Evening star., 1933-10-11
PARK DRIVE SEEN
LINKING BALTIMORE
Scenic Highway From Wash
ington Predicted by Col.
Grant at Dinner.
BY a stafY Correspondent Of The Star.

BY Staff Correspondent Of The Star.
BALTIMORE, October l1-Early
agreement on a route for a park drive
between Washington and Baltimore, a
plan conceived more than decade ago,
was forecast last night by Lieut.. Col
U. S. Grant, Sd, former executive officer
Of the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission.
Speaking at the roadside improve
ment dinner Of the joint meeting of the
National Conference on City Planning
and the American Civic Association
Grant asked the aid of Ealtimoreans in
the Capital and this city.
He said there had been many CON
versations" recently between officials OF
the Planning Commission and the
State of Maryland in regard to the
drive, and that within few months a
route on which every one agrees will
have been decided upon.
Traces New Route.
Col. Grant. former director Of Public
Buildings and Public Parks, outlined q
tentative route which would have nc
effect on the two main highways now
conn Getting the two cities He traced
q r ,uts leading from Anacostia Parkway
along the Eastern Branch, connecting
with an extension of Maryland avenue
passing number of sites already owned
by the Government, or to be purchased
touching close to the University of
Maryland and Fort George G.. Meade
He said such route would make it pos
slble to put the park-highway where
it would cost the least and where in
termittently there would be woods anc
open spaces for recreation
Col. Grant described this as bring
Ing washington nearer to Baltimore ir
pleasant way. as we are bringing Bal
timore nearer to the National Capital.
We hope you will aid in getting the
details worked out to the satisfaction oi
every one" he said, 80 we may be able
to separate those highways which are
for utility and those for pleasure"
He said this might be done by having
the present U. S. Route No. /, between
Washington and Baltimore. give over
to commercial vehicles, while the new
parkway thoroughfare would be purely
Tor pleasure purposes.
Praises Billboard Tax.
The Maryland method in taxing road
outright prohibition of billboards anc
other outdoor advertising, Col. Grant
said. The owners of these signs should
pay back to the public the values they
have deprived them of, he asserted. Be
cause. through this means. the signs
Will be fewer, those that remain will be
more valuable and consequently ol
greater benefit to the owners, the speak.
er reasoned, so they can be built under
conditions to make them architectur.
ally more agreeable
I think our friends, the architects
can work out attractive gas stations anc
barbecue stands" he said, but there
should not be so many that they CAM
be done well. There is strong feeling
that to prohibit all gasoline stations
and other roadside structures is a pro-
gram that large part Of the public
will not be sympathetic with"
II the highway can be protected
against cheap and ugly and undesirable
properties, the ground back of them viii
become more valuable, Col. Gran,
added.
Urges Recreation Use.
Il don't think Highway No. l between
Washington and Baltimore has much
recreational value" he said Along
side the commercial highway let u:
build different kind of drive, such as
the new Mount Vernon Memorial High
way. For many years. we have been
looking toward Baltimore for a new
park drive. The National Capital Park
and Planning Commission has made
some suggestions to the Maryland high
way authorities and to those here in
Baltimore. Those conversations are
t;efe
is every reason to believe that in a
few months more there will be a plan
on which all will agree. and as money
becomes available it can be carried
out"
Miss Lavinia M. Engle, member OF
the Maryland House of Delegates from
Montgomery County, laid before the
roadside improvement group a number
of problems relating to this subject
How wide, she asked, are rights>of way
to be purchased along the new high
ways?
She also spoke Of the Disagreement
of the landscape" particularly singing
out for condemnation oil stations
painted in gaudy red and orange. Bill
boards. venders and oil stations. she
contended, are the worst offenders in
1.-The string slum along rural and
suburban highways"
II think We in Maryland have had
some sense of responsibility as the
keeper of the gateways to the National
Capital said Miss Engle. Maryland
has done something to achieve that by
its billboard legislation We welcome
your leadership in solving this prob
lem"
Mrs Herbert E. Pickett, president OF
the Women's Civic League of Baltimore
presided at the roadside dinner, which
followed a tour of Baltimore and Fort