Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-18
CITY DEVELOPMENT
PLAN GIVEN PRAISE
Landscape Architects Name
Group to Advise With Plan
ming Commission.

Landing the regional plan for the de-
velopment of the Capital which was
presented to the public by the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion at meeting last night, the Amer
lean Society of Landscape Architects
today appointed q committee Of ma
tional scope whose members will advise
with the planning commission and keep
informed of all phases of the program.
II. Olmstead of. Boston and Cali
fornia, q lay member OF the planning
commission, was named chairman OF
the committee at the closing meeting OF
the society's thirty-first annual con-
vention in the Willard Hotel.
Members of the committee were an
nounced as follows: A. F.. Brinckerhoff
of New York, A. D. Taylor. Cleveland;
Arthur A. Shurtleff of Boston, presi-
dent Of the society: Clarence Fowler,
New York, and B. w. Pond. Boston.
A subcommittee was appointed as fol-
lows: M. Stevenson, Philadelphia; T. G.
Philips, Detroit; 0. Schaffer, Chicago;
A. r. Nichols, Minneapolis; s. H. Hare.
Kansas City: p. H. Elwood. Des Moines,
Iowa: George B. Hall, Los Angeles. and
w. c. Simonson, New York.
Final Session Due Today.
The question, What do we do about
it?" became a topic for discussion by
members at the closing meeting OF the
society today, which followed q lunch
con at the willard Among those on
the program were Miss Harlean James,
executive secretary, American Civic
Association; Horace w. Peaslee, chair
man of the committee on the National
Capital, American Institute of Archi-
tectS and Arthur A. Shurtleff, president
of the American Society of Landscape
Architects.
Yesterday afternoon Maj. Brehon
Somervell, United States district engi-
neer, gave an illustrated presentation
Of plans for developing the Potomac
and AnacoStia River flats. DR.. Freder-
lex v. Coville, acting director of the
National Arboretum, and Raymond E.
Toms, principal engineer of the United
States Bureau Of Public Roads, also
addressed the membership.
Stereoptican slides shown by Maj.
Somervell depicted the semi-improved
condition of Potomac Park and what
he said Is 1.-The entire unimproved sit
uation along the docks. The confused
situation along the water front grew out
of lack Of planning" he said, land
not only presents an eyesore, but also
inadequate facilitis for handling the
commerce of the harbor."
Advantages Of Airport Cited.
Mai Somervell pointed out that the
advantages claimed for the develop
ment Of a national airport in the
Anacostia fats are facilities for both
land and sea planes, that the area Is
close to the city and will be forever
clear Of any obstruction.
Commenting on the development of
Potomac Park, he said that vital sta
tistics prepared for the decade follow
ing 1882, when the development was
initiated, SHOW q material and con-
slant decrease in mortality In the face
of a very rapidly increasing population,
especially in such diseases as typhoid,
malaria and diarrheal disorders"
Since completion of the reclamation
work and subsequent improvement and
Identification OF the 800 acres compriS-
ing the section from Observatory Hill
to the Arsenal, known at one time as
"Kidwell fats" there has been no queS-
ton, Maj. Somervell said, "as to the
health and sanitary conditions of the
portion of Washington bordering this
area"
Road Planning Outlined.
The various considerations that enter
into road planning were discussed by
Mr.. Toms, with special reference to
further development of the Washington
area.
DR.. Coville discussed the arboretum.
The society held the closing business
meeting this morning and this after
noon visited Meridian Hill Park, Rock
Creek Park and several private estates.