Evening star., 1935-04-11
Highway From Arlington to
Francis Scott Key Spans
Sanctioned.
LAND CONDEMNATION
AT ONCE is DIRECTED
Capital Park and Planning Group
Weighs Other Problems
as Session Opens.

Final approval was given today By
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission to plans for con-
struction of park highway between
Arlington Memorial and Francis Scott
Key Bridges on the Virginia side Of
the Potomac River. enabling the Bu-
reau of Public Roads of the Depart
ment of Agriculture to advertise
shortly for bids. The commission to-
day began its two-day April session
The commission directed the con-
demnation and immediate taking of
two small parcels of land for the
road bed as Thomas S. Settle. secre-
tary, explained the Federal Govern
ment now has acquired all the rest
of the land needed. Under the law.
he said. the Government can take
over the land and settle with prop
erty owners, thus preventing conStruc-
ton delay. The highway will be a
major feature of the George Wash
ington Memorial Parkway and will
carry the Mount Vernon Memorial
Highway northward.
From the present circle at Rosslyn
Va. the new park highway will be
carried downhill in a southeasterlv
direction along the water front on the
shore side of the railroad. When the
road is constructed. it will not only
give another motor approach to the
Arlington Bridge. bLl will make Theo-
dore Roosevelt Island more accessible.
Mi 10 10 L., lie
With the money in hand the Plan
ming Commission will be able to ac-
quire the land needed upstream of the
Key Bridge for the connecting road
with the Lee Highway. The main
George Washington Memorial Park
way drive will be carried under the
Key Bridge and on up to Great Falls.
Future allocations of funds are ex-
pected to take care of the construc-
ton of the connecting link with the
Lee Highway.
The commission will have up for
consideration later in the day the
problem of whether or not to restore
the Government-oWned old home in
Georgetown of Francis Scott Key.
author of The Star Spangled Ban
ner," or to tear down the old building
and merely mark the site with an ap-
propriate tablet.
Its razing would make a more ap-
propriate approach to the Key Bridge.
The immediate family of Key favors
the demolition and the placing of a
marker on the site. Some years ago.
when the Army engineers had charge
of Washingtons park they favored
a movement for the restoration
of the Key mansion as a landmark
for Washington.
Library Sites Considered.
The placing of branch library sites
in park and recreation areas is an
other problem the commission will
tackle later in its two-day meeting.
Looking ahead to the time when
the Northwest rectangle. bounded by
the Potomac River. E street. Seven
teenth street and Constitution avenue,
will be built up with Government
structures the commission plans to
consider the problem OF transporta-
ton between it and the downtown
triangle. Traffic experts favor the
construction of an underpaSs for
motor vehicles south of the White
House. in the line of E street. under
the EllipSe. The commission will con-
slider whether the underpass, surface
express street car service or fast
Gus service is most desirable.
Among the manifold items to be
considered by the commission will be
parkway roads in Fort Dupont; walks
IN the Mall; a number of plans for
Fairgrounds and locations for future
swimming pools in the District; the
adjustment of plans for the proposed
new Pennsylvania avenue bridge across
the AnacoStia River, to conform with
park drivewayS in A,lacCstia Park.
inaSmuch as the Senate has included
in the District appropriation bill sums
for bridges; the widening of indie
pendence avenue and the status of the
Lee Boulevard to permit an adequate
approach to Arlington Memorial
Bridge. The commission also will
consider recommendations of its staff
to send an exhibit, depicting the Ma
tional Capital to the exposition OPEN
ing next month at San Diego. Calf.
The commission sent a similar exhibit
to the Century of Progress at Chicago.