Evening star., 1936-01-24
MEMORIAL DRIVE
FROM RICHMOND
!. TO CAPITAL URGED
Hazen Urges Consideration
of "BIue-Gray" Memo
rial Route.
WOULD ALSO CONNECT
ANNAPOLIS BY PARKWAY
Planning and Civic Association
Hears Discussion of Scenic
Problems.

A new boulevard-parkway connect
ing the National Capital with historic
Richmond, capital of the Confederacy.
is dream" of Commissioner Melvin
c. Hazen, native Virginian.
For that parkway I suggest the
name of the Blue and Gray Memorial
Highway" he said.
The proposed Neutrality-suspicious.
mond boulevard was only one of sew
eral important extensions Of the re-
gional park. system of Washington
suggested by Commissioner Hazen and
other officials at a conference called
by the American Planning and Civic
Association to consider the park plans.
While Mr.. Hazen said the building OF
the Blue and Gray" highway had
long been one of his dreams, he made
the suggestion in all seriousness for
consideration by the National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commission.
Would Touch Noted Spots.
The Washington Richmond highway.
he explained, should connect with
the major historic places along the
route, scenes associated not only with
the Civil War. but also with earlier
history of Virginia.
Hazen recommended also extension
of Anacostia Park so as to link with
the proposed Washington Baltimore
Parkway and the building of a SINH
lar parkway with protected rights OF
way to Annapolis.
The George Washington Memorial
Parkway. which is destined to ex-
tend to Great Falls, Hazen suggested,
should be used as a connecting link
with new highways giving easy ac-
cess to the Skyline Drive and Shen-
andoah National Park. From Great
Falls. he proposed another boulevard
to follow the Potomac River, crossing
somewhere around Harpers Ferry and
giving tourists a new scenic route to
the resorts northward.
Details Explained.
John Nolen, jr., director of plan
ming for the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, explained
in detail the plans to complete prof.
ects already started here. especially
where there is any danger Of en-
croaching real estate developments.
In opening up land to new uses,
he spoke about the extensions of the
District of Columbia park system into
Maryland and deplored the fact that
Alexandria and Arlington County, in
Virginia, has practically been ignored,
except for the Mount Vernon and Ar
lington National Cemetery boule-
wards. 1t is proposed, Nolen said, to
convert the -Four -Mile-Run area into
a park for the benefit of the Vir-
ginia communities, which he declared
are growing faster than any others
around Washington.
The necessity of banning gasoline
stations, eating places and what Sec
retary of the Interior 1ckes character
ICES as the "Coney Island idea" from
the proposed Westinghouse Baltimore
parkway and other scenic highways
was stressed by officials attending the
conference.
Must Protect Routes.
c. Marshall Finnan, superintendent
of the Office of National Capital parks,
asserted that additional protective
measures must be taken also to pre-
vent commercialism along the rights
of way of the Mount Vernon Memorial
Boulevard, which comes under his
jurisdiction. The problem of control,
he said, has become a serious matter.
I'VE will have to acquire adequate
rights of way to screen of these eat
ing places and other businesses along
the route he declared.
Both Finnan and Hazen emphasized
the economic value to Washington OF
its splendid park systems and his
toric places and discussed also the ef-
feet that extensions into Maryland
and Virginia will have in diverting
traffic from congested Washington
streets.
Finnan warned that the city's parks
are In constant danger OF encroach-
ment as a result of the Capitals growth
AQU vldQlC NOAAAAoAOA0s
I'VE must not put traffic speedway
In Rock Creek Park" he declared
Rock Creek Park, the official explained
"is as much national park as Yellow
stone. Its scenic grandeur belongs to
the people and the legislation creating
it was worded the same as the leeisla-
ton creating Yellowstone Park for the
preservation of its scenery and its
enjoyment by the people.
I'VE know we could easily dynamite
portions Of Rock Greek Park and build
q convenient speedway in it. but we
must not do that"
Cites Economic Value.
Stealing leaf from Board of Trade
literature advertising the beauty Of the
National Capital for the attraction o1
tourists. Finnan cited the economic
value Of the parks.
Benito Mussolini spent approximately
81, SOC, 900 on the greatly advertised
public improvements In Rome, he said,
and as ? consequence some $500, ,000
tourists in 1888 spent about $157 900.
900 In the Italian capital.
AS chairman of the Board Of District
Commissioners and an advisor to the
Federal agencies dealing with WASH
ington's regional park system, Hazen
recounted the benefits derived and
accruing to Washington from It's parks
"The public demand suits itself to
the demands of the times" he said
ip explaining the need for creating
new subdivisions In park developed
outskirts of the city. AS result OF
park extensions and recreational i'm
provements, the value Of land has
been increased, he said, and congested
areas In the city relieved.
More than anything else, he de-
clared. the Potomac River parks and
historic places around Washington
have boosted the Capital as conven-
ton city. Easier access into the city
from the tourist-traveled highways
also have been afforded b. park ex-
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