Evening star., 1938-12-15
Planners Tell
Of Future
Washington
Verbal Preview of
'BoIonced City Given
Bourd of Trade


The Washington Of tomorrow, as
envisaged by the men who plan the
city's future development-them mem
bers Of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission was
glimpsed last night by several hun.
dred business and professional men
OF the District.
Through the medium of a word
picture painted by a Kansas City
real estate man, members of the
Board OF Trade were given a preview
OF the Planning Commissions ideas
Tor better-balanced development
OF the city, its plans for magnificent
boulevards and parkways, recreation
centers and Fairgrounds, public
buildings and parks
Inc speaker was Jesse C. Nichols,
member of the commission and
one OF the outstanding real estate
operators in the country. An enthu-
slastlc believer in the DEVELOPMENT
OF washington as model for every
city In the country. Mr.. Nichols
spoke In glowing terms of the Plan
ming Commissions projects of the
future. Mr.. Nichols was introduced
to the board members by Frederic
A. Delano. chairman of the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission.
Would Balance City.
With the aid of lantern slides, Mr.,
Nichols explained how the commis-
sion is trying to bring about better
balanced city by looking forward to
greater development east of the Cap
ltol and to the southern part of the
city. He illustrated how the area at
the end of East Capitol street might
be used as sites for stadium and a
National Guard armory.
Moving further toward the east.
the upper reaches of Anacostia Park
offer unlimited possibilities for de-
velopment, he said.
One of his slides sketched the pro-
jected development of the Municipal
Center. Mr.. Nichols expressed the
personal belief that the proposed au-
dltorium and the new central library
buildings should be constructed on
sites near the Municipal Center de-
velopment. Another slide outlined
the commissions proposals for the
grouping of new public buildings,
including the War and Navy struc-
lures and new Social Security Build.
ing
Turning to discussion of the pro-
| Jected fort fort" drive, which will
extend % miles around the District
when completed, Mr.. Nichols said
that if the Planning Commission had
not started to acquire land for the
boulevard years ago, the District
would not be able to build the drive
because Of great increases in values
OF land that had to be acquired.
Economy One Objective.
"One of the greatest detectives Of
the Park and Planning Commission
is to save money for the taxpayers
Of the District" Mr.. Nichols declared.
The speaker said a four or five
year program should be drawn I'D
for the completion of Fort Drive
because when it is completed 1t
will be one of the greatest drives of
any capital city in the world" 1t
will connect 16 Civil War forts, he
explained.
The development of the George
Washington Memorial Parkway and
the old Chesapeake g. Ohio Canal,
recently purchased by the Govern
ment, also was discussed by Mr.,
Nichols as important projects in the
Washington of tomorrow.
Discussing plans for the develop
ment OF the George Washington Me-
mortal Parkway, Mr.. Nichols en-
visaged q magnificent 6O-mile park
way extending from Mount Vernon
to Great Falls and along both sides
OF the Potomac River. He also de-
scribed plans for new highway
between Baltimore and Washington
and plans for new highway routes
for the heavy flow of traffic from the
North.
He cited the development of the
Mall area as one of the greatest
stabilizing factors in the city.
At the conclusion of his address,
Francis G. Addison, jr., president
OF the board, called on the business
men to offer their services to the
boards Parks and Reservations
Committee.
Mr.. Delano Speaks.
In introducing Mr.. Nichols. Mr..
Delano recalled the part played by
the Board of Trade in creation of
the commission IL years ago.
Il first became interested in citv
planning "a years ago in Chicago" :"
Mr.. Delano recalled. when I came
to Washington "A years ago
brought some of my Western enthus-
lasm for city planning with me-"
Mr.. Delano explained that the
commission was direct outgrowth
OF report made in 1924 by COM
mlttee of 100 citizens. He recalled
that among those who served on that
committee were Joshua Evans,
Charles c. Glover, Evan H. Tucker,
John Hanna and Claude Owen.
c. Marshall Finnan, superintend-
ent OF the National Capital parks,
outlined high lights of the import
ant projects on which the parks Of
f1ce is working now. A new span is
being added to Key Bridge in con-
nection with the George Washing
ton Memorial Parkway, he said.
Parks officials are looking to an
early development of East Capitol
street, Mr.. Finnan said, adding that
ne felt this move will do more to
give q better balance to the citv
than anything else. Development of
the c. & c. Canal waterway from
GEORGETOWN to Seneca. he said 4,