Evening star., 1937-09-16
PRAISE
Markham WORK
AT SESSION HERE.
Cooperation of Retiring
Member Lauded by Park
! Commission.
COL. JULIAN SCHLEY
TO SUCCEED TO POST
Nolen Reports Substantial Prog
ress' in Body's Developments
in the District.

in the District.
Launching a two-day session today.
after the Summer recess, the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion passed q resolution expressing
gratitude for the services of Maj. Gen.
Edward M. Markham, chief of Army
Engineers. one of its exoficio mem
bers whose term expires October II.
The commission pointed out that
Gen. Markham has been particularly
cooperative in recreational and other
matters in which the planners are in
terested, especially in the dredging of
the Potomac River here and improving
Anacostia Park.
The, new chief of Army Engineers,
Col. Julian B. Schley, who commands
Fort Belvoir, Va, will automatically
become . member of the commission
after he takes Office as a major gen.
eral. The commission already has
made contact with Col. Schley and
has received his cooperation in plans
Tor the extension of the Mount Vernon
Memorial Highway. along the banks of
the Potomac River, through Belvoir.
Progress Reported.
John Nolen, jr., the commissions
director Of planning, reviewing major
projects in which it is interested, in
Guiding the George Washington Me-
mortal Parkway, Fort drive, play
ground and recreational centers here,
the public buildings development in
downtown Washington and the i'm
provement Of the Mall. reported Sub
stantial progress all along the line"
This fiscal year the commission will
spend $4,000 for land purchases.
parks. Fairgrounds and recreational
centers in the District. Thomas s.
Settle. the commissions secretary. ex-
planned this will be mainly used for
completing projects already started.
put that new recreational projects will
Be begun in congested areas.
The commission made public the
acquisition Of about an acre at Six
teenth and Lamont streets, near Pow
~ Junior High School, where there
are some &c, 900 people within a radius
q . mile. This area has lust been
turned over to the commission by the
Dastf1ct Court here, and 1t will now
= fenced and graded for use as .
playground, Settle said.
Psllutioa Nesting.
Proeress was reported by Settle In
the program TO clean up land titles
In disputed areas along the Potomac
and Anacostia Rivers. The location
Of these was not made public, but he
said the Department Of Justice the
Interior Department and his commits
sion are cooperating, and when ac-
quired by the Government these lands
viii be added to the Mount Vernon
Memorial Highway and to Anacostia
Park
Settle, quilting the status of legs-
lation in which the commission is in
terested, read President Roosevelt's
veto messages banning the remaining
OF the drives in the Mall and also
Of the airport measure, designed to
lease part OF the Department of Agri-
cultures experimental farm near the
Washington Hoover Airport to private
Interests.
The commissions attention was
called TO the meeting scheduled here
Monday with the chief of Army Engi-
neers and interested parties in the
Potomac River Valley, with view to
eliminating pollution and setting up
the Potomac Valley conservancy dis
trict, In accordance with the new law.
The States of Pennsylvania, Maryland,
West Virginia and Virginia, as well
~ the District, will cooperate in this
program.
Fair Plans Told.
The commission heard preliminary
plans outlined by Nolen and William
T. Partridge, its consulting architects,
regarding participation in the Worlds
Fair at New York, for which the Fed
eral Government has $4,000 avail
able, and for the San Francisco Fair,
for which 81 500, 900 has been appro-
priated by Congress. The commission
expects to be represented.
Use OF the tuberculosis hospital site
Ut Thirteenth and Upshur streets as
. combined school and recreation de-
velopment also is TO be brought to the
commissions attention in report
from one OF its committees during the
present session.
Nolen Is to submit a preliminary
report regarding the National Arbo-
return, dealing with street closings
and land transfers, as well as the use
Of property. which affects a number
OF District government plans for high
way and school development.
Reservoir Site Action Due.
Final action is expected on the pro-
posal to transform the abandoned
reservoir at Sixteenth and Kennedy
streets into a recreational center. This
problem has been studied by Lewis
r. Barrett, the Districts co-ordinator
OF recreation, and has been discussed
. with citizen groups in that locality,
Nolen explained. Landscape treat
ment of Judiciary Square was another
1tem on the commissions program.
Open Valley Park treatment as
cure for the flood situation at Watts
Branch and Oxon Run was TO be ad-
vocated by Nolen In a special report
to the commission. This means leav-
ing the area In its natural state and
acquiring the land adjacent TO the
waterways for park purposes. Nolen
pointed out there would be a saving
. of 3l,500. 900 in the open treatment
plan as compared with the program to
1nclose the waterways in large storm
sewers. The channels would be
Strengthened in some instances and in
sections would be paved to prevent soil
erosion, he said.