Evening star., 1932-03-18
System of Government
Parking Garages Urged

Is there q solution for the all-day
and an-night parking problem Of
Washington?
Three remedies have been suggested
repeatedly. These are: ID Pass law
prohibiting such parking. (2) En-
courage private capital to erect neces.
sary garage space. (3l Have the Gov
ernment supply parking space for
Government employees. So far these
three proposed remedies have failed to
function.
There is fourth possible remedy for
the solution of this difficult problem-a
remedy for which there is annie nre-
cedent in recent congressional action
along finance lines. I refer to the
setting up by congressional action of
a non-proflt Government-contro COR
poration with revolving fund Of ample
proportions to completely meet the
problem.
Hundreds Of millions Of dollars have
been spent or are in the process of
being spent to create in Washington
the best and most beautiful capital
city in the world. The beauty of the
Capital Is seriously marred by the
thousands OF automobiles which line the
curb day and night. If it were possible
10 decide upon a basis of measure. the
statisticians Of Government and private
business could Show an enormous
money loss Que to the slowing up of
tramc and the inaccesSibility Of busi-
ness eStaoisnments. Any plan which
solVes tnlS problem can be credited with
tnese reclaimed values Of beauty and
utility.
Citizens Of Washington are in search
OF Congressman who will sponsor a
bill for setting up a suitable revolving
fund for the construction of a series
OF parking garages of such size. type
and in such locations as NAV be suit
able Tor dealing adequately with this
problem. Such garages NAV be of the
ramp type, the elevator type. the Fer
rls wheel type or any other type which
snail accomplish the desired purpose
OF efficient and economical parking.
Inc financial success of the plan and
the return to the Government Treas
ury in reasonable time of principal and
suitable interest is assured II certain
fundamental principles are established
and adhered to. These principles may
be summarized briefly as follows:
!. This auto parking corporation Is
not In competition with any private
business. It's purpose is to solve q
problem which private investment has
failed to solve. If this corporation
shows the way, private business may
step in to complete and carry on the
job, but in doing so exploitation by
private capital can be prevented in
definitely by the whip hand Of this
non-profit organization, which exists
only because private initiative has failed
to function in this direction.
2. This auto parking corporation is
charged with the duty of getting parked
automobiles of the streets day and
night. This means the establishment
OF suf1cient number Of such garages
and such sizes and locations as shall
completely meet the problem.
8. Conf1scatory rates are necessarily
sef-destructive. II an owner must pay
a pew parking charge every time he
leaves his car for over an hour, for in
stance, the cost CT automobile owner
ship Is increased to a prohibitive de-
gree. Every owner Of an automobile
knows that he or she must meet Ger
tain fixed charges. A monthly parking
charge paid direct to the auto parking
corporation or collected like taxes
which would supply a ticket or tag
usable in all Of the corporations garages
can be made adequate to meet oper-
alton, interest and amortization costs.
II planning, construction and operation
are consistent with the most up-to-date
quantity production and sales methods,
there Is no reason to anticipate pro-
hibitive parking expense for any auto
mobile owner.
The erection of the necessary parking
garages would be a material aid in the
solution OF the unemployment problem
an aid more nearly permanent and
satisfying than charity.
WALLACE HATCH.