Evening star., 1930-12-12
zoo ANIMALS ADD
|. NEW PROBLEM TO
DISTRICT TRAFFIC
Autos Using Highway Con-
nection Through Park Get
on Their Nerves.
NIGHT DRIVING WORKS
HAVOC WITH SLUMBER
Diversion of Cars Necessitated to
Eighteenth Street by Closing
Of Gates.

Lions. tigers, bears and other wild
animals are now complicating WASH
ington's trafic problem.
Despite the completion today of the
new ford through Rock Greek lust north
Of the Calvert Street Bridge In the
National Geological Park, motor trafac
still may not fiow through the Rock
Greek and Potomac Parkway from the
vicinity Of Silver Spring, Md, because
In difference to the temperanental
nerves Of many animals, Zoo oficials
have declined to open the gates at the
park boundaries.
The completion Of the ford and the
reconstruction of its approaches marks
anoLner link In the pretentious high
way development which ultimately will
connect Potomac Park with Rock
Greek Park and the territory north Of
the District In Maryland. The wide
paved road between the ZOO Rates At
Lne south and Massachusetts, avenue
nave been completed for some time but
so far the scenic thorourhfsre has
been little used.
Diversion Of Trafac.
The completion Of the ford was IN
enable trafflc to move along Pool
Greek to the new paved road but the
gates at the zoo necessitate the di-
version OF travel into Eighteenth street
and Adams Mill road.
Tne explanation for the closing Of
night through the Zoo PARK would UrorS
havoc with the repose of manv of the
nlghly-strung beasts within the park
Sucn disturbance would conStitlIte real
cruelty 70 the Gagged animals, oficials
DR.. William Mann, Zoological Park
ulrecJor, also has said the opening of
the gates would result in q heavy trafic
Jam within the park when the auto
monlles that could be accommodates
on the new and wide section OF the road
reaches the older and much narrower
sector. W.
Jurisdiction Over Park.
:, The Smithsonian Institution, of which
the Zoo Is a part, has Jurisdiction over
tnat part OF Rock Greek Valley from a
point just north of the Calvert Street
Brldge northward to the vicinity of
Adams Mill road.
Proponents of the Zoo gate onenino
contend there Is no apparent valid rea.
son why the gates could not be opened
at about am. and closed at sundown
as are other gates In the park. ON.
Gals who favor full use of the valley
Ior park and recreational purposes con-.
tend that opening Of these Zoo roads
would relieve traf1c on Connectic1It
avenue and that from Mount Pleasant
oy distributing it over Massachusetts
avenue. ''0
In answer to the position of the zoo
authorities, they say the roads ia the
zoo grounds would be relieved of ro1ch
OF the present cross trafflc which Would
take the main road along Rock Greek
altnough they concede that on SUNDAYS
tne situation might be a bit conrested
Much traffic on the open roads IN the
zoo now passes In the daytime along.
Sloe the pens Of many of the anirnaiss
~ Is said, so that opening the road
That follows the creek would mot 49,
turb them unduly.
New ROad Needed.
Ultimately, a new road will have In
pe nunt through the Zoo, they believe
Dut as temporary arrangement to per-
init the full use of that part of the
valley by motorists they contend the
the daytime. -0' AAA
The Rock Creek and Potomac Park-
way Commission, which consists of
secretary Mellon, Secretary Hurley and
secretary Hyde, Is now completinr the
Sectlon between Massachusetts avenue
ana the Q Street Bridge, where con-
SIDERABLE grading work is going forward
ms stretch Is expected to be finiShed
within year or so.