Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-13
Error in Quoting 0Imsted
Charged by Institute, Sup
porting Park Plan.
POWER ALSO CONDEMNED
BY LANDSCAPE EXPERTS
Utility Interests Accused of
Potomac Be Damned" Atti-
tude in Controversy.

That "the Potomac be damned" ex-
presses the attitude of power interests
toward the Great Falls Gorge, the Ma
tional Capitals greatest natural asset"
was the charge made yesterday by the
American Institute of Architects in a
public statement issued in connection
with the controversy aroused by dis
cusSion Of the Capper-Cramton BILL
which provides for preservation Of the
natural contours Of the Potomac's
banks.
The institutes charge is backed by
the American Society Of Landscape
Architects.
In the statement Of the institute, is
sued by the committee on the National
Capital, of which Horace w. PeaSlee of
Washington Is chairman, sharp criti-
cism also is made of the stand taken
by Maj. Brehon Somervell, District En-
gineer for the War Department, who, in
supporting a combination park-power
development, recently engaged in a
sharp verbal duel with Lieut.. Col. U. S.
Grant Sd, vice chairman of the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning Com
mission, and opponents Of power devel-
opment at the Falls.
Sees Error in Statement.
The Institute statement refers par
ticularly to that portion of Somervell'S
most recent statement in which he "en-
deavorS to show that Frederick Law
OlmSted, jr., one Of the advisers Of the
Mcmillan committee on the Capper-
Cramton bill and now O. member of
the National Park and Planning Com
mission, was at one time q power adj
vocate and has now changed his view
point"
Maj. Somervell, the Institute charges,
quoted the Olnsted report favoring park
development in support Of his own argu-
ment for power development, disregard
ing the fact that the Olmsted report
specifically mentioned power utilization
! only as future possibility.
The portion of Maj. Sonfervell's testi-
mony to which the Institute objects es-
pecially is quoted as follows:
"I do not claim to be a park expert
The park laid out around the power
development PROPOSED by this ONCE fol-
Senate committee under the chairman
ship of Senator Mcmillan, which in
veStigated this matter. This committee
had as its advisers Daniel H. Burnham,
Charles r. McKim, Augustus st. Gau-
dens and Frederick Law Olmsted, tr.
! They state:
without interfering with the fu-
ture utilization Of the water power, the
surroundings Of Great Falls on both
sides Of the river should in our opinion
! be converted into a natural park to be
connected with the city by continuous
| river road"
MI Olmsted. it seems, once advo-
Gated the development with power and
once without"
mot i'm This Generation"
There was no intention then or now.
! the institute statement says, "by those
| favoring the creation of natural park,
for development of water power In this
generation. The whole argument up to
| the present time has been for the utili-
Zation Of water power only when and
| If needed.
THAT need does not now exist. There
Is no reason why q government as rich
as ours should have to barter away to
private interests any such natural rights
Or beauty spots as the gorge of the Poto-
ton. The area has far greater value
to the Nation in its present condition.
"Mr. Olmsted has not faced about.
! He has never advocated power develop
! ment though he has with an open
mind considered the possibilities Of
power development at some time In the
| future If the need should arise"
In the further statement, the insti-
tute censures the assertion made by the
power interests that 100000 900 loss
would be sustained from failure to de-
| velop fully all phases of the Potomac
River, and cites the American Civic As
| sociationS recent statement that the
sum has grown from $48 1000, 900 in the
| course of a year, merely by use Of a
| pencil and paper"
The institute. like the civic assoeia-
| ton, pronounces itself as believing
that the estimated savings on the diff
ferential in cost between steam and
| water power, which is the situation con-
fronting the Senate committee, are cx-
tremely problematical.
Landscape Architects Views.
With regard to the argument recently
advanced by counsel for the power In
terestS, to the effect that a combined
| park and power development Is fol
| the best immediate interests of the pub
lie, the American Society Of Landscape
Architects issues its statement.
| The statement follows:
1.-THE American Society Of Landscape
Architects, after careful and intensive
study of the territory involved, has gone
on record both at the public hearings
and In resolutions made public, thai
it is beyond doubt for the best in
| terests of the public to acquire imme-
diately and develop the territory along
| the Potomac for park purposes. The
1 representatives Of this society point Out
i that the area, aside from its great
historical significance, will lend itseli
admirably to scenic and recreational de.
velopments.
at is quite evident to this society
that if a power project IS carried Out
and dams are erected, that it viii sc
detracts from the present and potentia
scenic splendor Of this site as to render
impossible park development subse.
quent> to the installation Of a power
plant, In any way comparable to thai
| possible at the present time"
The statement Of both organizations
concludes with a plea for keenly dis.
eliminating development of the Nationa
Capital as city outstanding In char
acter, and an appeal to the Senate, tc
assure this development for all time
tllrnlIgh the medium of the lending