Evening star., 1933-05-18
Gillette Proposal Calls for
Raising Low Ground Near
Lincoln Memorial.
COST OF HIS PROGRAM
ESTIMATED AT $4,000
Grant Reports Expenditure of
100000 of Funds Appro-
priated for Buying Land.

A flood control program for Wash
lngton was laid before the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission
today by its engineer, Maj D. H.
Gillette.
This scheme provides for the raising
OF the low ground between the Lincoln
Memorial and the Washington Monu-
ment and the placing of some 8 feet
OF earth in the vicinity of the municipal
swimming pool at Seventeenth street
and Constitution avenue, to provide the
basis for levee.
At present, Maj Gillette pointed out
the low spots in the region of the Me-
mortal would permit big flood to sweep
along Constitution avenue and inundate
the Easements of the new Department
OF Commerce Building and other new
Government structures in that area.
The major estimates his scheme would
cost $4,000. 1t provides for the build
ing up OF the ground at the rear of the
Munitions and Navy Buildings and
using the east wall Of the Navy Build
ing as an important link In the flood
control program
Sandbags would be placed along Sew
enteenth street and with some 8 feet
Of earth on the northwest side of the
Monument Grounds back Of the NUM-
cipal Swimming Pool, a levee could be
thrown up to meet onrushing waters,
supply of earth would be thrown up on
top OF the ground to make the new
levee at that point.
Alternate Plan TOO Costly"
With three quarters Of the earth re-
quired already in place, by raising the
level of the ground near the District
Swimming Pool, it would be an easy
matter to dig down behind the proposed
levee and utilize the earth with which
to build a pyramid. Maj Gillette has
had extensive experience in levee work
in the Mississippi River country.
Another plan, which Maj. Gillette
considers too costly. would be to extend
street south, down toward the Lin
coin Memorial westward. This would
form dixie to stem the waters and
the new thoroughfare would be known
as Independence avenue.
Maj. Gillette said his program, II COM
pleted, could cope with food "a hours
after the communities up the Potomac
River mad given warning of a food.
The plan Is predicated on food Of
maximum height of feet, based on a
study OF previous floods of the Potomac
River.
SI2tuS o. EunoS Shown
Lieut.. Col. q. s. Grant, Sd, the CON-
missions executive officer, In reporting
on the status of funds, told the organi-
zation s3,100,000 Of the $4,000, 600 au-
thorized under the Capper-Cramtop
act, to be spent for land in the Dis
trict, has now been expended. Taking
into consideration land bought pre-
viously, before the Capper-Cramton act
was enacted. the commission has now
completed the purchase of 66 per cent
OF the aggregate area Of approved prof.
ectS In the District, he said. These
include the Fort Drive, park and play
ground developments and picnic groves
The commission will be given further
information concerning the park de-
velopment in nearby Maryland valleys
when Irving c. Root engineer of the
Maryland National Capital Park and
Planning Commission. submits a report
Frederic A. DeIano, commission
chairman. will submit a report to his
organization relating to the proposed
bridges connecting the administration
building of the Department of Agricul-
ture with the new extensible building.
The commission will also consider the
pretentious plaza development in the
Triangle east of the Commerce Depart
ment Building as we'll as further devel-
opments in the proposed alterations Of
Thomas Circle to facilitate traffic move
ment.