Evening star., 1944-01-13
Potomac Power
Dam Report
Due Today
Planning Group
To Get Army Doto on
Great Falls Project

Great Falls Project
Army engineers were to report TO-
day to the National Capital Pari
and Planning Commission on thei,
proposal to dam the Potomac Rive,
below and above Great Falls for the
development, primarily, of hydro.
ssecSstc power and water conserva.
ton.
Protection Of Great Falls is the
ysain concern and interest of the
Federal Planning group and the dis.
cussions starting this afternoon may
be extended over a considerable
period.
The commission met for it.
monthly planning session a week ir
adve@ce of the usual time. While
problems involving the proposal te
erect a series OF dams in the Pc.
tomac Is the main topic on the
schedule, number of other matters
affecting conditions in Washington
will be discussed.
Parkway Tract Completed.
Virtual completion of the long,
time program of land acquisition for
the Pinehurst parkway extending
into Rock Creek Park was an
nounced this morning by Norman G
Brown, land purchasing officer OF
the commission.
He reported the purchase of a key
parcel consisting of q half acre at
Aberfoyle place and Barnaby street
NV, which completes the tract.
Pinehurst parkway, a little more
than half mile long, embraces an
important feeder stream originating
In Maryland which flows into Rock
Greek Park near the District line.
Mr.. Brown also reported that In
the Northeast section of the city
contracts were approved on further
substantial additions to the Watts
Branch parkway. This project also
combines flood control and extends
trom the District line to Minnesota
avenue.
Conference Slated.
The Commission extended invi-
tations FOR general dinner con-
ference on the evening of February
II in connection with its next
monthly planning session.
Invitations have been extended to
committees of the House and Senate
which deal with various matters in
which the Planning Commission is
interested. Others to attend the
dinner conference are members of
the Committee on the Federal City
as well as the Fine Arts Commission
The committee got off to a slow
start today and transacted no other
business at the morning session.
Shade Tree Report Due.
Col. Joseph D. Arthur, jr.. assistant
District engineer commissioner, will
report on measures taken for the
protection of the city's shade trees.
There also will be reports from
others on proposed sites for branch
public libraries, and housing trends
in Washington and throughout the
Metropolitan Area.
Last month, the commission heard
complaints from representatives of
various civic groups about the de-
struction and neglect of shade trees
along the sidewalks. The proposal
has been made that the District gov
ernment include on its staff an ex-
pert landscape architect. Col. Ar
thur was asked to make an investi-
cation and report.
John Nolen, jr., director of plan
ming, has been making a study OF
branch library sites in the District
in cooperation with officials of the
Public Library. A number of new
sites In expanding sections of the
city have been selected.
Housing Report Ready.
Another report will be made by
Max Wehrly, civic planner, on hous-
ing in the eastern section of the
city. Since 1889 it is understood
that at least one half of all new
housing erected in Washington has
been built east of the Anacostia
River. Mr.. Nolen will 60 into pro-
posed amendments to the zoning
regulations and housing trends gen.
orally in the Washington region.
Tomorrow morning, Secretary
Thomas S. Settle will discuss the
status of legislation affecting the
District and also will take up mat
ters concerned with the District -Vir-
ginia boundary bill. Another re-
port will be made by Alfred Betman,
coming expert, on the proposed ur-
ban redevelopment bill. A draft
OF this measure was sent to MEM
bers Of the Planning Commission
last month for stud.
The Potomac River report will be
given by Col. Clarence Renshaw,
United States District Engineer and
members of his staff. The Army
engineers are preparing similar
studies throughout the country for
submission to Congress.
Opposition Expected.
Any proposal that might tend to
destroy the scenic value of Great
Falls is likely to meet with strong
opposition from members of the
Planning Commission. It is under
stood that one of the plans involves
the construction of mill race that
would divert the water from the
F-i,s when needed and restore it
to the Falls at other times.
The Planning Commission also is
Interested in protecting the historic
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, now
owned and used by the Federal Gov
e-nment as a general recreation
~feject. Flooding Of the Potomac
t, form huge recreation lake
c't!l-r Immediately above or below
tae Falls would endanger the canal,
II was feared.
Flu Deaths Decline
Altar nus vn.r Do.L