Evening star., 1941-02-05
Street Closing
For AnnexHit
By A. A. A. Unit
Complications Seen
In Solution for
Pon-Americun Union

Proposed closing of Virginia ave-
nue. to permit erection OF an annex
10 the American Union was
'unalterably" opposed yesterday by
the Bridges and Highways Com
nittee of the District Advisory
Board for the American Automobile
Association. The closing, it was
'aid, will "complicate an already
Dad situation
The committee also said it was
N favor of immediate erection of
the Pan-American Union annex on
the original site approved by Con-
gress, which is Immediately south of
the Interior Building.
The possibility also developed that
Senator TydingS, Democrat, of
Maryland, might be asked to block
the use of Maryland funds to build
a feeder" road from Fort George G..
Meade to Laurel and demand that
Federal funds be used. Recon-
mendation that the Advisory Board
adopt a policy calling for Federal
responsibility for feeder roads to
specialized Federal communities
such as military cantonments was
voted.
Chairman reports on Plan.
The resolution developed from a
report by Chairman P. Y. K. Howat
on the proposed Washington-Balti-
more superhighway. Mr. Howat re-
ported being told by Maryland Off
cials that the Army wanted three
feeders to Fort Meade constructed.
A member then suggested that in
pursuance of the recommended
policy, Senator Tydings might be
asked to oppose such use of State
funds.
Closing of Virginia avenue and
the relocation of Eighteenth and
Nineteenth streets to permit con-
struction of the annex Immediately
west of the present union building
where it would not block the view
of Secretary Ickes to Constitution
avenue. has been approved by the
White House.
Washington I. Cleveland, manager
of the A. A. A. S District Motor Club
said the Advisory Board would meet
shortly to consider the committee
recommendations.
Oppose Van Ness Closing.
The committee also voted op-
position to a plan to close Van Ness
street between two properties owned
by the Bureau of Standards because
1t Is much-traveled street and is
used as bus thoroughfare and be-
cause it is one of the few streets
through to the west from Connecti-
cut avenue between Tilden street
and Albemarle street N. w. A pub
lie hearing will be held February II
at 10 m. on the matter and Chair
man HoWat was empowered to name
a committee to appear and oppose
the closing.
Bureau of Standards officials have
contended the closing was needed
for national defense, among other
reasons, it was stated. The COM
mittee was also told an act of Con-
gress specifically forbid the closing
of Van Ness street.
Need for Pan-American annex
was described by one member of
the committee, who declared the
present union building is so years
old and was never built to be an
office building. At present, he said,
the offices are overf1owing into the
corridors and will soon be in the
beautiful patio. He added that
members of the Latin American
Republics could not help but resent
the mixture of good neighbor"
utterance with interference in such
matter as the union getting an
annex authorized by Congress.
Conceit Question Raised.
One member asked if there was
any other reason for the proposed
plan than the "conceit of one mar. ~
In connection with a discussion of
the proposed Washington Baltimore
superhighway, Chairman Howat told
the committee he had been advised
by Maryland officials of the oesire
of the War Department to have
the road run through the Fort
Meade grounds. The officials also
told him, he said, that the Army
wanted feeder" roads to be con-
structed, the first one from Laurel
to Fort Meads. This brought i'm
mediate objection from members of
the committee, who contendeo the
Federal Government should finance
Its own feeder roads to the main
State roads and not depend upon the
States to do it.
1t was indicated there was little
chance of the highway being built
in the near future because of lack
of funds.