Evening star., 1937-05-04
RASSA|LED
AS PARKWAY BLOW
Structure Would Have Ad-
verse Effect on Develop
ment, Officials Say.

Government officials insisted today
that construction of an abattoir at
KenilWorth avenue and Benning road
northeast will have an adverse effect
upon the projected new parkway ap-
proach to Washington from Baltimore.
This new highway is planned down
the Anacostia valley, connecting with
Maryland avenue, near Fifteenth
street northeast and with the Ana
costa River Parkway, on both sides OF
the waterway. The Federal Govern
ment has invested hundreds of thou
sands of dollars in that area and pro-
poses to spend more in executing
plans in the Anacostia Park region.
Maryland and Federal authorities
are cooperating in the highway plans.
A large share of the right Of way
needed is already in public ownership.
c. Marshall Finnan, superintendent
of the National Capital Parks, reiterat-
ing his opposition to the abattoir, said:
I'VE have park areas in the vicinity
of the abattoir site that represent ire
placeable values. Fort Mahan is used
at present as recreational area and
serves rather large number of people
and this is just across the way from
the abattoir site.
Section Fin the vicinity of the
proposed stadium-and Section G.
w 40 rrn1f cchnpl
located, upstream of Benning road
in Anacostia Park are being developed
actively. An abattoir is incongruous
in the type of development the tax
payers are creating in that section.
Golf Course Started.
I'VE have a large Works Progress
Administration development, in Sec
ton G, where we have started con-
struction of a golf course and other
recreational developments.
From the standpoint of planning
and park development, the Anacostia
Valley, near which the abattoir is
projected, is one of the main entrances
to the National Capital. Some day
soon this will be comparable in i'm
portance with the Arlington Memorial
Bridge development at the main Vir-
ginia approach to Washington. The
Anacostia parkway drive from Balti-
more will not only be a great scenic
drive, but of major value to the city"
The park chief pointed out that in
section G of the parkway the grade is
being raised as part of the permanent
improvement. Later, the area up
stream of Pennsylvania avenue in
Anacostia Valley, that is now being
improved. will be Handicapped and the
road built along the edge of the River,
Finnan said.
John Nolen, jr., director of planning
Of the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, declared, in restat-
ing his opposition to the abattoir that
the new parkway drive between Balti-
more and Washington is nearing
reality. For more than five years the
project has been on the plans Of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, Nolen recalled. This is
part of the commissions plan for a
comprehensive park and parkway sys-
tenn for the National Capital and its
environs. This, he said, is actively un-
der way in Montgomery County, Md,
in the development of the parkway ex-
tensions of Rock Greek and Sligo Val
leys, as well as Cabin John.
d. C. Route Controlled.
In the District of Columbia, Nolen
pointed out, the entire route for the
parkway is all in public ownership
The Planning Commission has plans
for the parkway on both sides of the
Anacostia River, joining with Mary.
land avenue and through the Stadium
Center to East Capitol street.
This new drive. Nolen asserted, will
be the chief approach to Washington
through the populous sections of the
Atlantic seaboard when built. There /.
no section Of highway approaching
Washington on which there is a large1
percentage Of out-of-State motor We.
hicles than the highway between Bal.
timore and Washington, Nolen said
The Bureau of Public Roads, In &
traffic survey made in 1882, showee
that about 20 per cent out-of- State
vehicles form the average traffic on tn,
Baltimore Washington route, Noler
explained. District and Maryland car
were counted as in-State. Tht
projected highway would take in For
Meade, Beltsville and Greenbelt.