Evening star., 1941-01-14
The Capital Extended?

A luncheon to Irving c. Root, newly
inducted superintendent of the Ma
tional Capital Parks, furnished an
appropriate occasion for suggestion
offered by Frederic A. Delano, chair
man of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, to the
effect that the Capital City should be
extended farther into both Maryland
and Virginia for better metropolitan
administration.
The sponsor of the proposal de-
clared that he never mas attempted
to work out the details of such pan,
yet insisted that "it is obvious that
Washington should be single metro
politan unit, and it's something
people ought to think about" He
might have gone on to call attention
to the aspirations of the founders of
the District of Columbia. The an0ny-
NOUS author of the preface to the
American Guide to Washington COM
piled by the Federal Writers Project
of the Works Progress Administration
In 1887, wrote: The most funda-
mental fact about Washington is that
1t was created for definite purpose
and has been developed according
to a definite plan. Therein lies its
unique distinction among American
cities and among all existing capitals
In the Western World. The purpose
was to provide a permanent seat of
National Government; the plan was
formulated by. an obscure French
architect and military engineer, who
had served in the Colonial Army.
Happily, Pierre Charles L'Enfant was
q practical idealiSt who saw deeply
and clearly into the future. In
planning seat Of American Govern
ment, he planned also the ground
work of a great community which he
knew would develop here because the
Government was here. This fusion
of interdependent Capital and COM
munity motivated the plan which
he inscribed upon the woods and
marshes east of Georgetown nearly
a century and a half ago; and it
motivates today the city which has
arisen on the essential pattern OF
that plan. Europe's foremost capitals
London, Paris, Moscow and the
rest-are vast amorphous growths
which have their independent char
acter and existence as great COM
munities quite apart from and more
or less obscuring their character as
governmental centers. But the char
acter of washington as Nations
Capital is basic and inherent, deter
mining in largest part not only the
city's outward aspect and prevailing
atmosphere but the routine pattern
of life for most of its inhabitants"
It has happened, however, that the
L'Enfant plan has been mutilated
from time to time. For example, IN
1s46, by the desire of the inhabitants
and at the request Of the State OF
Virginia, Congress retroceded the
thirty square miles south of the
Potomac originally acquired from
that State. This section contained
the City of Alexandria, for the inclu-
sion of which within the District,
Congress had passed special
amendment, at the earnest desire OF
President Washington" Such losses
NAV have been in Mr.. Delano's mind
when he urged the extension OF the
metropolitan unit" to "a tract OF
about twenty by fifteen miles on
both sides of the Potomac"
The suggestion raises number
of Questions which are not easily
answered, but perhaps for that very
reason it is meritoriouS. Opposition
could be expected to any proposal
TO disturb the present status OF the
residents of nearby Maryland and
Virginia. Neither State probably
would be willing to consider any
"reform" which would take from
their citizens the right to vote. I'M
portant tax and revenue problems
are involved and some physical diff
culties necessarily would have to be
taken into account.
Yet the whole subject, as Mr..
Delano said, is of obvious and vital
Importance to the welfare Of Wash
ington, its suburbs and the Nation
at large. 1t should be examined with
eare first hu the National Capital