Evening star., 1940-01-12
Gains
In Capital Area
Are Reported
Resources Committee
Discusses Pollution
And Improvements

Progress in long-range planning
for pollution abatement and parks
and civic improvements in the Dis
trict of Columbia, Maryland and
Virginia, with emphasis on develop.
ments in the Washington metro
politan area, Is cited in the report
of the National Resources Com
mittee which President Roosevelt
forwarded to Congress yesterday
with a special message.
The District of Columbia is head
quarters for Region 2 in the ma
tional planning program, which
looks to interstate action for con-
servation and development of re-
sources in Maryland, New Jersey,
New York, North Carolina, Penn
sylvania and Virginia. Vitallv af-
fecting the interests of the District,
which is party to them, was the
establishment of the Potomac River
Conservancy District and plans for
the development of the Baltimore
Washington-Ann area for CO.
ordinating Improvements in these
metropolitan districts.
Pollution Problem Tackled.
A start has been made in the
effort to secure interstate co-opera-
ton in the solution of the impor-
tant problems of the Potomac Basin
such as pollution abatement, pri-
marily. Conferences were sponsored
by the Washington Board of Trade
in 1887 and 1888. On March last,
special interstate committee on
the Potomac Valley met here and
formulated a compact for submits
sion to the several States affected
This compact requires only the
coordination of State efforts
through their various health de-
partments and authorized represen-
tatives and contains no provisions
for enforcement of minimum stand
ards. Approval has been obtained
from the Maryland Senate on March
13. 1t failed of passage in Pennsyl-
vania: was completed too late for
submission to the West Virginia
legislature and in Virginia there
was no legislative session during the
year. 1T may be hoped that the
proposed compact will become law
after the next meeting OF the vari-
GUS legislatures, the report stated.
The Baltimore Washington An
napolis plan evolved by the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion and the Maryland State Plan
ming Commission during 1887, the
report said, had led to considerable
follow-up activity during the past
year. Plans were inaugurated for
effecting recommendation with spe-
cial reference to local planning, zon-
ing and developing of proposed
Baltimore Washington parkway to
relieve the traffic load on the present
main highway between these two
cities.
Legislation Enacted.
Practically all the legislation in
troduced or sponsored by the Mary
land commission in the General
Assembly of 1899 for development
of the Baltimore Washington An
napolis area was enacted. The State
appropriation also was increased for
the commission.
The official planning board for the
District is the aforementioned
agency of which Frederic A. Delano,
who heads the National Committee,
also is chairman.
In carrying out its planning and
land acquisition program in the
District, the local commission is CO.
operating with the Maryland-
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, the Maryland State
Planning Commission. the Wash
ington Suburban Sanitary District
! Commission, the Arlington County
Planning Commission and the
County Board, the Alexandria City
Planning Commission and the CITY
Council, the Fairfax County Plan
ming Commission and the Virginia
State Planning Commission.
All this cooperation is necessary
for the development of such prof.
ects as the George Washington
Memorial parkway on both banks of
the Potomac and for extension of
the metropolitan park system into
nearby Maryland.
The area of the District park sys-
tenn, about $500 acres at the present
time, will be developed to around
$500 acres. Responsibility for olan-
ning and guidance of the develop
ment of the Mall and central area
OF the city, including the location,
use. density and planning for new
public buildings is another item of
the commissions duties.
Cites Eastern Development.
In this respect, the report cites
the comprehensive plans prepared
for development of East Capitol
street to the Anacostia River" de-
signed to encourage a more balanced
development of the central citv."
These plans include an armory and
sports building for which Congress
has appropriated funds, as well as a
stadium, sports field and play-
ground at the Anacostia River, with
sites for various public and semi
public buildings bordering the street
and Lincoln Square.
A comprehensive land use suryev
OF the District is now nearing COM
pletion. it was reported, in co-opera.
ton with the District Zoning Conn
mission preparatory to the revision
OF the District Zoning map. Ap-
proximately 1000 acres have been
required for the George Washing
ton Memorial Parwkay out of a
total OF 1000 acres scheduled for the
completed project. Additional funds
are now available, it was reported.
for some further extension of the
parkway in Maryland and Virginia.
The proposed Baltimore Washing
ton parkway was declared to be Of
prime Importance in the MARYLAND
metropolitan area. Park land is now
EAn