Evening star., 1941-01-08
District and Federal
Funds for Upkeep Of
Parks Increased
Additions in Budget
Provide for Is More
On Park Police Force

The Districts share of the upkeep
of the National Capital parks is in
creased by $4,560 over last year, and
the share of the Federal Govern
ment is increased by $780, 100 in the
1912 budget submitted to Congress
today.
Park appropriations from general
revenues of the District totaling
S905,002 are asked for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1912, as against
s925,442 in current appropriations, a
decrease of $20,440 is offset by the
fact that it is asked that S25 900
be appropriated from the District
highway fund, built of gasoline tax
receipts, for the maintenance of
vehicular roads, public parks, thus
bringing the total amount the Dis
trict is asked to contribute to $780,
002, while introducing a perhaps
less painful method Of payment for
part of the whole. Since park road
maintenance will be the sole purpose
for which the $4,000 is to be used
no diversion" of District gasoline
tax receipts is contemplated.
S450,000 Federal Fund.
Congress is asked by the budget to
appropriate s450,000 from Federal
funds for park purposes as against
s289 900 in current appropriations.
Salient features of this increase
are:
l. Increase of the United States
Park police force by sergeant and
II privates. The park office asked
for such an increase in the District
budget but were refused.
2. A comfort station, with a police
room, at the Water Gate, where the
Sunset Symphonies are held, to cost
10000.
3. An increase in the amount pro-
vided for "other maintenance and
operation, including shops, green
houses, nursery, etc" of S25,500.
4. An estimate of $4,000 for the
maintenance of the Chopawamsic
Recreational Demonstration Area,
which was blanketed into the Ma
tional Capital Park system last
summer.
$4,000 for Canal Upkeep.
S. A request for s25,O0O for the
upkeep of the Chesapeake & Ohio
Canal. Last year the parks were
left entirely without funds with
which to maintain the Governments
S2,500,000 investment in the canal.
6. A S16,450 increase in funds with
which to purchase supplies and ma
terials for park Improvements.
I'll $4,000 increase for non
structural improvements"
8. An s8.O6O increase for purchase
of equipment, and
8. Other minor increases along
maintenance and maintenance per-
sonnel lines.
There were several reductions in
the Federal section of the park
budget, notably in the repairs and
alterations category.
LII GIle OlSJI4CG UuusCG coOlAlldtC
for parks there is an increase Of
s4.e64 in maintenance funds and
minor reductions amounting to s404.
Asked for S35,00O.
In its budget requests to the Dis
trict Commissioners last fall the
park Office asked for maintenance
increase of approximately $4,000.
This was pared down to the above
figure, however.
For the rest, park appropriations
remain much as in former years.
Park officials were particularly
elated today to learn the Budget
Bureau had recommended the in
crease for additional police, mainte-
nance and development work. The
present park police force has to be
spread very thin to patrol the 6,206
acres in the park system and. since
park lands have been increased since
1884 by nearly 1000 acres while
appropriations plus more than S.
600 900 worth of improvements while
appropriations have remained large
ly static, the problem of maintenance
was becoming more and more acute.