Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-11-12

hear the ceremony by means OF loud.
speaker installation. There are ample
accommodations on the floor and In the
galleries of the drill hall to seat at least
10000 persons.
Similarly, the armory could be utilized
for great indoor mass meetings of local
or national character, dedicated to AL
races and creeds.
Washington, almost alone among the
great capitals Of the world, is lacking
a national stadium adequate to accom-
modate crowds that would flock here to
attend an international event. Late re-
ports from Mexico City indicate that
the government of Mexico is taking ini-
tial steps to establish an enormous sport
center IN the capital. One feature Of
the plan provides for a bull ring to ac-
commodate $4,000 spectators; a soccer
football bowl TO seat $4,000 fans, 122
tennis courts, so bowling alleys, a thea
ter and restaurants.
What Mexico City can do, surely can
be done in Washington and the reasons
are so much more imperative.
Bringing Conventions Here
The Greater National Capital Com
mite of the Board of Trade which has
been responsible for making Washing
ton one of the great convention cities Of
the country, is looking forward to the
postwar period as means of bringing
more millions annually to the city.
The annual Easter sun-rising services
in Washington, attracting greater at
tendance each year, would be just an
other suitable assemblage in the great
open space at the end of East Capitol
street. Washington has tried in vain,
for years, to bid for the Army-Navy
football game but those officials in the
services who have control pass up the
National Capital for the more adequate
new municipal stadium in Philadelphia.
Washington can never hope to secure
an Army-Navy game, local interests say,
until it has stadium to match in seat
ing capacity those available in some
Eastern cities.
The site at the end of East Capitol
street proposed by the Planning Com
mission and concurred in by the Board
OF Trade Committee is an excellent one,
accessible to rail and vehicular trans
portation. 1t is estimated that about
80 per cent of the people attending a
sport event come by either rail or auto
mobile, any way.
Parade Ground Already Graded
The 3O-acre parade ground, in close
proximity to the proposed site of the
stadium, has already been graded and
laid out in grass. Hundreds of people
use 1t now on good days. Much of the
150-acre site has been reclaimed from
marshes of the Anacostia River and has
been rounded out by acquisitions of the
Planning Commission. Ten years ago
it would have cost approximately 81, 00o,-
900 to grade the large area. BY permit
ting free dumping the work has been
accomplished in recent years at little
COST The natatorium could be COM
pleted at moderate expense, it was
claimed
Temporary war buildings now occupy
a part of the original site set aside for
the stadium but the administration Is
pledge to policy of removing all such
temporary structures within reason
able period after the war.
Ready access to the East Capitol
street sport area is one of the principal
arguments in its favor, according to
present plans for street and highway
extensions.
Street and Highway Plans
Independence and Constitution ave-
nues eventually are to be extended
as dual road thoroughfares clear
through to the Anacostia River, the plan
being to maintain their present widths
of 80 feet. Service roads would be pro-
vided on each side and grade separa-
tions at Eleventh street and in the
vicinity of the Capitol grounds.
Also being planned is the extension Of
C street north to the river and if the
stadium plan goes through no doubt the
Capital Transit Co. will feel the need
of extending the East Capitol street.
car line to the plaza. In advanced stages
of planning is the Washington Balti-
more parkway, which would give a new
express route for motorists to the sports
center from New York, Philadelphia and
other cities on the Eastern Atlantic
seaboard
The Baltimore & Ohio and Penn
sylvania Railroad Cos. have been
sounded out and found favorably dis
posed toward building convenient spur
lines leading directly to the area. That
would mean excursion trains from the
East and West could land passengers
almost at the gates of the stadium and
visiting teams could sleep in Pullman
cars on the sidings
For Action of Congress
Emphasizing that the stadium Is pro-
posed for national as well as local use
that Washington should take its
proper place as the principal Capital
City of the world, the Board of Trade
Committee is preparing to bring this
plan to the attention of Congress when
1t reconvenes on November IA.
The costs of an adequate stadium vary
to estimates around $350o,OOo, but it is
commended that the initial cost would
represent an investment which would
yield dividends in admission charges
and concessions.
The Planning Commission already has
conducted rather thorough INQUIRY
into municipal and sport stadiums else
where. There is general agreement that
should the project be approved the best