Evening star., 1940-01-07
New Balance Predicted
AS Eastern Areas Gain
Maryland and Virginia Take
Important Part in Broad
Developments as Planned

just ended home building in Greater
Washington has attained an all
time high, with some 1880 housing
units completed and sales of homes
running to an unprecedented total
of $50, 100000 to s100000.000 Half
of this new construction was in the
District of Columbia and half in
the suburban areas. particularly in
fast-growing Arlington County and
Alexandria. OF particular signifi-
canoe is the fact that more than
half of the new homes constructed
within the District were built in
the Southeast and Northeast Sec
tions. This marks the continuation
of a trend which has become in
creasingly apparent during recent
years.
The proportion Of building activi-
ties in East Washington to those
in other sections of the city doubled
during the five years between 1888
and 1888. This trend, continuing
into the new decade. should mean
much to a city suffering from lack
of physical balance
Studies made by the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission show that in 1888 only II
per cent of the total value of build
ing permits issued in the District
were for the eastern section of the
city. In 1884 this had increased
to Is per cent, in 1885 to q per
cent. in 1886 to 33 per cent, in 1887
to 371a per cent and in 1888 to
approximately 40 per cent. The
1899 total may run as high as 60
per cent, based on the numbers of
living units.
Population figures have followed
a similar trend. Between 1910 and
1880 the population in the "old city,
decreased by 13 per cent in the
northwest section. On the other
hand, population in the northeast
quarter of the old city gained by 81
per cent and in the southeast by
Is per cent. The 1910 census. soon
to begin, should reveal important
developments in this respect.
Park developments in and around
the National Capital carried forward
on an extensive scale during the
last decade, especially during the
last half of the decade, seem likely
to continue on large scale during
the coming years. Continued de-
velopment of the George Washing
ton Memorial Parkway, along both
banks of the Potomac River; the
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal park
way. in effect a prolongation OF the
George Washington Parkway 1856
miles along the Maryland shore of
the river; further development of
Rock Creek Park in Maryland; ex-
tensive progress or the Anacostia
parkway, which is expected to have
a prominent place in the future
parkway system of the National
Capital, and further development
OF the Fort Drive project are among
the major park projects to be car
ried into the new decade.
Major Bridge Projects.
The new John Philip Sousa Me-
mortal Bridge across the Anacostia
River at Pennsylvania avenue Sc.
and the new Key Bridge. parkway
overpass and plaza are among the
major bridge projects slated for
completion during 1910. The new
Chain Bridge has been opened to
traffic during the last year and fur
ther essential bridge construction
may be anticipated before 1850.
There is increasing pressure for a
new bridge across the Anacostia in
line with South Capitol street or
that vicinity, connecting with the
southern shore near old Boiling
Field and providing easier, quicker
communication between downtown
Washington and the Anacostia,
Congress Heights and other grow
ing residential areas to the south
and east. There also is a growing
need for another new bridge to
carry Massachusetts, avenue across
the Anacostia River and Parkway.
Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen
and other civic leaders frequently
have advocated the construction of
an additional bridge across the Po-
tomac from the vicinity Of Blue
Plains. at the extreme southern cor
ner of the District. to Alexandria.
Some Of the pressure for . bridge