Evening star., 1938-06-05
EAST DC. BUILDING
BENEFITS LISTED
Finnan Sees New AIIotments
Following Millions Already
Expended.

ton as 1tS FOUNDERS desired IL ShOuld
grow when they laid out the city, C.
Marshall Finnan, superintendent of
the National Capital Parks, pointed
out that the Federal Government
already has expended millions of
dollars in that area and that other
disbursements are anticipated.
Mr.. Finnan is particularly anxious
% see the development Of the END of
East Capitol street, on the banks of
the Anacostia River, realized at an
early date. Plans for this development
have already been drawn in broad
outline and studies have been made
by experts in park and city planning.
Details Of Development.
The development comprehends a
National Guard armory, a STADIUM
capable of seating $4,000 persons, a
large reviewing stand, 35-acre dem
onstration field, tennis courts, SWIM
ming pools, equitation fields, track and
field facilities and other improvements,
Mr.. Finnan said. Both the National
Capital Park and Planning Commis-
sion and the Fine Arts Commission
have given attention to the project in
Its broadest aspect.
Mr.. Finnan believes that increasing
traffic congestion in Northwest Wash
permanent way by proper develop
ment of East Washington than by
such expedients as the proposed Mas
sachusetts avenue traffic tunnel at
Thomas Circle. Spreading Of the traf-
flc flow over larger area, he pointed
out, should prove more lasting remedy
than mere attempts to speed up
the flow along such highly con-
gested thoroughfares as Massachusetts
avenue.
Mr.. Finnan pointed out that while
the Thomas Circle tunnel might i'm
prove conditions somewhat at that
point. the relief might prove to be
merely temporary and that flow along
the whole of Massachusetts, avenue
will not be materially improved un-
less the Thomas Circle plan is ex-
tended to other points, such as Dupont
Circle, which act as flow barriers.
High Costs Foreseen.
Such treatment, he pointed out,
would prove very costly, would destroy
the character of Massachusetts avenue
and might not prove a final solution
after all to the problem of congestion
Destruction of many fine old shade
trees along Massachusetts avenue and
in Dupont Circle would be the price
of such program, he said. Mas
sachusetts avenue is noted for its long
lines Of linden trees, which are broken
only at intervals by such paintings
as the oaks east of Wisconsin avenue.
The best part of the proposed East
Capitol development, Mr.. Finnan
pointed out, is that the Federal Gov
ernment already owns practically ali
the land required for the project,
with the exception of sites for the
stadium and the National Guard
armory. The Army Engineers, under
the district engineer for the War
Department for the Washington area,
have already constructed Lake King
man, at the foot of East Capitol
street, affording opportunities there
for great water pageants, Mr. Finnan
said.
THE Federal Government has al
ready spent many hundreds of thou
sands of dollars in the Fort Dupont
development at Massachusetts, and
Alabama avenues Me-" the parks
chief observed. This was predicated
upon the assumption that a real
estate development similar to that in
the proximity of Rock Greek Park
will follow.
Fsrt Circle Cited.
I'VE selected that part of the city
In which to construct the first major
portion Of the Fort drive-the scenic
parkway that will connect the his
toric ring of Civil War forts en-
circling the National Capital. Work
on this project is now actively under
way in the Fort Dupont area.
I'VE are particularly interested in
the projected eastward development
Of the city in our Office because of
the forthcoming acquisition of the
Shaw lily gardens, which will be
added to Anacostia parkway. This
parkway probably will become one
Of the main passenger automobile
approaches to the National Capital
from Baltimore and the North.
THE development of section G of
Park. upstream of Benning
road to Pennsylvania avenue, now is
being pushed. We would like to see
given in the near fu-
ture to a bridge across the Anacostia
River In the line of Massachusetts,
avenue. That would serve the resi-
dents adjacent to Fort Dupont and
give them access to East Capitol
street."
A new bridge across the Anacostia
River at Pennsylvania avenue is
being planned, Mr.. Finnan said, and
the National Arboretum project near
Maryland avenue and Fifteenth street
NE. is advancing. Anacostia Park
will extend all the way to the District
line and on into Maryland, Mr.. Fin
nan explained, with provisions for
expansion as a parkway to Baltimore,
under plans of the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission.
Terrain Is Lovely"
The park superintendent pointed to
the lovely terrain" that East WASH
ington possesses. There, he said, are
fine views of the Capitol and WASH
ington, looking across the Anacostia
River. He paid tribute to the rolling
country in that section of the Ma
tional Capital and cited the oppor-
tunities existing there for construc-
tion of beautiful homes.
MIR. Finnan favors development of
the Avenue of the States" along what
now Is East Capitol freet from the
Capitol to the Anacostia River. Under
this program, advocated for many
years by the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, each State
would have its own building there.
While the States were taking advan-