Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-15
PLAN COMMISSION
WILL STUDY RIVER
PARK EXTENSIONS
Effecting of Cramton Bill
Provisions to Occupy
Fridays Session.
STREET WIDTHS SLATED
FOR STANDARDIZATION
Study of Dimensions of Present
Routes May Be Basis in
Traffic Consideration.

Preliminary plans for carrying into
effect the Cramton bill, enacted at the
last session of Congress and providing
for the extension of Washingtons park
area along the Potomac River, will be
the most important matter to be taken
up by the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission when it meets
Friday and Saturday of this week, &C
cording to Lieut.. Col. U. S. Grant, Sd,
executive officer of the commission.
Col. Grant said the commission would
probably examine the whole situation
and consider how and where the money
which Congress has authorized under
the Cramton bill should best be ex-
pended.
The commission will also consider a
proposal to adopt standard widths for
various types of streets in Washington.
Col. Grant explained today that at pres
ent the same street often has several
changes in width and cited Thirteenth
street as an example. The problem be-
fore the commission is whether it will
be advisable to establish various stand
ard widths for thoroughfares for differ
ent purposes. The widths of streets at
present, for the most part, have no re-
lation to present traffic conditions, Col.
Grant said.
Present Streets TO Be Basis.
This does not necessarily mean, he
said, that the commission will consider
making certain streets wider. It Is
possible that certain types of streets al
ready in existence will be used for GER
tain kinds of traffic and standardized
on that basis.
AS an advance proposal in connection
with the suggested rebuilding of Calvert
street bridge the Commission will con-
slider the development of plaza at the
point where Connecticut avenue and
Calvert street meet.
The further development of south B
street along the southern side of the
Mall from the Capitol westward is also
expected to come before the Commits
sion. Col. Grant explained today that
this street Is at present not straight
and cannot be used as a thoroughfare.
It has been suggested, especially If the
Government proposes to purchase land
south Of this street, that 1t be developed
as thoroughfare all the way from the
Capitol through to the vicinity of the
Arlington Memorial Bridge. \
Reservoirs Problem.
On the program of the Commission
meeting is also the question of the
future use of the old reservoir site in
Georgetown and of the Brightwood
Reservoir.
The problem of what to do with the
Brightwood reservoir has in recent
months been discussed in lively
fashion by the citizens living In the
vicinity of Sixteenth and Kennedy
ST. They have been very much
opposed to using it as a swimming pool
and have suggested its development as
a sunken garden.
There is also remote possibility,
Col. Grant explained, that the commits
sion may be asked at this meeting to
pass upon plans for the proposed Ma
sonic Temple on the Deane tract at
Connecticut and Florida avenues Col
Grant, however, was inclined to believe
today that the plans for this structure
are not yet ready for submission to the
commission.