Evening star., 1941-05-23
Planners Approve
First I Whitehurst
Highway Projects
Underground Streeteor
TerminuI and Traffic
Separation Accepted

Undertaking a STUDY OF the Whlte-
hurst preliminary highway survey,
the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission today ap-
proved two revised plans affecting
the city streets, the first involving
grade separation at Portland and
South Capitol streets Sc. and the
second IN underground streetcar
terminal at Fourteenth and c
streets SW.
The first project. worked out In
cooperation with the Army, District
Highway Department and the Ma
tional Park Service, Is a part of the
commisSions master plan for ex-
tension and improvement of the
entire South Capitol street. The
grade separation would prevent
traffic entering Boiling Field from
interfering with through traffic on
South Capitol street, it was ex-
planned.
The underground streetcar ter
minal is a part of the scheme to
construct grade separation at
Fourteenth street and Maine avenue
S.W. the commission pointed out.
Some 100000 already is available
for the work.
Meeting yesterday for the first
time since April %, the commission
was told that President Roosevelt
renamed William A. Delano of New
York, one of its four citiZen-mem-
bers. member Immediately upon
the expiration of his last term, April
30. He already has served two six
year terms as a member of the
Planning Commission, and is its
architectural expert.
Medical Museum Approved.
Mr.. Delano. 81, is a member of
the architectural firm of Delano &
Aldrich. which designed the new
Post Office Building and japanese
Embassy here, among many other
well-known structures in other parts
of the country. He is a cousin of
Frederic A. Delano, commission
chairman.
Approval was given preliminary
plan presented by Maj. Gen. James
G. MCGEE, surgeon general of the
Army for erection of an Army med
ical museum and library building in
the East Capitol street area. While
the precise location was not re-
vealed, it was said that it would
conform to the commissions COM
prehensive plan for development of
the entire sector.
After hearing report by Col. w.
j. Barden of the District engineers
office on the feasibility of extending
the channel of the Anacostia River
from the District line to Bladens-
burg, Md, the planning body made
known its desire that such a project
be undertaken. The commission is
acquiring land along the river for
Anacostia River Park in co-opera-
ton with the National
Park and Planning Commission.
Allays Water Shortage Fears.
The commission announced that
report submitted by Gen. j. L.
Schley, chief of Army Engineers,
showed that Washington is in no
immediate danger of water short
age, although the present supply is
being severely taxed. Gen Schley
told the commission, it was said,
that provisions are being made to
insure adequate water for an addi-
tional 100000 persons by the mid
die of 1912. The problem of pro-
viding Washington with water is
one of distribution rather than sup
ply. the general pointed out.
The request that the Army Engi-
neers submit the water supply re-
port was made shortly after it be-
came apparent that the city popula-
ton was to be swelled because of
defense activities, it was said.
In the afternoon members of the
commission inspected the new Dis
trict Armory and the defense hous-
ing project at Bellevue, expressing
pleasure with the progress being
made.