Evening star., 1939-11-28

"The function of the commission
is limited. as far as parks and rec
reation are concerned, to the prob
lem of the National Capital they
said. The retention of the director
Of the National Park Service and
the elimination of the executive of
the National Capital Parks do not
seem to square with the functions
OF the commission.
With the warning that land acqui-
sition has outstripped park develop
ment, officials are in apparent
accord Unfortunately, they point
out, they can propose budget re-
quirements for development and
maintenance, but Congress dis
poses
Thomas S. Settle. secretary of the
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission, was quick to
admit that appropriations for main
tenance and future development
were inadequate and ought to be
stepped up" adding that he thought
the Wagner-Sauers report mad done
"a good thing in bringing this out.
On the other hand, he took the
same position as Senator Arthur
Capper OF Kansas. co-author of the
Capper- r-Cramton Act, that the land
acquisition program has proved a
distinct benefit and saving to the
District
Washington's Foresight.
George Washington. after advising
with Maj. L'Enfant. the planner of
, the National Capital. was successful
in buying 542 acres in what is now
downtown Washington, for s67 an
acre. Mr.. Settle said the same
acreage today is appraised at over
$500 900 an acre. Due to Washing
tons foresight in buying ahead,
Washington has downtown park
areas with which no other city can
compare.
1t is not necessary to trace the
history Of park development, but
from 1900 to 1904 there was no
agency map and plan developments
and only by sporadic effort was Rock
Creek and some other outlying areas
purchased.
George Washington saw-the wis
dom of buying up park land ahead
and that Same wisdom was illus
trated a little over year ago." Mr..
Settle said. Our commission then
bought % undeveloped acres in the
northeast across the Anacostia
River for $500 an acre. The same
dav an award by a condemnation
jury came in for unimproved prop
erty at Sixteenth and Lamont
streets at 100000 an acre"
Funds Loaned to District.
The Capper- -Cramton Act au-
thorized $4,000 900 for the acuuisi-
ton of park lands in the District.
Under this act. the commission has
expended about $7,5O0,O0O and re-
ceived an appropriation of 81 900 900
for further acquisitions at the last
session of Congress. The park funds
are loaned to the District for l6
years without interest and then are
reimbursable to the Treasury. AS
Mr.. Settle points out, careful buying
Of property in advance of needs has
saved many thousands of collars in
costs and the land acquisition pro-
gram was one issue on which all
elements in the District agreed
when proposed in Congress.
The Wagner-Sauers report ap-
parently misinterprets the policy
written into the laws under which
the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission functions. It
contends that the establishing act of
1924 and amendatory legislation of
1926 place responsibility for the de
velopment" of parks and playground
systems on the commission. AS a
matter of fact, Mr. Settle pointed
out today, the duty of the commits
sion is that of acquiring land and
planning for its uses. After the land
is acquired and the plans are drawn
up. they are then turned over to
National Capital Parks for develop
ment and maintenance, a RESPONSE
bility, he said, which belongs to that
agency.