Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-21
Commissioners Study Plan
to Tear Up All Except
Oklahoma Avenue.
CONNECTION is ASKED
WITH MARYLAND AVENUE
Through Street Would Relieve
Traffic on Bladensburg Road,
Declare Highway Experts.

With the exception of Oklahoma ave-
nue., all streets within the property ac-
quired for the National Arboretum be-
tween Bladensburg road and the Ana
costa River, south of the National
Training School for Boys, would be
closed and torn up under proposed
changes in the District highway plan
submitted at hearing today before the
District Commissioners.
Five changes in all were proposed by
william c. Hazen, District surveyor, and
Capt. Hugh H. Dram, Assistant En-
gineer Commissioner. The Commits
sioners are expected to act on them
within the next few days and forward
the plans to the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, which meets
Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Traffic Outlet Sought.
With respect to the lands acquired for
the National Arboretum, 1t is proposed
to connect Oklahoma avenue with
Maryland avenue along the westerly
edge of the Anacostia Park into Mary
land and to the Defense Highway, This
connection of Oklahoma avenue with
the Defense Highway, District officials
believe would relieve the overcrowded
condition on the Bladensburg road and
byroads. Owing to the low level of the
Bladensburg road near the Defense
Highway, this section is flooded by
heavy rains, which seriously interfere
with traffic. The proposed connection
would enable many motorists to avoid
these conditions en- route to points on
the Defense Highway.
The removal of all other streets with
in the arboretum tract, it was believed,
not only was necessary, but would great
ly enhance the attractiveness of the
acreage.
The first of the changes in the high
way plans would affect the area be-
tween Rhode Island avenue northeast
and the Queens Chapel road, involving
about 200 acres of land which Shannon
& Juchs proposes to subdivide. 1t Is
the purpose to create large community
blocks, split up by minor streets within
this area.
Hear No Objections.
The plan also involves a major east
and west street, with underpasses at
Rhode Island avenue and at New York
avenue under the railroad tracks west
of Bladensburg road. The area of the
proposed development is roughly
bounded by Brentwood road, Queens
Chapel road and just south Of Rhode
Island avenue. No objections were
voiced to the proposed changes.
Consideration was given to develop
ment of the area south of Michigan
avenue and east of Lincoln road, the
property being owned by various Cath
Ollie institutions. These institutions have
asked the Commissioners that all pro-
posed streets intersecting this area be
taken off the highway plan.
1t was brought out at the hearing by
Mr.. Hazen and other officials that If
streets are barred from this area there
would be no east or west access from
Franklin street to Michigan avenue,
which District officials regard as neces-
Sary.
A slight modification in the plans in
wolves the tract along Broad Branch
road. Davenport street and Linnean
avenue. This modification was proposed
so as not to disturb the residence of
DR.. Charles W. Richardson. 290l Grant
road, which is within the line of the
proposed extension of Ellicott street. If
the original plans were carried out the
street would run through his house. it
was said.
Garges Meets With Board.
The fifth change was submitted by
Miller Bros, which firm is planning a
development south of Massachusetts,
avenue, along the Dalecarlia Reser-
voir. They proposed that the street
development follow more nearly the
topography Of the land than the exist
ing plans.
Daniel E. Garges, secretary to the
Commissioners, met with the board,
and Charles w. Eliot, Sd, of the Park
and Planning Commission, represented
that body at the hearing.