Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-23
|S1,9)O,0DO PLANNED
AS FEDERAL PARK
FUND IN MARYLAND
Proposed as Substitute in
Cramton Bill for 0ne-third
Contribution.
MAY USE LUMP SUM
FOR IMPROVEMENTS
Suggested Amendments Also Would
Vest Title to Land in
Nearby Counties.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY.


contribution features Of the Cramton
park extension bill, which will rebound
to the great benefit of the metropolitan
district of Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties, in Maryland in that
part OF them Immediately adjacent to
the District of Columbia is to be sought
by the author of the measure, Repre-
sentative Louis c. Cramton, it was
learned today.
Mr.. Cramton indicated that he was
not ready at this time to discuss any
OF the details of mis- proposed amend
mentS because he desired to first discuss
the matter with Representative Elliott
OF the House committee on public build
ings and grounds, and Senator Capper,
chairman of the Senate District COM
mittee. The bill has passed the House
and now is pending in the Senate.
Amendments Unwritten.
Although none of the amendments
which are to be proposed have been
written, 1t was learned that one of them
will provide for the payment to the
Maryland Planning Commission Of a
lump sum, fixed at $1,500,000, for its
share toward the acquisition of land
for the extension of the District Of
Columbia park system into the main
valleys Of Montgomery and Prince
Georges, including the Anacostia River,
the Northwest Branch, and Indian
Greek in Prince Georges and Sligo
Greek, Rock Greek and Cabin John
Run In Montgomery County. The bill
as it was originally written and as it
passed the House provides for a con-
tribution of one-tllird by the Federal
Government and two-thirds OF be paid
by the State or county, to be applied
exclusively to the land purchase, with
the ultimate vesting Of the title in the
United States. but with the improve
ments, development and maintenance
under charge of the county.
Under the provision for the lump
sum contribution, it was explained, the
amount was fixed on the basis Of the
total acreage to be included in the sew
eral park projects and at an appraised
price determined by the engineers
Of the Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission. The
main object to be obtained, Mr.. Cram
ton said, is the acquisition Of the neces-
Sary land. With this in view, If those
charged with the acquisition of the land
in Maryland can obtain It by dedica-
ton or at price lower than that APP
praised, then the Federal Governments
contribution may be used for the devel-
opment OF the parks, such as the build
ing OF roadwayS, recreation features and
other improvements. In other words it
was explained, the Maryland commits
sion will get full credit in money,
charged to the Federal contribution, for
any land it succeeds in getting by dedi-
cation.
Conference Determines Sum.
The lump sum was tentatively de-
termined upon during the conferences
held over q period Of three DAYS last
week between Lieut.. Col. u. s. Grant, Sd,
executive ofncer, and Charles W. Eliot,
I'd, city planner, of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission, repre-
senting the Federal Government: Irving
G. Root, chief engineer, and j. Bond
Smith, general counsel of the Mary
land National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, representing the
Maryland metropolitan district, and
Representative Cramton. Mr.. Root and
Mr.. Elliott, at the request of Mr.. Cran-
ton, measured OF on the maps on which
the new projects were laid out, the total
area to be included In them and a
tentative appraised value was fixed.
These figures were then submitted to
Mr.. Cramton, following which they
were made the basis of the proposed
lump sum contribution.
II was figured that the total value
of the land to be included in all of
the projects in the metropolitan district
IN MONTGOMERY and Prince Georges
make the Federal contribution 10 Mary
land $l,500000.
Bills Purpose Cited.
Mr.. Cramton pointed out that the
purpose of his original bill vas to get
the land, and the money is 70 be pro-
vided for that in the measure. How
ever, II the authorities in che counties
are able to get part of 1t by dedication,
then the money intended for such land
acquisition would be contributed as a
gift, and the counties then can use it
for improvement. The measure, it Is
hoped to have changed also SO that the
title will be vested II the counties, thus
removing one of the Objectionable fea-
lures which caused most of the con-
Germ OF the part of the Maryland off,
Gals when the original conferences
were arranged for by Mr.. Eliot.
Since the Cramton bill was originally
written the Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission has
come into existence, and all of the
planning for parks has been made since
that time. Mr.. Cramton, according to
officials who conferred with him, said
that he had not been informed before
Of the vast strides that were being
made in Montgomery County In the de-
velopment OF park system at the ex-
pense OF the county and the State of
Maryland
Maryland planning officials we're not
|
involved in the projects, on the theory,
they said, that If it was known how
much money was to be spent, it might
result in the raising of the values of
the land above those which they have
dxed. However, all Of the park projects
have been open to public inspection
for some time, and If the Cramton
bill is passed containing the provision
for lump-sum contribution to the
State and counties the amount will be
contained in the bill, and 1t will not
be possible to hide 1t until after TIE
land is acquired.
Whether the amendments sought by
the Maryland officials, and, as they say,
agreed to by Mr.. Cramton. can be
placed in the bill in the upper house
Is q matter of conjecture. However,
Mr.. Cramton said yesterday that he
proposed to lay the matter before Mr..
elliott and Senator Capper, together
with the matters developed at the sew
eral conferences with the Maryland off,
Gals
Objected TO Title.
While Maryland found objection to
the vesting Of title in the United States
to lands In the several major valley
| projects, 1t was said that q counter
| suggestion was made that the TInitad