Evening star., 1932-01-20
$4,000 Sought to Pur-
chase Half Acre at 28th
and M Streets.
CONTRACT is AWARDED
FOR BRIDGE AT L STREET
Lovers Lane and Canal Property
Are Only Areas Still to Be
Bought for Project.

Nearly all the land necessary for the
completion of the Rock Creek and Po-
tomac Parkway has now been secured
but tha Federal Government will be
asked to advance $4,000 for half an
acre of ground, on which the Peck Me-
mortal Chapel and a filling station
stand at Twenty y-eighth and M streets,
so that two condemnation awards may
be satisfied. Then only a part OF the
Bliss properties along Lovers lane near
Montrose Park and the Chesapeake &.
Ohio Canal property will remain to be
secured to complete the entire parkway
land purchase program.
Officials had expected that the $l16,-
900 would go into the first deficiency
bill, but it now appears that this money
will be secured as a claim against the
Government, through congressional ac-
tion or the Court OF Claims.
s1,9O0,O00 Already Spent.
The Rock Creek and Potomac Park
way Commission has now been at work
nearly 20 years, purchasing land in
Rock Greek Valley, south OF the Ma
tional Geological Park, and officials said
today that 81 800 900 has been expended
and that the total paid for land was
only 10 per cent over the assessed
value, including all organization ex-
penses. The commission which Is COM
posed of Secretary Mellon, Secretary
Hurley and Secretary Hyde, is now
without funds. Lieut.. Col. U. S. Grant,
Sd, di rector of Public Buildings and
Public Parks, Is its executive ofhcer,
and George E. Clark is its engineer
and land expert.
The total area Of the Rock Greek
and Potomac Parkway, which stretches
southwark from the gate Of the Ma
tional Geological Park to a point north
of Constitution avenue, near where
Rock Greek empties into the Potomac
River, is 100 acres.
A bridge is to be constructed at L
street, to cross Rock Creek, and Col.
Grant today made the award to the
w. c. Briddell Co. of Baltimore, Md,
the successful bidder, who offered to do
the work for SAL 1890. Under the terms
of the contract, he Is permitted $50 days
to finish the bridge construction. This
will carry the highway from the present
terminus at K street, across Rock Greek,
so that feeder roads from Pennsylvania
avenue may be built.
Funds Are Lacking.
The ONCE of Public Buildings and
Public Parks is without funds for the
improvement of the Rock Creek and
Potomac Parkway between Pennsylvania
avenue and the P Street Bridge.
Construction Of the highway between
Massachusetts, avenue and the P Street
Bridge Is nearing completion, and Col
Grant expects to open this thoroughfare
to one-way traffic shortly. The water
side overpass," which is traffic bridge
near Massachusetts, avenue, is being fin
ished and gives novel treatment to
the problem of handling automobiles
aiding in avoiding a grade-crossing and
left-hand turns. Through the medium
Of the traffic bridge automobiles will
be brought in from Massachusetts, ave-
nue.. A rest room and lodge for the
United States park police are being
constructed in the abutments of the
structure.
When the road building and lighting
arrangements are completed the Sec
ton of the parkway between NaSsa-
chusetts avenue and P street will be
thrown open to the public.
Col. Grant said today that the Rock
Creek and Potomac Parkway Commts-
sion will not be dissolved, when the
half acre outstanding has been &C.
quired, for there is still pending liti-
cation with the Chesapeake & Ohio
Canal Co. for the land at the mouth
of Rock Creek.
The United States is claiming title
to that property, but the canal company
says it has secured the land under its
charter and activity. Dut to an agree
ment between the canal company and
the Federal Government, the construc-
tion Of the L street bridge will go for
ward, with the understanding that the
present status will be maintained over
land rights in that area.