Evening star., 1937-04-16
LABORATORY TEST
MAY SETTLE BASIN
MEMORIAL ISSUE
Whether Alterations Would
Hinder Channel Flushing
Is Question.
SCALE-M0DEL EFFECT
DETERMINING PLAN
Federation of Business Mems As
sociations Latest to Oppose
Jefferson Site.

Whether flushing of WASHINGTON
Channel will be hampered by altera-
ton of the shape of the Tidal Basin
to permit erection of the Thomas
Jefferson Memorial-one of the fghz-
ing points of critics of the project
may be decided by laboratory tests.
This possibility arose today when it
was intimated that Army engineers
may conduct scale-model test in their
laboratories at Vicksburg, Miss, to de-
termine if altering the basin, as pro-
posed under the plan of John Russell
Pope of New York, architect for the
memorial, will interfere with flushing
Of the channel
A report on the proposed basin
realignment has been submitted 10
Secretary of War Woodring by Mai.
Walter D. Luplow, district engineer
for the War Department for the Wash
ington area. Although the report is
available to the National Capital PARK
and Planning Commission, it has not
been made public
| Engineers have opposed reducing the
volume of water in the basin. necessary
TO MAINTAIN sanitary conditions there
and in the channel but in the alb
sence Of an approved final plan for the
memorial those favoring the project
say 1t has not been shown the water
area would be reduced.
Concern Over Channel.
! Ihe engineer Office is not opposing
the basin site, Maj. Luplow made
clear. The engineers are insistent.
however, that the new layout will ade-
quately flush the channel. In effect.
the engineer Office "withholds its con-
sent pending the outcome of further
studies based on an approved final
plan.
Maj Luplow said he is mainly con-
cerned with the hydraulics of the situ-
alton, and has no objection to any new
plan so long as it continues to serve
the same purpose as the existing pro-
gram.
Both the inlet and outlet gates
would be preserved under the ap-
proved plans of the commission. Lup-
low said, and care would have to be
taken to have a proper flow of cur
rents, especially in the corners, TO
avoid dead ends and stagnant water.
Under the announced plan, 971a per
cent OF the water area would be pre-
served, he said. Twice every "a hours,
he said, the tide, which rises on an
average OF three feet, f1ushes out the
Channel.
The engineer said there are III
acres in the Basin. which was con-
structed in the latter part of the last
century. An integral part of the har-
Dor, 1t is linked with the channel de-
Velopment, on which engineers are
now engaged in drawing plans. This
calls for an expenditure of 81 600, 900
by the Engineer Office, but, in addi-
ton, Water street is to be improved,
the Coast Guard is planning on erect
ing headquarters there and park i'm
provements are in prospect.
Business Men Opposed.
Latest opposition to erection of the
memorial was voiced last night by the
Federation of Business Mems Asso-
Citations. They not only rejected the
plan to construct the memorial, on
the ground it would destroy the Jara-
nese cherry trees, but they asserted
the location is unsuitable.
Meanwhile President Roosevelt re-
vealed he has no intention of being
drawn into the controversy When
asked directly for his opinion at his
press conference today, he said the
: decision was one which lies with Con-
: gress.
: There is reason to feel the President
is in entire accord with the detailed
!; plans and everything else in connec-
tion with the project, however, since
he approved the site, and inasmurh
as the project has the approval of the
, Fine Arts and Park and Planning
Commissions.
Mr.. Roosevelt, ex-oficio chairman
of the Memorial Commission, has
been kept advised of the plans. He
gave his approval to the drawings by
Pope before the commission acted
officially.
Criticisms to Be Answered.
Coming again to the defense of the
| memorial, as proposed. Representative
| IVY DCii4ONAdl, vi Nt" VI
chairman of the Memorial Commits
sion, promised an early answer to all
criticisms.
They say" said he, that the me-
mortal plan will destroy the cherry
trees around the Tidal Basin. That
Is not true. We have gone into all
that. Government horticulturists tell
us, for instance, that the cherry trees
have definitely limited life of about
80 years"
Pointing to the replacement pro-
gram that has been going forward
during the last five years, Represent
ative Boylan said:
"As matter of fact, we are assured