Evening star., 1941-05-22
Max ). WehrIy
Is Appointed
City P|anner
Park Boord Action
On Building Sites
Expected Today

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, which is ex-
pected to act today on selection Of
temporary Office building sites in the
District, opened its two-day meeting
by announcing appointment of Max
S. Wehrly, associate landscape
architect of the commission, as its
city planner.
Mr.. Wehrly's elevation to the new
post is the result Of competitive
civil service examination. The Job
has been vacant since 1888. when it
was held by John Nolen, ir.. now
director of planning for the COM
mission.
Mr.. Wehrly, 35 has been a men,
Der of the commission staff four
years. A native Of Dayton, Ohio, he
studied landscape architecture at
the University of PENNSYLVANIA and
was awarded the degree of master
Of city planning by Harvard Uni
versity in 1885.
Land Purchases Announced.
The commission also announced
through Norman c. Brown. asso-
ciate purchasing officer. the acuuisi-
ton of half acre of ground on
Porter street at the intersection of
Kllngle road NV. Mr.. Brown said
the land was important as protee-
ton for the entrance to Rock Greek
Park there. in that it would prevent
erection Of houses in an area figur-
ing prominently in plans to provide
the city with cross-town arteriaI
highways.
Mr.. Brown also announced fur
ther acquisitions Of land pertinent
to the new Harrison School play
ground on V street between Thir-
teenth and Fourteenth streets NV,
and in the Southeast section of the
city in the Oxon Run Parkway prof.
ect and in Battery Ricketts,, one of
the old Civil War forts.
Although no announcement Of the
commissions stand was forthcoming
IN advance, it was considered likely
that approval would be given at least
one Of the office building sites in
question-that on the Mall.
One Contract Awarded.
The Public Buildings Administra-
ton already has awarded a contract
for construction of a single tenn
porary office building on Independ-
ence avenue between Fourth and
Sixth streets SW.
The second site the commission
will consider is on the grounds OF
the Army War College, where three
buildings are planned. Chairman
Reynolds of the Senate Military
Affairs Committee announced sew
eral days ago he was opposed to
placing temporary Offices there be-
cause of secret military work being
carried on at the college.
Senator Reynolds also indicated he
now is in favor of giving the Gov
eminent discretionary power as to
whether the buildings should be
placed in or outside the District.
Restricted in Bill.
The P. B. A. originally planned to
put some of them in nearby Arling-
ton County. Va, but in making
available S4100000 for construction
of temporary Office buildings. Con-
gress ruled they should be placed
within the city limits on Govern
ment-owned property.
Among other items the planning
group was to consider today were
three reports, the first on the ade-
quacy of the water supply for the
area served by the District system.
This report was compiled by the
District Engineers Office at the
commissions request, it was said.
The second report covers the
sources of pollution Of the Potomac
River below Washington and was
prepared by the Public Health
Service. Results of a recent con-
ference between members Of the
commission and the District En-
gineer Office regarding navigation
and flood control projects associated
with the Annacostia River were TO
comprise the third report.
This afternoon, members of the
Planning Board were to make a field
inspection trip to the new District
Armory, the defense housing project
in AnacoStla and the area involved
in the proposed extension of South
Capitol street bordering on Boiling
Field
Whitehurst to Present Program.
Tomorrow, Capt. Whitehurst. Dis
trict director of highways. will pre-
sent to the commission for approval
his preliminary highway survey re-
port. on which the District COM
miSsioners now are holding hearings.
Capt. WhitehurSt also will present
a revised plan for a grade separation
at Fourteenth street and Maine
avenue S.W., it was announced.
Mr., Nolen is to report on a recent
conference he held with Virginia
officials regarding the proposal to
extend the southern approach to
Arlington Memorial Bridge through
Arlington and Fairfax Counties to
connect with United States Route l.
Mr.. Nolen also is to present new
plan for construction of a tunnel
beneath the Potomac River between
Alexandria and Washington.
Thomas S. Settle. commission
secretary, is to make his usual report
on the status of legislation affecting
the work of the commission.