Evening star., 1933-10-12
CITY IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM OFFERED
Maj. Clarke Asks Ban on
Leaving Autos Along
Roads in Parks.

Maj. Gilmore D. Clarke, landscape
architect member of the Fine Arts
Commission, speaking last night at the
Federal City dinner, given as part of the
Joint convention of the National Con-
ference on City Planning and the
American Civic Association, meeting at
the Cosmos Club, advocated that parked
cars be taken out of the city's parks,
particularly around the White House.
He proposed completion of the Mall,
Improvement of the Washington Noun
ment Grounds, completion of the plaza
on Columbia Island, extension Of
Arlington National Cemetery to the
grounds now occupied by the expert
mental station of the Department of
Agriculture, purchase by the Govern
rellt of Great Falls and the lands
downstream of it along the Potomac
River SO the George Washington Me-
mortal Parkway may be completed and
the realization of the projected new
parkway to Baltimore, by way of the
Anacostia River.
"As the Triangle group Of public
buildings nears completion, the Mall
development should go forward" said
Maj. Clarke. las one looks from the
west end of the Mall, one should look
upon quiet scene, and not upon NOV
ing traffic, and so Fifteenth street at
that point must be designed to pass
under the Mall
Island Plaza Called Desirable.
Completion of the plaza on Columbia
Island is desirable as the focal point
of highways leading down to Mount
Vernon, to Arlington National Cemetery.
to the Lincoln Memorial, to the Lee
Highway and to the George Washington
Memorial Parkway, the speaker said.
81 think the time has come when,
due to the increase in burials in Ar
lington, the Government must change
its policy of memorials to the men
who lie buried there" Maj. Clarke said.
In the service. he pointed out, all
wore uniforms alike and there is no
reason why they should not be sim
tlarly treated, indicating the headstones
should be uniform.
1T behooveS this Government to pur-
chase Great Falls and the adjacent
lands along the Potomac River" the
speaker said. "Once the gorge of the
Potomac has been despoiled, it can
never be replaced. I hope the site of
lllc pIUpOSeQ 1leW DiluSC Will NC Out
of sight at Great Falls, so as not to
interfere with the magnificent view.
No work of man should mar the Great
Falls. The bridge should be located
somewhere around the corner"
shameful Kind of Road"
Maj. Clarke spoke of the revived in
terest in the new parkway to Balti-
more. He described the present United
States Highway No. l as "a shameful
kind of road" approaching Wash
stations and other roadside eyesoreS.
This city deserves the greatest ap-
proach of any city in the world" he
said, advocating early construction OF
the projected new parkway.
Now we have to look at parks and
buildings through rows of parked au-
tomobiles. They ought to be kept out
of the parks. We ought to be able to
drive through a parkline atmosphere
and not through garages. This ought
to be a problem easy of solution"
Maj Clarke recalled the early men,
bers of the Fine Arts Commission and
paid tribute to DR.. Charles Moore. the
present chairman, who was present at
the gathering.
Arno B Cammerer, director Of the
Office Of National Parks, Buildings and
Reservations, told the audience Of the
larger opportunities now existing mas
mucf as one organization for the first
time is charged with the custody of in
spirational. recreational and educational
facilities in the parks and monuments
of the Nation. Scenes representative OF
every period in the Nations history can
be witnessed-from prehistoric ruins to
landmarks of Colonial times, Revolu-
tionary War days, the Civil War era
and points of interest of today. In the
fields of archaeology, history, geology
and biology. the new park group pro-
poses to make fuller opportunities for
the public. Mr. Cammerer said, so that
the increased leisure time may be bet
ter employed.
Alfred Bettman Speaks.
Speaking on 1.-THE Essential Service
of the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission" Alfred Bettman,
president of the National Conference on
City Planning, said such an organiza-
tion is needed here, not only to corre-
late various functions, but because
Washington is the center Of grow
ing community, part of which lies in
the adjacent States of Maryland anc
Virginia.
THE attractiveness and convenience
OF the National Capital are much de-
SPECIAL NOTICES.
A woman took me in & another preacher!
Z. Hez Sven. pastor. Sun, 8 pm. Gen.