Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-10
G0TWALS AGREES
WITH GRANT PLAN
Conference Brings Harmony
on Rock Creek Roadway
Project.

After a conference on the Rock
Greek and Potomac Parkway project in
the Office of Lieut.. Col. U. S. Grant
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission, yesterday. Col. Grant and
Mai. John c. Gotwals, the new En-
gineer Commissioner Of the District,
found that they were in accord with
regard to the development of the Rock
Greek and Potomac Parkway project.
It was explained that Mai. Gotwals'
references to the covering of Rock
Greek and the Rock Creek Valley road
way were made under misunderstand-
ing.
A statement given out by Col. Grant
following the conference, declared that
Mai. Gotwals has no opposition what
ever to the project as provided by law,
and that his views are quite in har-
mony with those of Col. Grant.
Col. Grant favors a connecting road
way along Rock Greek from Potomac
Park to Rock Greek Park, and has OPP
posed covering over the creek in the
vicinity of Georgetown for utilization as
sewer.
There are certain questions, accord
ing to the statement, as to the hand
ling of the savage disposal problem,
the way most beneficial to the District,
including full consideration of economy,
highway traffic facilities and park
values. Col. Grant believes from the
experience of several years that the
District and the Federal authorities will
be able to work out these problems har-
moniously and for the general benefit
of the National Capital.
Grant Explains MISUNDERSTANDING"
Statements that Maj. Gotwals was
development of this connecting road
way were declared by Col Grant to
have been due to a misunderstanding.
For many years it was considered the
natural thing some day TO fill in Rock
Greek Valley and carry Rock Greek
in large sewer south of Massachusetts,
avenue. Careful study, however,
showed that 1t would be very much
more expensive to do this than to buy
the valley and preserve the stream
for storm drainage, combining sewer
| construction to sanitary sewerage only.
Congress decided upon this form OF
treatment after many years OF study
of the subject.
The land has practically all been
| acquired The connection with the
Zoo upstream from Massachusetts,
avenue has been completed. The Sec
ton from B street to K street has been
graded and prepared for connecting
roadway. The roadway in the section
between Massachusetts, avenue and G
street is being graded this year, and q
connection, costing a considerable sum
of money, has been made with the
| Arlington Memorial Bridge Plaza and
| the parkway at B street.
With all this work done and the de-
cision OF Congress explicitly stated In
law and confirmed by appropriations
through many years, 1t Is not con-
sldered likely that the project will be
abandoned at this time. Maj. Gotwals
when he was quoted as suggesting that
the creek ought TO be covered over and
turned into a sewer at one section
says he was misunderstood and that he
is in harmony with Col. Grant ir
principle.
Two Made Informal Inspection.
When Col Grant and Maj. Gotwal'
made their informal inspection of Rocl
Greek Valley few days ago the sec
ton between P street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue, at the present very low
stage of the creek, apparently led Maj
Gotwals, according to reports, 10 -
lieve that this section was not y
promising for a parkway. In fact, thi!
section of a few blocks was very much
damaged years ago by dumping. bu
the excavation Of this material will
not be very expensive and the materia
that has to be removed here can Target!
be utilized for fills elsewhere in thu
parkway.
The traffic value of the connectin
parkway Is a consideration that has ap
pealed to many persons in Washington
1t bears upon a problem that is becom
ing more important every year. tn
principal trafic congestion problem
now in the streets leading from tn
residential areas to the business sec
ton and the GovernnHnt building