Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-02
FARLEY TOBE HELD
ON CRAMTON BILL
Montgomery Planners Anx-
iouS to Learn What Effect
Measure viii Have.
BY WILLIAM ]. WHEATLEY,
STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.

StaH Correspondent OF The Star.
SILVER SPRING, Nd, March l.
Just what effect the passage of the
Cramton park extension bill, without
immediate provision of appropriations
will have on the present plans for start
ing, this year, the development of play
spaces in the metropolitan district of
Montgomery County is to be the subject
of q parley Tuesday afternoon here be-
tween the Montgomery County members
Of the Maryland Capital Park
and Planning Commission and county
officials, it was learned today. Particu-
larly, the commissioners and their con-
ferees, it was said, will discuss the mat
te- as to whether, if Monomery County
goes ahead and develops its park system
with its own funds, they will be allowed
the Federal contribution II and when
Congress approprtates.
May Take Years to Get Money.
1t was pointed out that even if the
Cramton bill passes at this session, with
the amendments suggested by the off,
Gals of Maryland, that it may be several
years before Congress provides the
money. The Cramton bill itself merely
provides the authority for the appro-
priations. There seems to be little hope
that the money will be forthcoming this
year, especially in view of the Presi-
dents admonition to Congress about its
liberality with the Federal Governments
funds.
Plans for four projects of park ex-
tension in metropolitan Montgomery
County have been laid out and pre-
sented to the planning commission
The commission has directed study Of
the financial situation to determine the
limit in bonds which may be issued I'M
der the park and planning organic act
to meet the expenses of the develop
ment, and these facts have been laid be-
fore the commission. Although it had
been planned to start the improvement
work in Rock Greek Park early in the
Spring, the commission has not yet
taken any definite action.
None of the commissioners Of the
planning commission participated in the
discussions with Mr.. Cramton concern
ing the proposed amendment to the
bill designed 70 remove some of the OBJ:
jectionable features. AS they have be-
fore them their own plans for acquiring
lands and developing them, 1t was said
that the question has been raised as to
what effect the proposed Federal bill
will have on them if the commission
proceeds with the work without waiting
1OE the dCIlOu u TIC NdtiOnaA OohSACoS'
$4,000 Available.
The county now has available for the
ACQUISITION of park lands and their i'm
provement a total of approximately
$4,000. This is made up of the $4,000
appropriated from the State treasury
b. the Maryland General ASSEMBLY at
its 1927 session, and the remainder IS
the fund which has accumulated as Q
result of the levy of the 7-cent park
tax While the money donated by the
State can be used only for the acQuiSl-
ton of land, two-sevenths of the fund
provided as result of the tax levy may
be used for development and improve
ment, in accordance with an amend
ment to the law adopted by the last
Legislature. Montgomery County win
not get any benefit of the interest that
has accrued on the State fund, and no
matter how long 1t is unused it Will
never grow larger. It can only be paid
out on warrants issued for specific
purchases of land.
While it is not the desire Of the
Montgomery officials to wait until the
provision of Federal money under the
terms of the Cramton bill, it was indi-
Gated, nevertheless, the commission Is
DESTROYS of determining whether, If they
proceed with the development planned,
and if the Federal money is appropri-
ated several years hence, whether the
Federal Government will allow credit
on projects already developed. While
proposed amendments provide for a
lump-Sum contribution, 1t was said that
this is in reality a one-third contribu-1
ton based on figures compiled by the
engineers Of the Maryland and Federal
planning commissions, showing the
areas of land necessary for the proposed
parkways and the estimated value Of
the land.
Suggest Federal Allowance.
It already has been tentatively de-
ctded to suggest an amendment to the
Cramton bill which would provide for
Federal allowance even for land which
is acquired by the Maryland body by
dedication. Ofhcials of the commission
are now working in the Rock Greek
and Sligo valleys, interviewing the
owners with the idea of not only OBJ
tanning dedications of land, but where
this cannot be done, to ascertain the
price at which the owner will dispose
Of it to the park commission for de-
velopment purposes.
It is the view of some of the officials
that Montgomery County's park de-
velopment should not be held up pend
ing the provision of the Federal money,
but that the agents should proceed with
the acquisition of land, with subsequent
development, and then when the Ma
tional Government provides the money
to seek credit for the land already ac-
quired. The matter is considered of
much importance, on the eve of the
county starting its park development,
as the Federal funds Jumped to those
Of the State and county will make it
possible for considerable more develop
ment
Those scheduled to participate in
Tuesdays conference are j. Herbert
CiSsel, Robert C. Hilton and George p.
Hoover, the Montgomery County mem
beers Of the Maryland National Capital
Park and Planning Commission; Irving
G. Root, chief engineer, and ]. Bond
Smith, general counsel of the COM
mission; Lacy Shaw, vice president of
the board of county commissioners, and
z. Brooke Lee