Evening star., 1937-08-15
PRESIDENT URGES
D. c. ARM0RY FUND
Congress Asked to Appro.
pirate $4,000 for Pur-
chase of Site.

After years of discussion. definite
step toward providing suitable
| armory for Washington's National
Guard was taken yesterday when
| President Roosevelt asked Congress to
appropriate $4,000 for purchase Of
a site at the end of East Capitol
street.
The fact that private building
development has been started recently
have in mind was indicated by Budget
Director Bell as the reason immediate
action is being sought.
The budget estimate, which will be
considered for inclusion in the last
deficiency supply bill this week, rec
ommends acquisition of four squares
adjacent to the area, which National
Capital planning agencies hope to
develop as stadium and sports field.
Bells letter of transmittal, in which
the President concurred, read in part
as follows:
For many years. consideration has
been given to the location of the pro-
posed District of Columbia National
Guard armory. In 1888 the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion. after an extensive study in CO.
operation with the District National
Guard and the District Commissioners,
recommended that the armory be con-
structed at the end of East Capitol
street, adjacent to the proposed sta
dium and sports field development
planned for that area. and chose as
site the area composed Of squares
lib, 1,1l9, LIPS and 1925.
Situation of Tract
The site chosen is so situated as to
form an integral part of the adjoining
park area now owned by the Federal
Government, and all late plans for the
development and use of this area have
contemplated that the four squares
mentioned would be used as an armory
site, or at least be in public ownership.
Until recently the site has been
vacant. In the last few months, how
ever, private building development has
been started on two of the squares
and is continuing rapidly. While de-
velopment has not yet reached the
point where the acquisition of this
site would appear uneconomical as
compared with other possible but less
desirable sites. indications are that 1t
will do so in relatively short time.
To delay the purchase of this prop
erty until its cost becomes prohibitive
not only would mean the probable fu-
ture purchase Of a less desirable site
Tor the armory at cost not less than
that for which the present proposed
site may be acquired, but also would
jeopardize the whole plan for the East
Capitol street terminal development.
1t would seem, therefore, that the ac-
QUESTION Of this property should not
be delayed, even though the District
OF Columbia may not be able to finance
the constitution of the armory for
some time"
The budget message also recon-
mended change in the terms of the
1888 District appropriation act to en-
able the Health Department to appoint
physicians to all of the six new medi-
cal inspector positions created by that
| act. In its present form the act re-
quires four of them shall be dentists.
The inspectors are to perform hygiene
work in public schools.
Another recommendation in the
budget message was that $4,2O6l9 be
appropriated to meet ourt judgment
for refund of gasoline taxes erroneous
ly paid to the District on gasoline sold
In Maryland.