Evening star., 1945-09-21
Planners Seek
Great Falls
Boulevard
Upper Potomac
Rood to Resemble
One to Mt. Vernon

they would seek authorization for
construction of a scenic automobile
parkway from the District line to
Great Falls, similar to the Mount
Vernon Memorial boulevard.
The startin gpoint of the pro-
posed 13-mile parkway, somewhere
in the vicinity of the Dalecarlia
Reservoir, has not yet been deter
mined.
Initial steps were taken today at
the closing session of the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
missions monthly meeting. A pro-
posed amendment to the Capper-
CrSmton Act will be forwarded soon
to the Budget Bureau.
Has Acquired Land.
Under the act the Planning Com
mission has acquired most of the
land needed for the proposed George
Washington Memorial Parkway on
both sides of the Potomac River
connecting with the gorge at Great
Falls.
Secretary Thomas S. Settle said
the Great Falls Parkway would
extend through these acquired lands
on the Maryland side.
THE route will follow closely
along the old canal, affording con-
slant views of the Potomac, and will
be comparable in many respects to
the Mount Vernon boulevard" he
said
The new parkway would have only
q few access roads SO as to inter-
fere as little as possible with the
swift flow of traffic. Motorists now
going to Great Falls follow the Old
Conduit road which only approaches
the river along few stretches. The
new boulevard also would be ac-
cessible from Macarthur boulevard
which extends to the District line.
Long Under Consideration.
Construction of such a scenic
route to Great Falls has long been
contemplated by the commission
but specific amendment would
be necessary to obtain congressional
authorization for construction of
the road.
The Planning Commission already
has taken initial steps. looking to
the acquisition of automobile park
ing facilities at Great Falls, in view
of the increased number of tourists
visiting the area since removal OF
gasoline rationing.
Yesterday the commission revealed
1t is sponsoring early activation of
a group of technicians to prepare
comprehensive study of water,
sewage and drainage problems in
the rapidly growing Washington
Metropolitan Area.
Would Aid Interstate Group.
AS recommended by John Nolen,
director of planning, the announced
purpose is to assist the Interstate
Committee on the Potomac River
Basin in preparing its forthcoming
regional study of water resources.
The local group will be known as
the Washington Regional Water Re-
sources Committee.
Action was taken after Mr.. Nolell
reported late yesterday on the re-
cent meeting of the Interstate Com
mitJee in Pennsylvania. which he
attended as representative Of the
Planning Commission. This COM
mittee has overall supervision of all
planning in connection with the Po-
tomac Basin water resources.
Technicians representing the Dis
trict and adjoining Maryland ano
Virginia counties will be named or
the local group. It's activation is
expected soon.
One of the chief concerns of the
study, it was said, is the problem Of
providing some measure of effective
control of local watersheds outside
of Washington. That is necessary
1t was believed, to eliminate or re-
duce the pollution nuisance of the
Potomac and its tributaries through.
out the Metropolitan Area. New
communities are being developed
and others have undergone wartime
expansion in the adjoining counties
without proper attention being giver
to local sewage, officials claimed
Approve Waterfront Plan.
The Planning Commission also ap.
proved the submission of a plan tt
Col John M. Johnson, United State;
district engineer, for the orderly de.
velopment of the Washington water
front. The engineer office is to con.
duct public hearings at an early
date.
Included in the plan, it was said
will be some additional proposals
made by the Office of National Cap.
ital Parks with respect to Roosevelt
Island and East Potomac Park along
the Anacostia River. 1t was suggest.
ed that the grade of the low areas ir
East Potomac Park be raised suf.
f1ciently to prevent flooding. That i.
serious problem, officials said, ano
the golf links are frequently affected
after steady rains.
The establishment of a ferry service
connecting Columbian Island with
Roosevelt Island, which is being pre-.
served as natural park in memory
of Theodore Roosevelt, has Ions
been under study. Revised plans are
being made for the location of tht
ferry.
Fred w. Tuemmler, director o.
planning for the Maryland Nationa
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion, attended the session. He wa
assured of cooperation in the plan
of that group to continue an orderl.
waterway development from tn
District line to Bladensburg. He ex
poets to present plan to the Unitet
States Engineer Office.
lsiWRstonmiq
~ n