Evening star., 1940-12-20
Health Center
Land Refused
By Park Board
Rutland Again Fails
To Obtoin Use
Of Triangle Site

For the fourth time District
Health Officer DR.. George c. Ruiz
land has failed in his efforts to OBJ
tain land for health center in the
Northwest section.
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission today refused
to permit him the use OF park tri-
angle bounded by New York ave-
nue., M and First streets NV. for
this purpose 1t was DR.. Ruhland's
second attempt to gain permission
to use this land for the center.
The commission, in the second day
of it's December meeting, refused
the request on practically the same
grounds as in 1888, when Dr.
Ruhlands first attempt to use the
triangle was made. The commission S
reasons were that the triangle forms
an essential part of the original
LEnfant plan, that it is needed to
provide open space in the neighbor-
hood, and that use of it for build
ing other than for park purposes
would set a dangerous precedent
which, if carried forward, would
sacrifice much land the commission
has purchased for park purposes.
"The commission feels" said
Thomas S. Settle, commission sec
retary and spokesman, that If
Washington's downtown park land
should be used for other than park
purposes. Washington would be no
better of than Baltimore or Phila-
delphia.'
Used for Playground.
The triangle has been used in re-
cent years for a colored playground.
M street, in the block where it passes
by the triangle, has been blocked off
from time to time to provide more
play space The space has served
the Terrell Junior High School on
the opposite side of M street.
1t has been the only play space
near the school. The tract imme-
diately north of the triangle is the
New York Avenue Playground, bul
is operated for white children.
1t was thought before the meet
ing that the commission views
might be tempered by the fact that
an entire block, bounded by o. P,
Fourth and Fifth streets and New
Jersey avenue NV, has recently
been bought for a colored play CEN
ter, the long sought Midcity Play
ground.
DR.. Rutland made his first at
tempt to gain land for the health
center, which local officials agree is
a necessary project, when $780,
900 item was included in the District
appropriation bill for 1888 to pur-
chase a site near the Douglass-Sim-
mons School on First street NV. A
counter proposal was made to offer
the site of the Jones School at First
and L streets NV. The Health De-
partment did not receive the school
nor any money and the appropria-
ton for the center was withdrawn.
Lack of Funds Balks Deal.
An attempt was made to obtain
tract at. Kirby street and New
York avenue NV. belonging to
Homeopathic Hospital. This attempt
was defeated because of lack OF
funds to purchase the site from the
hospital at appraised value,
DR.. Rutland appeared in person
before the commission toay. He
told members the Central Northwest
area furnishes the largest number
of admissions to Gallinger Hospital
and that treatment facilities should
be provided to lessen the influx of
cases.
At present. he explained, the
Health Department is offering clini-
cal services for maternal and child
welfare, for venereal disease control
and tuberculosis control. Each. how
ever. is housed separately in rented
quarters at an annual expenditure of
$1,000 for rent alone
At present. he added. there Is
health center in the Southwest area
which has been found invaluable,
Washington needs three such
health centers, he said