Evening star., 1942-04-18
Planners See
Peril in Influx
OF Workers
Urge Decentralization
To Euse lood on
Vitul Facilities

Washington win be exposed un-
necessarily TO dangers from enemy
air attack, fire hazards and epi-
denies unless the Federal Govern
ment halts the extraordinary con-
centration" OF wartime employment
here and directs It to other cities,
the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission warned last
night.
With such facilities as water SUPP
ply. power and transportation al
ready much overtaxed, the commits
sion declared, 1t Is no longer possible
to keep pace with the accelerated
rate of expansion and make decent
provision" for all the living require-
ments OF employees In or near WASH
ington. For this reason, Il went on
record for the third time this year
In urging decentralization of Gov
ernment bureaus and agencies.
The commission closed its April
meeting by approving several plans
for minor improvements and will
meet again on the second instead Of
the third Thursday in May.
Suggests Two Procedures,
Its position with respect to Wash.
ington's greatest wartime problem
was stated In a S50-word resolution.
which Is being forwarded to the Di-
rector Of the Budget, in whose hands
rests much Of the responsibility for
directing Government bureaus away
from the Capital. While the COM
mission admits some progress has
been made in decentralization to
date, 1t insists that the dangers it
mentioned will become very real and
great unless considerable exodus
from Washington Is enforced.
The only procedure" the resolu-
tion said, which will not lead to q
breakdown In one way or another
OF the services which the community
owes to its residents and corre-
spending impairment of the war ef.
fort Is decentralization In both of
the following ways"
First, new Office buildings should
be so scattered that outlying lands
still available for residence may be
within easy access of employment.
This Is a highly desirable procedure
for any new activities which must
be In Washington, but II cannot
solve the whole problem" it was
stated. For instance. 1t does not
help the situation as to further cost
and delay in furnishing suflicient
water, power, sewage, recreation,
schools, hospitals and transporta-
ton to the center Of the city,
Secondly, the commission stressed
the need for relocating existing
bureaus and establishing new aqen-
cies in other cities where accomo-
dations for Offices and residences
already exist.
Sees Lesser Evil.
1--WE are aware OF the dificulties
involved In this decentralization.
the resolution added" but We be-
lieve that the difficulties Of further
concentration in Washington are 4
worse alternative and viii ulti-
mately fail to meet the emergency.
although in the meantime causing
much inconveniences, delay danger
and unnecessary expense =.
The commission approved plans for
the extension OF Massachusetts, ave.
niue through the grounds Of Gallin-
ger Municipal Hospital to. the Ana
costa River. This would be accom-
phshed by means of under passes
connecting the hospital properties
on either side Of the thoroughfare.
Massachusetts, avenue now stops at
the edge of the hospital grounds.
Ofncials said that the underpasses
would obviate any necessity for
changing the roadway system at
Gallinger.
The Washington Terminal Co. has
drawn up plans for improving tbs
rnarque In front Of Union Station
used by taxicabs In discharging pas
sengers. 1t first submitted to the
Fine Arts Commission its proposal
for erecting canopy over the plat
form for the protection of passerl-
gers in rain. This idea was turned
over to the Planning Commission
and received its approval
Would Reroute Taxis.
The company plans rerouting Of
taxis around the inner circle of
Columbus statue, Incoming cabs
would discharge passengers in front
Of the station. The entrance to the
west, now In general use, would be
reserved for outgoing passengers.
Plans for developing two park
ways in the vicinity OF the Peace
Cross at the Intersection OF the
Bladensburg road and the Defense
highway also were approved. They
will be handicapped and planted with
shrubbery.
This small Improvement will be
undertaken at the expense of the
Maryland National Capital Park
and Planning Commission. The
The two bodies are cooperating In
extending the Anacostia River Park
from the Peace Cross to Beltsville.
A recent appropriation was made
available for these improvements
which have been approved.
Several matters affecting coming
regulations in the District were re-
ferred to two of the commissions
experts, Harland Bartholomew of
St. Louis and Alfred Bettman, for
study. One is the recent act requir-