Evening star., 1929-12-19
BLAME FOR DELAY
INIT. RENO SCHOOL
:. IN mo MANS LAND
Two Plans for Vital Highway
Changes Bring Confusion
and No Action.
CONSTRUCTION HELD UP
PENDING GRADE SETTING
Grants Office Proposal, Together
With Hazen's, Lack o. K.-0nly
Part of Site Obtained.

Responsibility tor failure to execute
the changes in the highway plan neces-
sarv before construction of the new
Junior high school in the Fort Reno
section can be started appeared to rest
today in the no mans land between
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission and the District Com
misSioners. who have joint jurisdiction
in the matter
The question was brought to the
fore by a letter from Lieut.. Col. U. S.
Grant, Sd, executive officer OF the
former body, to Representative SIM
mons. Republican, of Nebraska, printed
Monday in the Congressional Record.
Col. Grant charged that his commits
sion had drawn up plans for changes
in this section and sent them to the
District Building in February, 1928.
Municipal Architect Albert H. Harris
had stated that he needed these plans
to draw the plans tor the Alice Deal
Junior High.
Plans Were Received
Records at the District Building show
that these plans were received by Engl-
neer Commissioner William B. Ladue in
that month, and referred by him to his
assistant in charge of such matters, Maj.
LAWSON E. Atkins. Maj. Atkins coun-
tered with another plan for the de-
velopment of the section, prepared by
the District surveyor, Melvin Q. Hazen,
and this plan was taken to the March
meeting of the National Capital PARK
and Planning Commission.
The HaZen plan was called up tor
discussion at that meeting by Maj.
Carey Brown, at that time engineer OF
the planning commission, and the two
plans we're discussed at length by
MesSrs Medary and Olmstead, members
of the commission. At the end OF the
discussion, the minutes of the meeting
leave it in doubt as to what action, II
any, was taken. The discussion passed
on 20 other matters.
A search of the files at the District
Building failed to reveal any communi-
cations from the planning commissioner
relative to which if either plan had
the official sanction of the planning
commission. The usual thing is for the
commission to draw up its plans, send
them over to the District Building, and
for the District Commissioners. If they
agree with them, to hold public hearings
on the plans and order the changes !
made on the, highway plan. This has
never been done.
Highway Plan Must Be Settled.
Mr. Harris said today that it would
be futile to proceed with plans for the
new Junior high school in the Reno
section at this time for two reasons.
The first is that since changes in the
highway plan are in contemplation he
could not know on what grade to build
his school, The second reason is that
only part of the site has been acquired.
The rest of it is in process of con-
demnation, with report of the jury
expected soon.
The grade is an important considera-
tion because, before this is definitely eS-
tablShed, water mains and sewers may
not be laid. To build school without
water and sewer connections. even If he
knew the grade to build it on, would be
foolish, Mr.. Harris said. The site for the
school is on one of the highest points in
the District, where grade plans are of
considerable Importance. The old high
way plan calls for streets interSecting
each other at right angles here. Both
the Hazen plan and the park commits
sion plan call for streets curved to
meet the contours of the section, al
though the plans differ in detail
AS far as can be learned, such is the
state of affairs at the moment. Mean
while, there Is an appropriation of
5000, 900 for the building of the new
school available. 1t became available
on July /, with authorization to the
District to enter into contracts not to
exceed $500 900 for the building. The
1881 budget carries further appropria-
ton of 100000 to complete the project.
although the legislative prospects of
this second appropriation may be ad-
Versely affected b. the present con-
troversy as to who caused the delay.
Reiterate Statement on Plans.
Officials of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission substantiated
Col. Grants assertion in his letter. to
Representative Simmons that the COM
mission had prepared grades and speci-
fications for the Reno school long before
District officials had considered asking
for them.
These school plans and the need for
q school at that point were called to the
attention Of the District of Columbia
authorities, these officials asserted, and
they we're placed in the hands of Mr..
Hazen and they were also seen by Mr..
Harris municipal architect.
1t was learned from the commission
officials that the plans for the Reno
School were represented as being in
Col Ladue's Office for about a year.
The National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission these officials insisted,
has not seen the plans since they were
sent to Mr.. HaZen. Personal inquiry
has elected the information that the
plans are in the files Of the District
government.