Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-22
FURTHER HEARINGS
EXPECTED ON BILL
COVERING PARKWAY
Question of Power Develop
ment May Extend Senate Ac-
ton on Cramton Measure.
GRANT ASKS FOR TIME
TO ANSWER SOMERVELL
Problem of Great Falls Bridge Also
Delays Action on Pro-
posed Project.

pUScu xIOJcCl.
Further hearings by the Senate Dis
trict committee on the Cramton park
development bill before a decision is
reached appeared likely today, following
yesterdays meeting, at which witnesses
debated vigorously the effects of COM
bining hydro-electric power with park
on the upper Potomac.
AS passed by the House the bill pro-
vides for purchase of both sides of the
Potomac from Mount Vernon and Fort
Washington to Great Falls as a George
Washington memorial parkway, leaving
for future determination by Congress
the question Of hydro-electric power de-
Velopment.
Elisha Hanson, attorney for the Poto-
mac River Corporation, one Of the ap-
plicantS for a power project on the
river urged the Senate committee yes
terday to settle now the question Of
whether power development is to be per-
mitted, declaring that If his company is
given the power permit the people would
get park along the river Immediately
without the expense of buying the land.
Mr.. Hanson recommended an amend
ment to the Cramton bill which would
permit power development, the project
to be approved by the Park Commits
sion and the Fine Arts Commission.
See Difficulties Ahead.
Members of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission, who
stressed the unusual scenic advantages
of preserving the valley of the Upper
Potomac in its natural state, denied
that purchase of the area at this time
for park purposes only, as proposed by
the Cramton bill, would preclude the
power project later on If Congress
should at some future time see fit to
allow the power development.
Mai. Brehon SomerveH, Army engl-
neer for this area, explained in detail
to the committee a modified power
project worked out by his Office, which,
he said, would preserve Great Falls
and allow for a park along the river,
although not low-level park, since the
power dams would raise the elevation
behind them.
Mai Somervell emphasized that he
was not appearing in opposition to any
plan for the adequate development OF
the area around Washington, but mere
ly to give the committee information
on all phases of the Upper Potomac
including navigation, food control,
power development, water supply and
recreation, and to point out how the
river could be used to greatest advan-
tage for the country.
He showed the committee first pic
lures of how the river would look II
preserved for park without power de-
Velopment and then its appearance II
the modified combination power and
park project should be carried out. Maj.
Somervell told the Senators it was for
them to decide whether the former pic
ture would be worth 500, 900 more
than the latter. The major testified
that adoption of low-level park plan
would mean a waste Of that amount
and that an excellent park could be
obtained in conjunction with the modi-
ned power proposal.
Explains Estimate.
When Senator Tydings asked him to
elaborate on the figure given as the
waste Of adhering to a low-level park,
Somerven said it represented the power
development, the free bridges on top of
the dams in the power project, the cost
of navigation dams that might be built
in future, taxes, advantages to the citys
water supply and estimated conserva-
ton in coal and labor.
]. c. Nichols and Frederick Law
Olmstead, members OF the Park and
Planning Commission, in advocating
immediate purchase of the banks of the
Upper Potomac to preserve its natural
appearance as a park, told the COM
mittee that the main fear of those who
want the power question settled now
seems to be that an artificial park is
to be developed down in the valley that
would make it impossible to get pow
er development authorized in future.
Both men declared the Park Commits
sion has never discussed converting the
valley into an artificial park.
Further answering the power adj
VocateS, Mr.. Nichols told the committee
that two dams and two large lakes
do not make park. as has been sug-
gested here" He said he could under
stand that the demand for power might
become great at some time, but that it
could be developed then with mini
mum sacrifice of the park possibilities.
After Maj. Somervell had outlined
the modified power and park proposal.
Representative Cramton recalled that
the Secretary of War had approved the
amendment in the House BILL reserving
to Congress for future determination
the questions of power and navigation
improvements on the river, and cross
examined the major as to whose views
he was presenting.
Grant Ask for Reply.
Maj Somervell said they were his
own views as he had given them % the
chief of engineers, Gen. Brown. He
said he read them to Gen. Brown and
the chief of engineers told him they
should be made public. The witness
added that he was not advocating de-
feat of parks for Washington, but was
pointing out that 1t is a question as to
whether all the resources Of the river
should be developed.
Lieut.. Col. u. S. Grant, 3d., said be
hoped the committee would allow time
for the Park Commission to reply to
the testimony of Maj. Somerveu
Asked by a member of the commit
tee if the hydro-electric power Is
needed in Washington now, Maj. Somer-
veil answered, mot so much here, but
in this area"
Mr. Nichols said the park commission
members were not certain the hydro
electric power would be cheaper, but
that if it should be it would tend to at
tract industrial development.
The committee devoted part OF yes
terday's meeting to the problem OF what
should be done with regard to the con-
struction of a bridge near Great Falls.
The Great Falls Bridge Co. was given
permit to erect a toll bridge, but the
House amended the park bill 70 prohibit
toll bridge. Norman Landreau, repre-
senting the company, told the committee
yesterday of the extent to which the
company has gone in making arrange
ments to carry out the projec5. 1t was
suggested by Senator Tydings that Mr.
Landreau submit at the next meeting a
written statement of the terms on which
the Government could take over the
structure If the company builds 1t.
WAR ON RATS AND CATS.