Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-08
AIlAG0S7IA PARK
LANDS SOUGHT
Property Owners in Prince
Georges to Baltimore Road
to Be Sounded on Purchase.
BIZ WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY,
star Correspondent OF The star.

stan correspondent OF The star.
! SILVER SPRING. Nd. February g.
Acquisition of the lands on both
banks Of the Anacostia River, from the
District line to point in the vicinity
Of the Baltimore Washington Boulevard
Tor the purpose of establishing the first
public parkway in the metropolitan dis
trict of Prince Georges County, has
been tentatively planned by the Mary
land-National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, 1t was learned today.
While no actual overtures have been
made to the property owners, Daniel
g: Fancy, Jr., city planner OF Hyatts-
vile, has been authorized by the COM
mission to interview the property own
ers on behalf of the commission to
ascertain the cost of purchasing these
lands.
Land Is Marshy.
The land included within the pro-
posed area as laid down on the plans
Of the planning commission is for the
most part mArshy and Of no practical
use until 1t Is reclaimed, in the same
manner as is being done by the Fed
eral Government from Benning Bridge
to the District of Columbia Maryland
boundary line. In the area between
Baltimore Boulevard the commission
has received a tentative offer from the
authorities of the Fort Lincoln Cemetery
to dedicate SO acres, with certain con-
ditions stipulated, such as improvement
and voice in the manner of improve
ment. There is hope that other prop
erty owners will dedicate the necessary
land and receive the Dement'S OF ult1-
mate improvement.
The Legislature Of Maryland In 1927
gave to Prince Georges County fund
Of $4,000 to be used for the acquisi-
ton Of park lands in that county and
q similar amount to Montgomery. This
fund has been in the State treasury
since that time, but the interest Is
collected by the State, and all the
county will get will be the principal,
no matter how long 1t remains In the
State Golfers. It. is this fund which
It Is proposed to use for the purchase
of the fisAFsn lands Of the proposed
Anacostia Park, provided the lands can
be bought at q reasonable price.
Two Roads Provided.
The plan Of the park commission
provides for two roadways along the
banks Of the AnacoStia through the
proposed park However, these cannot
Be put in until considerable improve
mert is done, and one Of the important
features of this. will be the dredging OF
the present channel deep enough 70
carry of the food waters which sew
eral times year inundate this area.
It also would be necessary 10 drain tne
marsh lands by pumping mud from the
channel, as Is being done now in the
lower reaches Of the river in the city
Of Washington.
However, there Is no indication at
this time that even IL the $780, 900 IS
spent for the purchase Of the lands In
question they can be improved. Not
one cent of this can be used for improve
ment purposes. The funds for this
must come from the 7-cent tax author
lied by the 1927 session OF the Legis-
lature, but never put into effect by the
Prince Georges County commissioners.
The commissioners have already indi-
Gated that they do not propose taking
any action which would result in an
increase of the tax rate. This tax, II
put into effect, would apply only to the
metropolitan district of the county. 1t
would be paid only by the people who
There are approximately 25o acres in
the area which IL is proposed to acquire
between the Washington Baltimore
boulevard and the District Of Columbia
line and nearly b similar amount west
of this bridge TO. the junction OF the
Northeast and Northwest Branches,
which together form the Anacostia
River. Between the east bank and the
Baltimore boulevard, in the vicinity Of
the Peace Cross in Bladensburg, 1t Is
proposed to leave strip Of private
property 240 feet in width, with the
business frontage allowed to remain on
the boulevard. There also would be
provision for frontage Of property on
the new road which it is proposed to
have skirt the banks Of the river when
1t Is reclaimed.
- 49, - De- 90.
acquire the land as far west as Bunker
Hill road. In this area provision can be
made for Q couple of large lakes by
draining the marshes. The acquisition
of this area also would include the
preservation Of an old mill with its mill
race.
Flood Studies Being Made.
While 1t does not appear now that
there is much hope of obtaining the
funds from the county for improvement,
It is known that the Federal Govern
Inent Is conducting certain hood-control
studies in the section, and, of course,
engineers might recommend the recla-
nation as Federal project. But this
Is remote, and quicker improvement
could be obtained by the putting into
effect Of the 7-cent tax.
The stream in the Bladensburg area
has been the source OF attack for some
time. Its unsightliness and unhealthful-
ness has been attacked in the Legisla-
talre by the Prince Georges members. In
the Summer, when the water is low, the
area Is filled with q repulsive stencil
caused by the exposure to the air OF
dumped materials, and in periods .oi
heavy rains and melting SHOWS the
boulevard Is made dangerous and i'm
passable when the river overflows.
t1a@AA A,asA. 49, --~4A-