Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-26
DUMPS BRANDED
DISGRACE TO D. c.
Finnan, Parks Head, De.
clares Millions in Prop
erty Are MenaCed.
BY WILLIAM A. MTLLEN.

the United States Capital and the
national shrines situated here, and
they leopardize property aggregating
millions of dollars, declared G, Mar
shall Finnan superintendent of the
National Capital parks last night.
Directly affected, he said, is more
than S7O500,000 worth of park prop
erty and more than 100000 people
who are attracted to it. The park
chief congratulated the spirit OF the
Arlington County citizens who are
leading the fight for the removal OF
the dumps. because, he said, they are
performing a public service, not only
to their own county, but to the resi-
dents of the National Capital and
visitors who come here from all over
the Nation.
Fires at Public Expense.
What should be a magnificent ap-
proach to the capital Of the Nation
from the South is in reality desolate
nall of smoke coming from the dumps
said Mr. Finnan. The Capitol, WASH
incton Monument Lincoln Memorial
and other beauties loom up across the
Potomac River. as one drives along
the Mount Vernon Memorial highway.
but not clearly. as BELTS the seat OF
Government of a great nation. but
through a cloud Of smoke-sacrlflclal
fires to private benefit at public ex-
pense. said Mr. Finnan with emphasis.
Placing the total investment OF the
United States in properties and I'M
movements affected by the smoke
nuisance at more than S7O,oOo,O00,
Mr.. Finnan included IN this category
Fast and West Potomac Parks. the
Lincoln Memorial. Columbia Island;
the Rock Creek and Potomac Park
vav the Mount Vernon Memorial
Highway to Alexandria. the Arlington
Memorial Bridge, Arlington National
Cemetery and the George Washing
ton Memorial Parkway.
Scouts to Camp Nearby.
The park chief insisted that the
dump menace is particularly acute al
this time. because Boy Scouts from
all over the world will be coming to
Washington soon for the lamboree.
L
Mount Vernon Memorial Highway, oil
rectlv within the influence OF the
dumps. and the health Of the boys
will be menaced by the foul-smelllng
dun1ps and the smoke nuisance. Mr..
Finnan declared. AS a matter OF CIVIC
pride. if for no other reason. he said,
neople of this section of the land
should demand the abolition of the
dunps now and insist that the laws
protecting health and property be en-
forced without fear or favor This
should be done before the Scouts
arrive. he said.
While the Federal Government mas
been spending millions OF dollars IN
this section to improve the beauty and
rive public comforts and convenlences,
the dumps. with their witnerlng
smoke. are depressing property values,
Mr. Finnan declared Ordinarily,
when millions Of dollars worth OF
park property ere purchs sed, SAID he,
adjacent land values go up. But
with the handicap of dumps. his has
been retarded, with consequent les
senlng of taxation revenues.
who wants to live in an area swept
bv foul-smelling srloke?" he asked.
Thousands Being Spent.
But while the National Park Service
OF the Interior Department is super
vising the spending Of hundreds OF
thoussnd of dollars in Improvements
nov within the sphere of influence OF
the dumps. Mr.. Finnan declared that
the dump menace is permitted to go
merrily on. Right now. he pointed
out. Uncle Sam is spending S280,OOO
of P. w. A. funds in Arlington County
in the George Washington Memorial
Parkway between Columbia Island
and the Key Bridge. Mr.. Finna 4 said
that 1t is little wonder that The citi-
zens of Arlington County are rising
in their wrath and demanding that
the smoke prohceers at public ex-
pense" be eliminated forthwith.
Mr.. Finnan personally pledged his
full cooperation in the fight and said
that he will be glad to attend any
meetings, when called upon to do so.
The smoke menace, said Mr.. Flnnan.
will seriously hamper the success OF
the proposed outdoor concert pro-
gram by the National Symphony
Orchestra at the water gate of the
Lincoln Memorial. It's continuation,
he maintained, will not only interfere
with the enjoyment of the music by
the public-including Arlington Coun-
ty residents-but mar the artistic
work of the musicians.
In q large measure, the park chief
maintained, the dumps and their at
tendant smoke are responsible for the
pollution of the National Capital
waterfowl sanctuary at Reaches Run
on the Mount Vernon Memorial
Highway. Officials of the Biological
Survey and those of the National
Park Service hope to maintain there
q great exhibition of bird life. for the
enjoyment of the Public. The Civil
ian Conservation Corps is completing
q public parking space, so that au-
toists may park and watch the ducks,
herons, geese and other wildfowl of
this part of the country in the
sanctuary.
Will Look Up Law.
Mr.. Finnan has promised 10 have
the law looked uo TO ascertain If legal
action by the Federal Government
against the dumps may not be instl-
tuted. He proposed to call a confer
ence of interested Government Off
Gals in an effort to proceed through
the courts against tine owners of the
dumps, if legal action is desirable.
Enjoyment of the japanese cherry
blossoms around the Tidal Basin and
in East Potomac Park is marred by
the smoke that is blown across the
Potomac River from the Arlington
County dumps, said Mr. Finnan. Other
beauty spots are affected by the
smoke and odor, and although the
National Capital Parks has been
planning to place picnic areas Tor the
enjoyment of the public along the
Mount Vernon Memorial Highway,
north of Alexandria, the officials have
hesitated to embark upon this pro-
gram, realizing that nobody wants to
sit down to picnic in a cloud OF
smoke. with evil smelling rubbish piles
in the ofing. Although there is an
ever-increasing demand for picnic