Evening star., 1930-06-17
HOSPITAL EFFECTED
BY SUN OIL PLANT
6. U. President Says 1t Would
Interfere With New
Institution.
BY LESTER n. INsKEEP.

Among the numerous reasons given BY
s. Rev. w. Coleman Nevils. S. j., president
of Georgetown University, against the
proposed erection on the Virginia shore.
opposite the university, of an oil storage
plant and unloading wharf is that il
would seriously interfere with the new
hospital under construction on the cam
puS
Referring to this, he says:
The authorities of Georgetown Uni
versity have selected as the site for the
new hospital building of Greater
Georgetown place on the campus high
and commanding, overlooking the river
The scenic view, calm and restful. of the
water, the trees and the panorama of
pleasing sights makes the location ideal.
Would Be Detriment.
"a distinct detriment would be the
construction of wharf in the river and
to scar the woodside with unsightly
storage tanks for oil. The quiet of the
neighborhood would be spoiled and eff
cient operation of the hospital materi-
ally impaired. Not alone would this one
project of the Sun OF. Co. wreak all
such Ill effects, but the inevitable out
come would be the ultimate CONNER
ciallzation of the whole neighborhood
More desirable than the commercial
development of Washington and its en-
vironS, is the preservation and enhance
ment OF the natural beauty of its ter
rain" according to Rev. Mr.. Nevils.
One of the best assets of Washington
Beautiful is the ma jeStic Potomac from
its roaring. tumbling waters of awe in
spring Great Falls to the wide and
placid stretches of its silvery surface
below Key Bridge and on to the Chesa-
peake.
I'm commercial projects very little. if
any. thought is paid to the esthetic
value of scenery and beauties of nature.
The Sun Oil Co., therefore, does not
concern itself with these things in seek
ing permit for an oil-unloading wharf
. short distance above Key Bridge. But
the fact remains that if this permit is
granted it will be an opening wedge for
: others to seek similar concessions to the
rapid destruction of the present pri-
fneval charm of the River of Swans"
and its forest-fringed banks. "A stitch
iE time saves nine" never applied more
forcibly than right now when the Gov
ernment should state emphatically that
the National City has no commercial
ambition.
Broader Plan of Washington.
washington was selected for the site
of the Federal governmental headquar-
ters for its accessibility and beauty and
not for its commercial possibilities. Al
though Rosslyn, Va, like most towns,
may want to increase its pay roll and
encourage manufacturing and other
commercialization. yet, laudable though
that ambition may be, it should not be
allowed to spoil or in any way impair
the broader and more national plan of
Washington and the District Of CO.
lumbia.
Huge sums have been spent by the
people in preserving the beauty of Rock
Greek Park, in adorningf the city with
magnificent monuments and works of
art and in spanning the Potomac with
two imposing and beautiful bridges. 1t
would be mockery to allow an oil
company to put a wharf in the river
and unsightly oil tanks on the shores
just a few steps from the glistening
stone of Key Memorial Bridge, and be-
meath its wide and graceful arches to
have black and dirty oil tugs irrev-
erently chugging along to disgorge their
greasy and unpoetical contents"