Evening star., 1944-02-18
P|annersGet
AdverseReport
On River Dams
Settle WithhoIds
Details Of Study
By OImsteod

An adverse report on the. pro-
posed Potomac River power project,
based on an independent study
made by Frederick Law Olmstead.
consultant of the National Park
Service, was submitted today to the
National Park and Planning Com
mission.
Withholding details of the report,
Secretary Thomas S. Settle merely
said it stated the well-known oppo-
sition of the commission to any
proposed power development in the
vicinity of Great Falls.
Mr.. Olmstead, in discussing his
report to the commission, empha-
sized that in 1928 the commission
had opposed any plan that would
destroy or impair the most natural
and unique park east of the Missis-
sippi River
Will Be Submitted to Board.
The Olmstead report eventually
will be submitted to the Board of
Engineers for Rivers and Harbors
although the Planning Commission
has taken no definite action on it,
Mr.. Settle served notice on organiza-
tions opposed to the proposal to
build dams above and below Great
Falls that the Army engineers will
conduct public hearings in the spring
or summer.
The District Engineer Office. Corps
of Engineers, has been making an
extensive study of power and water
conserve ton in the Potomac under
authority of the Flood Control Act
of 1886. 1t also will report its recon-
mendations to the board.
Similar Studies Made.
The project is one of similar stud
les being made by Army engineers
in all of the principal river basins of
the country.
The Planning Commission and
the National Parks Service are
vitally concerned with any proposal
of this kind in the Potomac River
above Washington. Both agencies
are interested in preservation of the
whole Great Falls area, in connec-
ton with the George Washington
Memorial Parkway, which extends
from Mount Vernon to the Falls.
The planning officials are tenn
porarily maintaining a position of
strict neutrality in connection with
Washington's lively housing contro-
verSy.
Await Full Testimony.
We believe there is a need for
both private as well as public hous-
ing development in Washington"
Secretary Settle said in explaining
the position of the Planning Com
mission.
Until the realtors have presented
their case in full before the Senate
District Subcommittee, the plan
ming agency explained late yester-
day, it will keep from making any
definite recommendation in connec-
ton with future housing develop
ment
For this reason, the commission
left its own decision in the hands of .
its Legislative Committee, composed .
of Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, Sd, chair
man, and A. E. Demaray, acting eX-
ecutive officer of the National Park
Service
Gen. Grant discussed the situa-
ton with his colleagues yesterday
afternoon. While the commission
felt that the National Capital Hous-
ing Authority is doing a good job
with limited funds" the opinion also
was expressed that there is need
also, for private development.
''In Sympathy With Amendments.
The commission took no action
yesterday afternoon on the Nc
Carran bill amending the Alley
Dwelling Authority Act so that the
local housing agency can conduct
It's own program in substandard
areas other than inhabited alleys.
1t was in connection with these
discussions that the planners ex-
pressed themselves as 'in sympathy"
with the amendments.
The housing question, whichever
position the commission finally as
sumes, is closely related to the pro-
posed urban rehabilitation bill. AL
fred Bettman, expert consultant
who has drafted such a bill for the
District, again took it up with the
commission, Several further changes
were suggested by interested agen-
cies, and therefore a redraft of the
legislation will be submitted next
month. The essentials, however,
were not changed.
Meeting with the planning group
today for the final session were
members Of the Joint Committee on
the National Capital.