Evening star., 1933-10-12

pendent upon what goes on in the
neighboring States" said Mr.. Bettman
working with Virginia and MARYLAND
authorities the National Commission
can create harmony"
Another reason why the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission
is necessary is that here there Is not
unified government, he declared.
washington is city that produces
yearning, an affection in us no less
than our own cities" said Mr.. Bettman
I'VE come not merely for funds from
the Public Works Administration or to
convince the Federal Trade Commits
sion that our clients are not guilty of
unfair trade practices. Washington has
peculiar responsibility in dealing with
its local problems. It must envision its
local problems from a national view
point. Washington must see to 1t that
there is no social waste, as every Slum
is an evidence of bad planning In the
past-the result of past planlessness
Washington must realize that the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning Com
mission is not merely local device, but
has to serve the purpose of being a
leader in this nlanning movement for
the remainder Of the country"
DImculIeS OuLLnc0s
During yesterdays luncheon session
at the Southern Hotel in Baltimore,
Md, George L. Radcliffe, regional ad-
wiser of district No. 10 Of the Public
Works Administrator, which embraces
Maryland, speaking on the subject, RE
gional Planning in Maryland" detailed
the difficulties encountered In lack OF
adequate information on which to pro-
ceed speedily. He told the delegates
about the recent health and conser-
vation conference held with authorities
of the District, Delaware, Maryland and
Virginia concerning the Chesapeake Bay
and its tributaries, so that they may be
more fully utilized to the best advan-
tage Plans are being laid, he said, to
this end, not to be carried out imme-
diately. but looking ahead.
II wonder If out of the stress and
strain of the last few years men are
not more sympathetic with planning" +"
said Radcliffe. 1.-THE time and the sea-
son are ripe for it. We have the op-
portunity today to do planning such
as has not been done for centuries.
We shall get as far as we want to get.
Out of it all we shall secure little
more enthusiasm, little more think
ing, little more sense to carry out the
practical ideas"
Had insufficient Data.
Cofronted with his task, Radcliffe
said that when he entered upon it, he
found that there was insufficient data.
With the aid of prominent lawyers,
architects, engineers and business men
of this region. the adviser asserted, q
quantity Of maps and facts has been
assembled. He cited the difficulty of
planning for areas where the bulk of
the population is receiving financial
assistance. such as in the mining coun-
try. Some Of the substantial citizens
who are assisting him, Radcliffe assert
ed, have closed up their Offices to help
to the fullest The first thing he did
was to get in touch with the established
planning groups, he said.
The Maryland National Capital Park
and Planning Commission has gotten
100 per cent cooperation from the
taxpayers and the program is smoothly
working out. the commissions general
counsel. j. Bond Smith of Takoma
Park, Md, told the convention. The
zoning plans have not been attacked; /;
there has been some opposition to the
subdivision requirements on the part
of balky operators in real estate. but
on the whole there is "a very gratifying
attitude" toward the commissions
plans; there has been q scattering OF
opposition to the commissions right to
establish street grades. and the build