Evening star., 1929-12-20
The Missing Plans Mystery.

The rather acrimonious dispute over
delay in preparing plans for the pro-
posed Alice Deal Junior High School at
Fort Reno might ordinarily be dismissed
as a tempest in teapot, because the
land needed for the site is still In the
process of condemnation, and the jury's
report is not expected before the first
of the year. It will be generally admit
ted that the school cannot be built be-
fore the land is bought.
But the controversy over this delay
seems to have become symbolic. 1t has
received added Importance because OF
letter from Col. u. S. Grant, Sd, who
states in no uncertain terms that
many of the municipal employees un-
der the District Commissioners feel con-
siderable hostility toward the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission
and are doubtless ready at any time to
attribute shortcomings to 1t. In
fact. some of the hostility felt toward
the commission, as well as toward the
Office of Public Buildings and Parks,
may doubtless be traced to the fact
that we have pushed them in regard to
many matters that have reached them" ."
Col. Grant, having made these state
ments, will doubtless be willing to am
plify them specifically If the need
arises, and Representative Simmons,
who has shown commendable zeal in
getting at the bottom Of any tnexcusable
delays that may have occurred in the
administration of school appropriations,
will not let the matter rest where 1t
now stands.
For it rests in the air. To begin with,
the municipal architect, Mr.. Harris,
wrote to Mr.. Simmons some time ago
mentioning as a reason for delay IN
preparing the school plans the fact that
"the Park and Planning Commission
are making a comprehensive study OF
the Fort drive, which will determine the
grades of the various streets. This
study has not been approved by the
District Commissioners up to the pres
ent time, but will receive consideration
when completed"
This letter led Col. Grant to write
to Mr.. Simmons, informing him that
the Park and Planning Commission
gave the municipal architect the plans,
through the Engineer Commissioner,
as long ago as February, 1928. In
this letter he made his charges regard
ing the hostility of municipal employees
and their readiness to shift the blame.
But an inquiring Star reporter dis
covers that after the Park and Plan
ming Commission plans were delivered
to the Engineer Commissioner they
were sent back to the Park and Plan
ming Commission, with certain sug-
gested alterations, and that the altera-
tions were discussed at length in the
March meeting of the commission.
What developed from this discussion
remains in doubt. The files at the
District Building contain no record OF
final approval of the plans. There have
been no public hearings on the pro-
posed highway changes. 1t would ap-
pear that Mr.. Harris is right when ne
refers to the incomplete status of the
plans, and there is considerable con-
lecture, of course, as to the municipal
employees under the District Commls-
sioners," who in this case attributed
any shortcomings to the Park ana
Planning Commission.
AS the approval Of the plans IL
necessary before the plans for the hign
school can be completed, it is to De
hoped that, having pursued the mys-
terry of their whereabouts and status
thus far, the searchers for facts Will
corner them, collar them, have them
approved and seek from them tuii
revelation of their whereabouts since
March, 1928.