would Involve
the making of a separate agreement,
and contended the matter could be set
tied in one question by Government
purchase of the upper Potomac area.
as it lies in both of the States.
If SuCn a substantial contribution,
the commission said, were made by
the Federal Government, but little ad-
ditional assistance reasonably could be
expected by the State authorities in
acquisition of parks having less Ma
tional significance.
The commission has given some of
its time to the study and development
of the gateways to the Capital City,
so that the visitor will be impressed
when he comes within its portals. In
this work the commission obtained the
voluntary assistance of the various
chapters of the American Institute of
Architects to study and recommend
suitable treatment for the various main
entrances to the District of Columbia
and other focal points.
Traffic Problems Studied.
An intensive study was made during
the year of the highway and street
railway problems of the city. Its
studies have developed that the Len
fant plan could not be improved upon,
and that the principal troubles found
today are in those areas of the city
which were allowed to develop without
conformity with that plan. The COM
mission began a study with a special
view to applying the best methods of
modern land subdivision to the remain
ing undeveloped areas Of the city, and
during the year number of changes
IN the highway plan, as their need
was developed in the course of the
study, were recommended to the Dis
trict of Columbia Commissioners for
action. These changes, all on the
highway map, were of streets which
have not yet been opened. In con-
nection with this work, the commits
sion hit snag when it found there
was no authority for closing and dis
continuing old roads and streets shown
on the old highway plan, when any
part Of the right of way had been
dedicated. The commission pointed out
that the desirability of discontinuing