Evening star., 1938-02-19
CHANNEL REPORT
BEING WEIGHED
AFTER PROTESTS
Upper Anacostia Navigation
Plan Meets Strong 0ppo.
sition at Hearing.
ENGINEER TO SUBMIT
DATA TO HOUSE GROUP
Prince Georges Civic Units Fight
Commercial Development in
Backing Park.

odCAluS 1dIk.
Maj. Walter d. Luplow, district en-
glneer for the War Department for
the Washington area, today began
preparation of report on suggested
navigational Improvement on the Up
per Anacostia River in the vicinity of
Bladensburg, Md, to be forwarded to
the House Rivers and Harbors Com
mittee after further deliberations.
A day-long hearing yesterday in the
board room of the Rivers and Har-
bors Board Of the Army engineers in
the Munitions Building developed stout
opposition to proposal to create an
S-foot channel, so feet wide, for navi-
cation. Civic and business interests
OF Prince Georges County, Md, were
hrm in their determination to curb
such program and they insisted the
Army engineers should first develop a
suitable tlood-control project that
would stem the high waters that in
undate the Bladensburg area and car
ry out the park scheme as envisioned
BY the Capper- -Cramton act.
Proponents See Cash Benefits.
Owners of the property and L. E..
Smoot of the Smoot Sand g. Gravel
Co. OF this city bore the brunt of
favoring the project for increased nav
isational depth, in the face of deter
mined opposition from the organized
groups. Some of the proponents OF
the navigational program contended
higher taxes would result from the
park plan, envisioned to embrace both
sides of the Anacostia River in Prince
Georges County, while maintaining
that the coming Of industry through
waterway transportation would bring
increasing revenues to the communi-
ties thereabouts, as we'll as needed
employment.
Advocating that the Army engineers
submit favorable report, Mr.. Smoot
declared the cost of maintaining
navigational channel would not be
great, as tugboats clear their own
way BY the action of the propellers.
He asserted that oil and cement COM
panles are interested in waterway
transportation to Bladensburg. He
contended the area is already busi-
ness one and if the river banks are
turned into park land taxes will be
higher.
Commercial Development Envisioned.
Richard Macsherry of Baltimore,
who represented the landowners of
the property abutting the Anacostia
River in the disputed region, and
E. F. Mahoney of Prince Georges
County. also a landowner, said he
would hope to see warehouses of the
large Washington department stores,
factories making concrete houses and
other industrial developments in the
area along the river at Bladensburg.
He made it clear the owners had pur-
chased the property from the de-
fmct Washington Sand A Gravel Co.
In 1926, prior to the time plans were
made for park development along the
River in Maryland.
Opponents of the navigational fea-
ture, which would bring commercial
developments along the river banks,
insisted the Army engineers should
first prepare an adequate f1ood-con-
troll program and the park lands
should be purchased before the prop
erty values there increase.
There is only one party concerned
IN this plan and that is the Smoot
Sand g. Gravel Co., Virginia cor
poration that wants to come up into
said Caesar L. Aiello of
Hyattsville, Md.
Settle Voices Opposition.
Listed with the opponents who ap-
peared In person to voice their pro-
test against the Army engineers
dredging q deeper navigational chan
mel in the Upper Anacostia were:
Thomas 8. Settle, secretary of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission; Alfred D. Bailey, presi-
dent of the Federation of Citizens
Associations of Prince Georges
County; A. H. Smith of Branchville,
Nd, a sand and gravel dealer, who
declared that deposits and prospec-
tive business do not warrant sand and
gravel being brought in by water;
Mr.. Aiello., who represented the Mas
Sand & Gravel Co.; John
N, Torvestad, Mayor of Colmar
Manor, Md; Charles F. Luebner, who
represented the town of Edmonston,
Md; John R. Fletcher, mayor of
Cheverly, Md; Fred w. Cast, who
said he represented both the Cham
Der OF Commerce of Prince Georges
County and the Federation, and John
Nolen, jr., director of planning of
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission.
Senator Tydings, Democrat, of
Maryland told the Army engineers
that improvement of the navigational
channel would result in a reduction
OF transportation costs of building
materials. He declared the area will
continue to play an important part
IN the development of Greater Wash
ington. Representative G m brill.
Democrat, of Maryland introduced
the speakers during the morning ses-
sion. Robert w. Mccullough, attor-
ney in Prince Georges County, said
residents are in favor of a park but
with common sense"
Vinton D. Cockey of the Prince
Georges County Board suggested that
further opportunity be given the pub
lie to present its views and Mai. Lup-
low said he would take this under
consideration.