Evening star., 1938-03-11
Planning Commission Cites
Need for Immediate
Acquisition.
Z0NING ACT HEARINGS
TO BEGIN ON MONDAY
Interest Expressed in Measure
to Create Smithsonian
Art Board.

member of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, told his
colleagues on that body this morning
he would press in conference on the
District supply bill for adoption of
authorization to proceed with purchase
OF site for the proposed National
Guard Armory, adjacent to Anacostia
Park.
The commission, swinging into the
= second OF its two-day session. devoted
the morning to consideration of
pending legislation and emphasized
the need for securing the required land
for the armory Immediately.
Because the District supply bill in
the House provided for four squares,
two OF which are now built upon, the
House struck out the entire item. In
the Senate, however the figure was
reduced from $4,000 for the four
squares to S150,000 for the two squares
which are not encumbered by build
lngs. and that was adopted. Chairman
King is one Of the conferees on the
measure, which is now in conference.
Sultan Desires Speed.
Col Dan I. Sultan, Engineer Com
missioner, who also is an ex-officio
member of the planning body, like
wise expressed his desire to see the land
Tor the armory purchased Immediately
so that the long-delayed project may
proceed
Thomas S. Settle, the commission s
secretary, explained that by using part
OF AnacoStia Park, the armory devel-
>opment can be fitted on the two
squares, now designated by the Senate
for purchase.
Senator. King announced that hear
tngs on his measure to modernize the
Districts 1920 zoning act will begin
at 10 am. Monday in the committee
room of the Senate District Committee
The planners arranged to have wit
nesses to support the measure
Senator King has taken an active
part in bringing the zoning law up to
date-including the projected elimi-
nation of slaughter houses and heavy
industry in future developments here
and, as a member of the commission,
made the move that brought zoning
experts to Washington to aid in writing
the projected legislation.
The planners expressed keen inter-
est in another measure, now pending in
Congress, that would authorize the
Smithsonian Institution to create a
board to accept the gifts for its art
gallery and also would empower the
RI cit fNv -
a building on the Mall, between Fourth
and Fourteenth streets. This would
house paintings of less antiquity and
standing than those proposed for the
Mellon Art Gallery, officials said
Considering the bill drawn to set up
by law a recreation board, representa-
tive of the various agencies concerned
here, the commission approved this
program in principle. The planners
declared that legislation is necessary
before the areas set apart for recrea-
ton, and now under the jurisdiction of
various agencies can be properly
supervised and utilized
!. S4,500,O00 Spent for Land.
:. In the last 10 years the planning
commission has spent $4,500000 for
the purchase of land here for parks,
Fairgrounds and recreation centers
and $2,500,000 has been spent in recent
years through the Public Works Ad-
nliistration, Works Progress Admins
tsation, Civilian Conservation Corps
and other agencies to improve these
areas. The planners pointed out that,
Ia ha nf &c
legal machinery set up to handle and
supervise these areas as unit for
the benefit of the public.
&C. Marshall Finnan, superintendent
of the National Capital Parks, ap-
peared before the commission and re-
ported progress on the development at
the end of East Capitol street, on the
banks of the Anacostia River, as a
sports center, through the steady CO.
operation from the District govern
lnent and other agencies. Mr.. Finnan
said 100000 cubic yards of fill have
been dumped into the area and ne
pointed to the potential use of the Sec
zion, which contains 40 acres near the
ar11nory site, as parade ground.
The planners approved the use OF
W. P. A. labor for highway construc.
taon in the Shepherd Parkway, near
Boiling Field, and in the Fort Drive,
between Military road and Georgia
avenue.
), Lewis R. Barrett, the Districts CO.
Ordinator of recreation, presented
plans for the improvement of the Ray
fnond playground and school and the
planners approved these in principle,
after they had been explained by T. c.
Jefers, the commissions landscape
architect.
. Today was District and Virginia
Day' with the planning commission,
which discussed the George Washing
ton Memorial parkway, across the
Potomac River, and parking problems
Maryland Day" Marked.
Yesterday was Maryland Day" and
u an outgrowth of joint afternoon
Bession with the Maryland National
Gapital Park and Planning Commis-
xion, the planners here passed a reso-
Mtion urging the Maryland State
planning Commission to appoint 8
committee to aid in co-ordinating mu-
tual District and Maryland problems
This action was taken after the loca
;Raanners' director of planning, Johr
Nolen, jr., had advocated that metro
politan co-ordinating body be brought
into being.
Represented on this new agency viii
likely be the Maryland State High
way Commission, the Maryland STATE
Flaming Commission, the Maryland
National Capital Park and Planning
commission, the District Commission
ms, the National Park Service of tn,
interior Department and the Nationa
sOapital Park and Planning Commis'
sion. Mr.. Settle suggested informally