Evening star., 1939-01-05
100000 Allowance
Plea for D. C:Parks
Ha|ved in Budget
81 ,000, 900 to Acquire
Land Tops Present
Fund by $4,000

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission failed In its
effort to obtain budget allowance
of $2,0O0,000 for continuance Of the
program of land acquisition for the
park, parkway and playground sys-
tenn in the District of Columbia
under the Capper-Cramton Act of
May, 1880.
The commission was granted just
half this amount, or 100000, in
the estimates. This, however, repre-
sents an increase of $4,000 over
the current appropriation of $685.
600 for the purpose
The Capper-Cramton Act provides
total authorization of $4,000, 900
for park and playground acquisition
in the District. Including the 1910
estimate, there will have been pro-
vided approximately $7,000,0 900 so far
under the act.
To Complete Is Projects.
"The 1910 estimate is contem-
plated to complete IS park and
playground projects and to continue
TWO projects not yet brought to the
completion STAGE" it was reported in
the budget message.
No specific acquisition projects
under the $1,000, 900 estimate were
set forth. The funds will be allo.
Gated by the Park and Planning
Commission. Failure of the Budget
Bureau to sanction the $4,000 900
request is expected to curtail land
acquisitions for such projects as the
Fort drive.
A total of $1,3O0,0OO is provided for
reimbursements to the United States
under the Capper-Cramton Act and
for payments on Public Works Ad-
ministration loans, the same as was
appropriated for the current fiscal
year.
The estimates include $4,000 for
the Commission of Fine Arts, which
is the same as the current appro-
priation.
The Office of National CAPITAL
Parks, charged with the main
tenance, operation and policing of
public parks in and near Washing
ton, received only slight increase,
from the current total of 1925 600 to
S947 900 in the estimates, despite the
fact that during the past year the
park system under its jurisdiction
or about to come under its jurisdic-
ton includes the Chesapeake e.
Ohio Canal property, the first unit
OF the George Washington Memorial
Parkway and other units.
S65.O00 for Anacostia Flats.
Despite efforts of the Washington
Board OF Trade and the Office of the
Army engineer for the local district
to speed up development of the
Anacostia Parkway, the Budget
Bureau estimates include a total of
only SOS 900 for reclamation of the
Anacostla River flats, which is the
same as the current appropriation.
This, however, is expected to provide
more actual reclamation work, since
the current appropriation included
SIS. 900 for acquisition of land, which
now has been completed.
There likewise was no change in
the estimate of $4,000 as the Dis
trict's share Of the expense of con-
tinuing improvement of Washington
Channel during the coming fiscal
year.
The estimated salaries for the Park
Police force for 1910 also was con-
tlnued unchanged at s175,470, al
though this force must take over
policing of vastly increased amount
of park area, including all the newly
acquired Chesapeake g. Ohio Canal
property and other park property
acquired or opened during the cur
rent fiscal year or to be opened next
year. The Park Police, however,
have been granted an increase in the
estimates for uniforming and equip
ping members of the force. The
estimate is $10,250, as compared with
the current $9,4OO.
The Budget Bureau allowed a
total of $237, ,480 for the National
Geological Park, as compared with
the current appropriation of $227 900.
The increases included $1,000 more
for feeding animals, the remainder
of the increase going chiefly for per-
sonal services. Forage and food for
the Zoo animals during the coming
fiscal year will cost an estimated
$34,810.