Evening star., 1933-04-22
PARK COMMISSION
DISCUSSES SLASH
Impounding of S840, 900 Fund
by Budget Bureau Gets
Careful Study.

CdreIul Sluuy.
The impounding of $4,000 Of its
funds by the Budget Bureau formed
one Of the major items OF discussion
at a meeting yesterday Of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commission.
The status OF its various projects was
examined and the commission received
a report from its staff relative to these
projects.
Charles W. Eliot. I'd. director OF
planning of the commission, announced
that no official action was taken py
the body on the impounding. The
commission discussed the program OF
park development in the nearby Mary
land valleys and the consequent ne
cessity for postponing action on their
Improvement, because OF the mpounoo
ing of the s8400 900, OF which $l58,0Oo
was to have gone to the Maryland Na-
tional Capital Park and Planning Con-
mission for park valley improvement.
OF this latter figure, the Federal
Government, under the Capper-Cram-
tor park purchase act, was to
have given an outright gift OF one
third of the sum; while two-thirds was
to have been advanced as loan TO
the MARYLAND commission. Out OF the
innpounded fund, s632,000 had been
set aside for spending in the Dstrlct
on the Fort Drive, a motor highway
designed to link up the Civil war
forts encircling the Capital: ana on
mark playground and recreation center
expansion. Another $4,000 had been
set aside for expenditure in Virginia,
in the George Washington Memorial
Parkway. projected southwark from
Great Falls to Fl. Washington, MO-,
and Mount Vernon.
virginia Also Acts.
The Virginia Legislature. at its last
session, appropriated S25,OOo OF Sta!e
funds for the parkway, on the cond-
ton that $25,000 would nave Deeh
ties or bv public or private subscrip-
tion This S50.O00 would be matcneo,
Under the program laid out, by $50,O00
from the Federal Government.
So far under the Capper- r-Cramton
act IS 600, 900 has been appropriated;
The District has repaid to the Feoeiai
Treasury $4,000, 900 and another ST.
ano noo ;s provided for in the 1884 Dis
tr;ct appropriation bill. Slightly more
than s3 900 900 thus far has been spent
in the District on park lands, pray
grounds and recreation centers, ana .
total of s16,OO0,000 was contemplateo;
For the George Washington Memorlai
parkwav and for the nearby Maryiano
valleys. a grand total of $8.0OO,oo0 was
manned out under the Capper-Crain-
vi The 1 commission yesterday Went
thoroughly into the fiscal situator
hroueht about by the action OF tnf
Rudeet Bureau in curtailing It's iunQs.
The commission was ready 10 aovaHoe
tn the Maryland commission 1unoS iol
Cabin John Unit No. ! ana onso
valley Unit No. 3. Federal money pre-
yiously had been advanced 1or wv
other sections Of Sligo valley ana 1of
Rock Greek Valley.
Eliot laid before thes commission d
report showing various possible siees'
comprising islands III the upper ~.
tonac River near Great Falls, Sultaple
for a memorial to the late Stepnen :.
Mather. director OF the National Fafk
Service and a. member OF the comniis- as-
sion. The group took the report uiioei
adyisement. ,,,,,de
purchase Of a suitable islano ~ tlr .
Potomac River. as a memollal " W. m,
Mather, as part OF its permanent pfo-
gram. ,,s.,o,,
;,,snected models. made under the dl-
rection of william T. Partridge, 1ts
Consulting architect, that will be ex-
hibited at the Chicago Century OF
progress Exposition this Summer. Ine
models show the comparison between
the National Capital of 1883 ana tne
present day. They will be shlppeo 10
Chicago about the end OF the montn.
Claims Report Given.
Thomas s. Settle, commission secre.
+arv reported on the settlement OF
cia inns Of the United States along the
Anacostia River to Buzzards Point.
.Iohn Nolen, city planner OF the COM
mission. reported on additional data on
slIey dwellings here, secured through
the voluntary cooperation OF inter-
ested citizens. A final figure on tne
present alley-dwelling population mas
not vet been determined. 1nformatlon
is being gathered on rentals being asKeo
for vacant houses. into which presen!
alley dwellers could be moved, snoulo
their houses be used for another pur..
pose. Senator Capper, Republican OF
kansas, former chairman OF the senate
District Committee, recently relntro-
duced his alley dwelling measure, DE-
signed to eliminate these structures
from the Capital.
Durine the DISCUSSION on the COM
missions fiscal condition it was empha-
sized that the removal Of land pur-
chase items affects only two OF the 23
problems on which it is engaged. Such
activities as planning and co-ordinat-
ing transfer of land between Govern
nnent agencies here. land titles. the clos
ing of streets, and other phases OF Its
work do not involve specific funds.