Evening star., 1940-02-25

and the buildings were laid out with
view to making this possible in
the future.
Speed on Basin.
Despite delays in construction due
to jurisdictional labor difficulties,
the basin project was completed
last June, five months ahead Of
schedule, and turned over to the
Navy Department for the installa-
ton of equipment. The total esti-
mated cost is $780, 900.
A very large and important Fed
eral development now in progress
is the National Agricultural Re-
search Center. about midway be-
tween the District line and Fort
George Gordon Meade, northeast of
Washington. Through this center
and skirting the edge of Fort
Meade is the proposed right of way
of the Washington-Baltimore mo-
tor parkway, which is to enter the
National Capital through Anacostia
Park.
At Beltsville the Agriculture De-
partment owns tract of approx
mately 10000 acres, with approxi-
mately 1000 workers now en-
ployed in various branches of ag-
ricultural research. There are 1000
experimental animals and about
10000 experimental fowls. Twenty
laboratory buildings have been
completed and there are % green
houses, so barns and more than 800
other structures of various types,
from poultry houses to a granary.
At the beginning of the new dec
ade there are three large laboratory
buildings under construction, and a
large future building program is
contemplated.
Assisted by C. C. C.
A Civilian Conservation Corps
camp has been located on the res
ervation, and the company is assist
ing regular .employes in the work
of developing and improving the
great research tract.
The Cheltenham naval radio
center was established to meet Navy
Department needs of many years
standing for a modern receiving
station outside the city of WASH
ington. During the coming decade
this important center, for which the
first funds were provided in 1885, is
expected to be completed and In
full operation for the receiving of
communications from naval stations
and vessels in all parts of the world.
The site at Cheltenham was Sc
lected. after careful study to avoid
such types of interference as ignition
interference and harmonic radia-
ton from airplanes flying overhead
or in the vicinity, ignition inter-
ference from automobiles and the
types of interference associated
with industrial activities. Chelten-
ham is located In the only sector
out Of Washington in which there
are no airplane routes to other large
cities and in which 1t seemed most
likely there never would be q major
airlane. The area selected also Is
free from Automobile roads-chief
reason why the site and the great
new radio community there are 50
little known to the average WASH
ingtonian.
The Navy Department purchased
$50 acres Of land, with at least
half mile Of separation from the
nearest road-and none of the
nearby roads Is travelled to any ex-
tent. At Cheltenham the Navy has
erected very efficient directive
antennas Oriented in every direction
SO that signals from any part Of the
earth may be received with maxi
mum efficiency.
Removal Of all local Navy trans
mission facilities to Annapolis, Md,
in the vicinity Of the Naval Acad-
emy grounds. Is a part Of the same
program which is resulting IN the
building up Of the Cheltenham, sta
ton. The evsntual result Is ex-
pected to be the removal Of one Of