Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-13
HIGHWAY PROJECT
NEEDS MORE FUNDS
Work on Mount Vernon
Boulevard to Be Halted Un-
less FeSs Bill Passes.

Cessation of work on the Mount
Vernon Memorial Boulevard, which it
had been hoped would be completed in
time for the Washington Bicentennial
celebration next year, is threatened
within two weeks unless Congress
passes bill now pending in the Senate
providing funds for construction work
and authorizing purchase Of additional
lands adjacent to the boulevard, 1t was
revealed today by Thomas H. MacDon-
aid, chief of the Bureau of Public
Roads, in charge of the construction
project. ~2S
Unless the bill is passed construction
work will be halted, except for the
dredging and filling operations which
are being conducted by the Corps Of
Engineers. Mr.. Macdonald said.
st regard the situation as desperate, +"
Mr.. Macdonald said. 1.-THE funds for
construction authorized in the Fess bill
are essential to completion of the bou-
levard. They must be provided without
delay If the work is to be completed
before next year. The funds authorized
for land purchase are equally neceS-
sary for the identification of the project
and the blocking out or removal OF
eyesores which will ruin the boulevard's
beauty and memorial character"
Authorizes $2.700.0OO.
The pending bill, introduced by Sem
ator Tess of Ohio, authorizes an appro-
prlation of S2,700,000 to provide for
oorny,laffo,, ~ fla l1i0luov and fha MIR.
chase of additional lands. OF this
amount, Mr. Macdonald said, approx
innately $2,30O,000 is for construction
purposes and only 100000 is for the
purchase of lands.
The additional land which will be ac-
Quired under the terms Of the measure,
II passed, will become part Of the
Potomac River parkway. Its purchase
Is needed Immediately, however, to per-
nit the removal of eyesores, which, if
permitted to remain, will destroy much
of the beauty and memorial character
of the highway, it was said.
The FeSS bill authorizes the Secretary
of Agriculture to make these land pur-
chases, though the parkway later will be
administered by the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission. The
additional land to be acquired. while
not a part of the boulevard right Of
way, is regarded as essential "for the
development, protection and preserva-
ton Of the memorial character Of the
| highway"
Lands Still Needed.
Among the tracts to be purchased is
that including the site Of Abingdon, the
old Gusts mansion, which was burned
| down last year; land upon which stands
a fertilizer and glue factory which OBJ
structs some of the finest views OF the
Capitol and Library of Congress from
| the boulevard. There also is tract to
be acquired between the boulevard and
| lance of about 1000 feet along the
water front in the vicinity of Wellington,
Wellington Villa and ArcturaS, subur-
ban developments south of Alexandra,
Va The only other important tracts to
be acquired are narrow strips OF water
front around Hunting Greek and a por-
| ton of undeveloped water front above
/ Alexandria, which is in danger OF being
developed for industrial purposes, 1t was
explained
The total amount of land to be ac-
| quired under the terms Of the FesS bill
is $50 acres, of which Ala acres is low,
swampy land along the river and its
| tributaries, and 275 acres is more Valu-
| able land along the river bluffs, mostly
below Alexandria.
! Every detail of the landscaping OF
the areas along both sides Of the boule-
ward has been worked out, Mr.. Mac
Donald explained, so as to bring out
/ and accentuate every beautiful view and
10 block out by screens of trees and
shrubberv every unsightly spot.
At points where unusually good views
| CONTINUED on Page 2, Column A.