Evening star., 1942-09-18
Planners Vote
Master Road
Study Plan
Grunt Directed to Call
Conference on Zoo
Parkway Widening

view TO future demdndS OF Venlcu-
lar traffic.
Brig. Gen. U. S. Grant. Sd, chair
man, was directed to call a con-
ference of District and United
States officials for next week to
make plans for the study and re-
ceive suggestions possibly for the
construction of new roads in Rock
Greek Park as we'll as the Zoo.
Attending the conference will be
representatives of the District Com
missioners, the National Park Ser
vice, the Public Roads Administra-
ton and the Smithsonian Institu-
ton. The latter has jurisdiction
over the Zoo.
Traffic Increased.
Since the extension of the Poto-
mac Rock Greek Parkway and a
cross-town bus line, traffic has
greatly increased through the Zoo
and Rock Creek Park. Planning
Commission officials said some of
the roads need Strengthening and
widening md few additional
bridges may be required. 1t was
thought that the entire road sys-
tenn in the Zoo needed a general
overhauling and re-study to meet
present traffic conditions.
Brig. Gen. John j. Kingman re-
ported that the War Department
is now engaged in studying the
question Of who will control the net
work of roads connecting the new
Pentagon Building and other war
structures on the Virginia side of
the river. He is the representative
on the commission of the chief of
Army Engineers.
A report from the War Depart
mentV will be made, he said, at
later meeting of the commission.
The commission today voted to
have special maps made of Alexan-
dria and Arlington, and Fairfax
Counties to add to it's master map
of the District This will be done,
1t was explained, to facilitate studies
being made of emergency housing
and transportation facilities in these
Virginia areas. The planning agency
is cooperating in these matters with
county officials.
To Get Blair House.
Associate Director A. E. Demaray
of the National Park Service re-
ported that the State Department
will be given custody of the Blair
House on Pennsylvania avenue
when 1t is bought by the Govern
ment as = home for visiting officials.
That custody, however would ex-
tend only for the duration of the
war. After that the mansion would
be turned over to the Interior De-
partment as a historic shrine. IN
terior's National Park Service is the
ofllcial custodian of many famous
houses which have been ecquired
by the Government for preservation
as public shrines.
The commission today ordered
restudy of the site for large service
garage at Suitland, Md, where
Federal construction is under way.
The original site for the garage was
considered too close to the highway.
Upon learning that Col. Beverly
G. Snow is being relieved as Assistant
Engineer Commissioner on October
IA, letter was directed to be sent
to the War Department commencing
his services as co-ordinator of the
planning commission. Col Snow is
being assigned to Fort Belvoir, Va.
The commission planned to con-
slider what progress has been made
in the six-year Federal building
program before it closes it's Septem-
Der session later today.
Announcement was made that Mr..
Delano had been made honorary
emeritus chairman of the commits
sion and his guidance and advice
therefore still will be available.
Detailed reports on development
plans for two neighborhood play
grounds were made yesterday by
Thomas c. Jeffers, a member of the
stad. They are the Congress Heights
Playground in Anacostia and the
Francis Junior High School ground
on the Rock Creek Parkway south
OF P Street Bridge.
Field House to Be Erected,
The former embraces an area of
nve acres. Equipment for a chill
dren's play area will be installed and
held house erected. Plans also
provide for additional facilities. such
as softball diamonds, basket ball
courts and tennis courts. The Francis
playground already has swimming
pool, but Is lacking in a number OF
athletic facilities. Ample provisions
OF this kind will be made.
Supt. Irving Root of Nationa,
Capital Parks took up with the com
mission yesterday plans for repavine
ana widening Seventeenth street to
"a ieet from Constitution avenue
SCUM 10 the Tidal Basin at the John
Paul Jones statue Erection of addi.
tionai Navy buildings in the vicinity
mas caused an increase in traf1c
I'he commission announced that !,
Will cooperate with Alexandra Va
IN trying to preserve the colonia
character of architecture along thu
George Washington Memorial Park.
way.
With the local War Fund cam
palgn to start at an early date, tn,
commission voted to lend its larg,
model OF Central Washington for al
exhibit to be placed in the Ulin,
Arena. The model has attracted
much attention at various Worl,
Fairs in recent years.
Secretary Thomas S. Settle re
ported yesterday that the member
Of the commission and the entir
staff had subscribed an average O
1913 per cent of their salaries to tn
purchase OF War saving bonds. /
resolution was adopted commendin
the staff of 10 members.
A report on the status of Distric
legislation was made by Mr.. Settle
who recounted the successful enact
ment of a number of bills in whicl
Gen. Grant had previously taken al
interest. Gen. Grant had served a
executive officer of the commission
for about nine years to 1888,
Among other things, Mr.. Settl