Evening star., 1939-08-02
Park System Survey
To Be Started Here
Next Month
Study to Seek Methods
For Better Operation
Of Facilities in Capitol

"A survey OF the washington park
system will be made, starting this
month, by two outstanding munich
pal park executives from other large
cities with view to better operation
Of the parks here in the future.
The survey. officially sanctioned
today by Ebert K. Burlew, First
Assistant Secretary of the Interior,
will be made by Capt. Charles G..
Sauers, general superintendent of
the Cook County (Chicago) Forest
Preserve District of Illinois, and H.
G. Wagner, director of the
Akron (Ohio) Metropolitan Park
District.
Capt. Sauers and Mr.. Wagner
will come to Washington for a few
days during August to observe con-
ditions in the National Capital
parks during peak-load use. After
a preliminary survey they will re-
turn to their respective jobs and
will return to Washington after
September Is to make a more de-
tailed study. It is anticipated that
three to four months will be re-
quired for the entire survey.
Ickes to Ask Merit Test.
Based upon the findings and rec
concentrations resulting from this
joint study, Secretary of the Inte-
rior 1ckes plans to request the Civil
Service Commission to set UP a
competitive examination for the
National Capital parks superintend-
ency. which was officially vacated
August l by C. Marshall Finnan.
Mr.. Finnan was transferred to the
superintendency of Zion and Bryce
Canyon National Parks in Southern
Utah partly at his own request on
account of health requirements and
partly because of his intimate expe-
rience with national parks in the
West.
THE problems of the National
Capital parks differ greatly from
those of other park systems through
out the country, both national and
municipal, the Interior Depart
ment said today.
Because of the importance of the
Nations Capital as a focal point
for travel from all over the country,
park use is exceptionally heavy. In
addition, the approximately 600
units of the National Capital Parks
system are operated in close rela-
ton to numerous other agencies of
the local and Federal Government
In the District, as we'll as with civic
organizations" it continued.
Prelude to Naming Director.
Because of these peculiar con-
ditlons, Secretary Ickes felt the
entire field should be surveyed i'm
partially by members of an outside
disinterested organization before a
successor is appointed"
National Park Service officials
said there were few persons in their
organization equipped with the
necessary experience to be efficient
administrators for the National
Capital parks.
Despite the fact that most park
executives in large cities receive
considerably more than the $4,000
paid Mr.. Finnan in the superin-
tendency, Secretary Ickes hopes, Of
ficials said, that a good man may be
found through the survey and ex-
animation method. 1t is not i'm
possible, officials said, that the two
men in question will take the ex-
animation after completing the
survey. 1t is open to any one, they
said.
Meanwhile Frank T. Gartside will
continue as acting superintendent
OF National Capital parks. The ex-
animation Is open to him also if he
chooses to take it.
The two men making the survey,
1t was announced today, will receive
no emolument for their work other
than travelling and per diem ex-
penSes.