Evening star., 1940-01-04
Park and Playground
Land Acquisition
Fund Quito $850,000
PIonning Commission
Estimate Includes
Monument Repairs

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission received a
budget allowance today of only
$3.50 900 for continuance of the pro-
gram of land acquisition for the
park, parkway and playground sys-
tenn in the District under the Cap
peri -Cramton Act of 1880.
The estimate for the 1941 fiscal
year represents a reduction of $780,
900 appropriated for the current
year. In addition to s1000,000 pro-
vided for land purchases in the
District for the year ending next
June 30, Congress also provided a
deficiency item of S150,000 This was
to match funds voted by the Mary
land Legislature in connection with
the extension of the George WASH
ington Memorial Parkway in Mont
gomery County
No such appropriation for this
parkway has been made to date by
either the Maryland or Virginia Leg
islatures for the coming fiscal year.
In event these State funds are
forthcoming, officials said they will
be met by a deficiency appropria-
ton.
Act Authorizes S16,0OO,OOO.
The Capper- -Cramton Act author
ized a total expenditure of s160O0,-
900 for park land acquisitions. In
cluding the estimate in the l941
budget recommended today. there
will have been provided approxi-
mately s7850,O00 of the total au-
thorization.
The budget failed to set forth the
specific projects contemplated under
the s850,000 allowance but officials
said the sum would be used to COM
plete the purchase of land for II
parks and Fairgrounds and to con-
tinue buying for four more projects.
Most of the program scheduled for
completion during the coming fiscal
year consists of Fairgrounds in con-
gested and outlying areas.
The reduced budget allowance for
expenditures under the Capper-
Cramton Act was another disap-
pointment to the commission, which
had previously failed to secure a
s2,000,000 appropriation to expe-
dite the program. A recent report
on National Capital Parks made
by the two experts engaged by
Secretary of the Interior Ickes had
cautioned that land acquisitions on
the part of the commission out
stripped appropriations for main
tenance of existing parks. The
budget estimate was authorized,
however, before this report had
been completed.
s35S,960 U. S. Appropriation.
Federal appropriations for the
National Capital Parks were esti-
mated at 1888 800 for the new fiscal
year compared with $685. appro-
priated for the current year. This
includes funds for park mainte-
nance as well as for general ex-
penses. The estimated increase is
made up in part by recommended
tions of $4,000 for a comfort sta
ton at or near the water gate, SIS
600 for repairs in the Washington
Monument, and $4,000 for steam
lines connecting the Lincoln Me-
mortal with the central heating
plant distribution mains.
There was also included in the
new estimates an item of $68.O8O
transferred from the National Park
Service funds for public buildings
and grounds in the District. This
is for maintenance of the WASH
ington Monument. Lincoln Me-
mortal, Arlington House, the house
in which Abraham Lincoln died and
the Lincoln Museum.
Against this increase in the Fed
eral contribution to support National
Capital Parks, the Districts contri-
button is $927,122, as against $947, ,793
for 1910. Part of the decrease Is
due to the fact $4,000 which other
wise would have been paid out OF
District funds for helping to MAIN
tain White House greenhouses was
omitted.