Evening star., 1945-06-07
Majority Of Experts
Urge Further Study
OF Subway Proposal

vi JuUWoY TVpVSoI
The Commissioners today have
before them a mass of testimony
for and against the $50 100000 sub
way plans developed by consulting
engineers in report submitted last
year on transportation problems in
the central area.
Little unqualified support came
at public hearings yesterday for the
routes proposed by J. E. Griener and
De Leuw, Gather & Co., consult
ing engineers, with most spokesmen
of Governmental and private groups
urging further study of the report.
Milo H. Brinkley, chairman of the
Public Utilities Committee of the
Federation of Citizens Associations,
urged a municipally-owned subway
system. Baxter Smith. chairman of
the Safety Committee of the fed
Grafton, also declared underground
transport was needed in cretain
areas, but said he was not prepared
to stress the extent.
rear VI III tuCI SOHSCSLlOus
In discussing the engineers report,
understood to have cost the District
$38, 900, Mr.. Smith said he felt the
routes laid out would further con-
centrate congestion in the vicinity
of Thirteenth and Fourteenth
streets NV, Pennsylvania avenue
and H streets and that it would
funnel" people through this area,
even though it was not their des-
tination.
Warning that we could have a
Pearl .Harbor" on our streets if we
did not prepare for the future, Stan
ley Horner of the American Auto
mobile Association claimed the
central business area is being
strangled from the lack of free
flowing arteries, speedy mass trans
portation and adequate parking. He
urged study and development OF
costs of the plan in greater detail
Charles NJ. Upham, chairman OF
the Highways Committee of the
Washington Board Of Trade, and
also representing the Traffic and
Utilities Committees of the board
urged the Commissioners to hold
public hearings so that transporta-
ton plan might be developed. in
cluding ways and means of flnanc-
ing.
| Pointing out the Importance OF
preserving the central business area
Mr.. Upham said 1t contained only
II per cent of the taxable area of
the city. but paid % per cent of the
real estate taxes.
Architects Opposed Plan.
SpokeSmen for the American In
Stitute of Architects, Harry Barrett
and Louis Justement, opposed sub
ways, saying they merely would al
leviate bad conditions and prevent
desirable future changes in the city.
They suggested rings" of streets
around the central area, so that per-
sons going from their homes to Gov
ernment Offices would not pass
through the business section. They
predicted certain inevitable
amount Of decentralization of the
main business area.
Arthur J. Sundlun, speaking for
the Commissioners traffic advisers,
said the engineers plan formed a
reasonable and practical basis for
further study and extension of the
plan and development of cost. He
said they approved the plan 'in prin-
ciple."
Further support for the subways
came from the keystone Automobile
Club, whose engineering report said
the subwayS appeared to be ideal to
service the greatest number of per-
sons through reduction in congested
areas, avoidance of conflicts with
vehicular traffic and by means of the
mezzanine walkways under impor-
tant streets.
Utilities Cite Cost.
Representatives of various utilities
pointed out that installation of SUBJ
ways raised serious problems for
them. The Potomac Electric Power
Co. spokesman said $1,000 worth
of cables and conduits-exclusive OF
those for treetcars-would have to
be removed and that replacement
would cost $4.000,00O. Telephone of
fcials said they estimated the gross
cost of relocating their equipment at
$725 900 and the Washington Gas
Light Co. said it would cost more
than s1,500,000 to change its gas
mains.
Claude w. Turner of the Mer-
chants and Manufacturers Associ-
alton, said some underground routes
might be necessary, but that many
members felt that the proposed plan
was too extensive and disliked the
suggested routes. He raised the
question Of liability for constructing
them.
Unqualified Endorsement of the
subway proposal came from the
Central Labor Union, whose spokes-
man said it would help full employ
men after the war. Henry Austin
vice president of the Southeast
Council of Citizens Association
favored q municipally-owned SUBJ
way system. Miss Harlean James
speaking for the Committee of 100
on the Federal City, said the report
should be referred To the National