Evening star., 1934-05-16
MUNICIPAL CENTER
TO Be DISCUSSED
Park and Planning Group to
Open TWo.Day Session
Tomorrow.


The much-discussed Municipal Gen.
ter development again will come be-
fore the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission when it as
sembleS tomorrow for a two-day
session.
Results of the work of a special
committee engaged upon the problem
will be discussed This group COM
prises Mai. John c. Gotwals. Engi-
neer Commissioner of the District;
Frederic A. Delano, commission chair
man; Nathan C. Wyeth, municipal
architect; W.T. Partridge. consult
ing architect to the commission, and
John Nolen, director of planning Of
the commission Nolen said no re-
port of this body will be made public
prior to its discussion by the COM
mission.
Lighting Studied.
A distinctive type of lighting for
the Mall will be studied by the COM
mission In cooperation with C..
Marshall Finnan. superintendent of
the National Capital parks, the COM
mission has been investigating various
types of lighting which would distin-
guish it from other park areas. The
illumination receiving approval, Nolen
said, must accentuate the vista be-
tween the Capitol and the Washing
ton Monument and it will be neces-
sary TO illuminate any light standards
~, hot IriSto h11t q the flnp
light the streets adequately and
safely. Preliminary recommendations
of the General Electric Co., which has
been studying the problem, will be
laid before the commission.
Progress of plans being prepared for
Union Square by Frederick Law Ohm
sted, landscape architect, who was
consultant to the Interior Depart
ment, will be discussed by Nolen.
Jeffers to Speak.
A picture of progress in the acqul-
stion of land for parks and play
grounds here together with the prof.
ects yet to be finished and the status
of EACH will be brought to the COM
missions attention by T. c. Jeffers,
member of the staff.
The Pennsylvania Railroads plan
for electrifying its lines in the Dis
trict will be discussed tomorrow
afternoon with the commission by the
carriers engineers. The major prob
lem. Nolen said, is whether overhead
transmission wires will be allowed
through the parks and through con-
gested areas, such as in the South
west. Towers will carry the distribu-
ton, but transmission wires are high
er than 40 feet, which is the height
of the towers.
Electrifcation plans have been
submitted to the District Commits
sioners. but they are awaiting the
recommendation of the Planning
Commission on this subject.
The director of planning said the
Pennsylvania Railroad proposes at
this time to electrify the Magruder
branch into Union Station, including
the section of its line through the
terminal yards along New York ave-
hue. the freight line through Ana
costa, Bennlng and crossing the
Anacostia River above the Pennsyl-
vania avenue southeast bridge: the
Virginia avenue tunnel and the via
duct in Southwest Washington. out
Maryland avenue, across the railroad
bridge over the Potomac River to PO-
tomac Yards. 1t is not planned to
electrity at this time the through pas
senger trains south of Union Station.
Mr. Nolen is informed.
Highway Changes Up.
A number of highway changes and
street closingS, mostly minor cases in
public property and additional land in
the northeast Fairgrounds that has
been purchased and is now up for for
NAL transfer to the Commissioners,
will be considere,.
L. H. Weir. recreational expert. will
present a report to the Commission,
outlining the scope of the survey he
has started in washington.
Analysis of returns of the recent
traffic survey will be laid before the
commission by J. A. Ryder, men,
Der of the staff.
Several problems relating to re-
routing of street car systems in the
city will be considered. These will
include the Ninth street loop at the
northwest corner of the Archives
Building, as a result of the tearing
up of car tracks on Constitution ave-
nue. in that region.
The proper method of terminating
the Fourteenth street car line in
Southwest Washington will likewise
be considered. The Public Utilities
Commission tentatively has approved
a loop around C and D streets and
Linwood place, but this is not entire
ly satisfactory to the Planning Com
mission as the Federal Government
has several holdings in that vicinity.
The commission is seeking a better
solution
A program of work for the coming
fiscal year for the commission will
be suggested by Nolen. Approval by
the planners will enable the staff to
proceed on a number of projects now
in the formative stages.
Friday afternoon will be set aside
by the commission for an inspection
of the Districts parks and play
grounds.