Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-19
DISTRICT ACCORDS ENTHUSIASM
TO CRAMTON PARK LANDS BILL
Suspicion OF Measure Gives
Way to Hearty Endorsement
as Purpose Is Realized.
Proposal Would Insure Ac.
QUESTION OF Grounds While
Beauties Remain.
by DIR. GEORGE C. HAVENNER.
President, Federation Of Citizens
AaaArtafi0Na

from SUSPICION 10 SntOuSlbStlC cn-
dorsement That is the story of the
so-cslled Cramton bill for the establish
ment OF the George Washington Me-
mortal Parkway along the Potomac
River from Mount Vernon and Fort
Washington to Great Falls and for the
completion OF the park, parkway and
playground system Of the National
Capital
When Congressman Cramton Of
Michigan, on December 10, 1928, intro
duced in the House of Representatives
bill for the establishment OF the
George washington Memorial Parkway
along the Potomac River and for the
comprehensive development of the park,
parkway and playground system OF the
looked upon this bill with suspicion.
Why? Because Mr.. Cran1ton was the
sponsor of the "lump-sum" principle OF
fiscal relations between the Federal and
District of Columbia Governments.
Regarded with Suspicion.
In fact, every move that Mr.. Crsmton
has made having a bearing upon Dis
trict of Columbia affairs has been re-
ceived with suspicion by large num-
Der OF our citizens since that day six
House of Representatives a bill to fix
the amount to be contributed by the
United States toward defraying ex-
penseS of the District Of Columbia. 1t
was not long, however, before organized
Washington saw in the Cramton park
bill one of the most far reaching pro-
poSals for the Identification Of the Ma
tional Capital that has been presented
to the Congress of the United States
during the past quarter OF century.
Further, organized Washington soon
saw that Mr.. Cramtons proposal was
an economy measure that would result
In direct savings to the taxpayers Of the
District of Columbia by making avail
able at once q suficient sum Of money
with which to purchase the land neces.
sary to a complete rounding out Of the
park system Of the National Capital in
stead Of our having to continue TO buy
niecemeal, from year to year, In an
er-advancing market
Purposes Are Recognized.
The purpose of this bill was to pre-
serve for all time to come the natural
scenic beauty Of the upper and lower
Potomac River valleys, to insure a con-
tinuous now Of water into Rock Creek,
and to enable the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission to procure
many delightful wooded areas and
charming valleys in the District Of
Columbia before they are destroyed by
building or some other operation
Let us analyze this bill which passed
he House of Representatives late dur
ing the second session OF the Seven
tieth Congress, too late for 1t to be
reported TO the Senate, but which
was reintroduced In the House by
Mr.. Cramton on April IS, 1929.
Great Park Development Program.
The Cramton bill proposes one great
program for the park development OF
The National Capital and Its environs.
This major park program is Invisible
into three parts. Part ] provides for
the development of the George Wash
ngton Memorial Parkway. part for
he extension Of Rock Greek Park and
he Anacostia Park system into Mary
and, and part for the development
system of the National Capital.
Aims Of First Part.
Part / of the bill provides for the
economical, and efncient
and completion Of the
George Washington Memorial Park
way to include the shores OF the Po-.
tomac River from Mount Vernon to a
point above Great Falls on the Viz
ginia side, except within the city OF
and from Fort Washing
ton to a similar point above Great Falls
on the Maryland side of the river,
except within the District of Columbia.
The purpose Of this part Of the bill is
not only to provide a monumental
parkway, with magnificent driveways
along both banks OF the Potomac, but
to protect and preserve the natural
scenery Of the Potomac Gorge and
Great Falls and to provide for the
acquisition Of a portion Of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal
Part authorizes the extension of
Rock Greek into Maryland to preserve
the flow of water into Rock Greek and
the extension of the AnacoStia Park
system up the valley OF Indian Greek,
the Northwest Branch, and Sligo Greek.
Every effort possible should be made not
only TO preserve but to purify the now
Of water into Rock Greek because with
out Rock Greek much of the charm
and beauty of Rock Greek Park would
be lost ask you what would Rock
Greek Park be without Rock Greek?
10 Rock Greek Park and to
the Anacostia Park system into Mary
land are to be made only after agree
ment between the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission and
the State of Maryland.
Way TO Acquire Land.
Part 3 provides for the expeditions
acquisition OF such lands In the Dis
trict of Columbia as are necessary and
desirable for the development OF It's
park parkway, and playground system.
The bill authorizes a total appropria-
ton Of $4,000, 900. of which sum ST.
900 900 is for the acquiring Of the
necessary land and developing the
George Washington Memorial Park
way and for the extension of Rock
Greek Park and Anacostia Park sys-
the acquisition Of land in the Dis
trict OF Columbia for the completion OF
our park. parkway. and playground
system. The money authorized TO be
appropriated is to be advanced to the
States of Maryland and Virginia and
TO the District OF Columbia, without
interest under the following conditions:
For the George Washington Me-
mortal Parkway the full amount neces-
sary for the acquisition OF land and
the development of this park may be
advanced from the Federal Treasury
TO the States of Maryland and Virginia,
or their political subdivisions, to be re-
imbursed by the States, or their po-
litical subdivisions, to the extent OF
so per cent of the cost within q period
Of five years from the date Of the ad-
vance.
Division Of Cost.
Also, the full amount necessary for
the extension Of Rock Greek Park and
the Anacostia park system into Mary
land MS agreed upon by the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
zion and the state of Maryland Is to be
advanced from the Federal Treasury,
one third Of the cost Of these projects