Evening star., 1943-07-23
P| tanners Asked
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Future ofCity
Randolph Requests
Cooperation in
Postwar Study

The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission has under
consideration today a request from
Chairman Randolph of the House
District Committee for cooperation
In postwar planning for the perma-
nent development of Washington.
Representative Randolph, in let
ter yesterday to Thomas S. Settle,
commission secretary, directed at
tention to a plan being developed
for the demolition of certain houses
and the establishment of permanent
parkways. A number of streets are
marked for boulevard construction
under the plan.
The District Committees studies
indicate street planning should come
first, Representative Randolph said,
with later developments for trans
portation. He expressed hope all
agencies concerned with join in the
program. He previously wrote his
views to Col. Charles w. Kutz, Engi-
neer Commissioner.
CalS AtIcntlOn 10 Report.
In his letter to Mr. Settle. Repre-
sentative Randolph called attention
to report of preliminary survey a
year ago by the District Department
of Highways. as directed by joint
resolution of Congress. This in
cluded recommendation that $50
900 should be provided to make
the detailed surveys, engineering
investigation and estimates of COST
No appropriation has been made for
this purpose.
Representative Randolph told Mr..
Settle that in view of the fact ef-
fective transportation planning and
city planning must be closely CO.
ordinated, the committee would ap-
preciate if he would submit plans
he has developed so that a COM
plete, timely picture could be had
as basis for the surveys in the
highway report.
He also asked that tentative
estimate of the initial sum needed
for the work of the Capital Park
and Planning Commission be sub
mitted to the House District Com
mittee as early as possible.
Two Har Dor Projects Listed.
Commissioner Kutz, in answering
Representative Randolph's request,
disclosed today that two Washington
Harbor projects have been designed
for postwar construction. One is for
the Potomac River-Virginia Chan
mel. This calls for removal of rock
pinnacles upstream from the Arling-
ton Memorial Bridge to Easily Point.
The surveys, plans and specifications
have been completed for removal of
1912 cubic yards of rock at an esti-
mated cost of $4,000.
The second approved project is for
the north side of Washington Chan
neL This provides for construction
of five commercial piers, three yacht
basins. various buildings and freight
and passenger sheds. Construction
on this project was discontinued in
November, 1912, in accordance with
orders of the War Production Board,
when the project was 40. per cent
complete. - ~$f
(, By special authority and .allot-
nent surveys, plans and speciflea-
tions for completing this project
are now in progress. A tentative
schedule provides for the completion
of these plans in October, 1914.
However, these tentative plans look
for the completion of pier No. 4 for
excursion lines by September l this
year and for yacht basin No. by
December 81.
Also of interest are studies now
under way in Washington engineer
district (rivers and harbors) for
the comprehensive development of
the water resources of the Potomac
and Rappahannock Rivers drainage
basins. In addition to flood con-
troll, these reports will deal with
hydro-electric power development,
control of stream pollution and low
flow experimentation.
Will Provide Added Work.
1t is anticipated, Col. Clarence
Renshaw, engineer in charge of the
Washington rivers and harbors dis
CllSp, SdJo, oiAoU CAAC
River report will be completed in
September of this year, and the
report on the Potomac River early
in 1914. A report also is being pre-
pared in compliance with a public
law approved August %. 1887, on a
preliminary examination and sur
vey of the north branch of the Po-
tomac River and its tributaries in
the vicinity of Keyser, w. Va. This
report will be covered in the COM
prehensive survey of the Potomac
River basin.
Col Renshaw reports that all
these Potomac River projects, de-
veloped as a result of these studies,
if found economically feasible and
if acceptable to Congress, will pro-
vide additional postwar construc-
ton work for the Washington