Evening star., 1946-05-22
District Seap|ane Base
On Potomac Urged
For Harbors Project

IV IIUIUVlS TIVJCII
A seaplane landing on the Po-
tomac River within a five-minute
drive Of Washington was envisioned
today as part Of the master river
and harbor plan proposed in a
House Rivers and Harbors resolu-
ton.
The project was given support
yesterday at hearing held by Col.
Donald G. White. Army district
engineer for the Potomac, Kappa
hammock and Patuxent watershed.
That part of the river between Me-
mortal and Key Bridge would pro-
vide an ideal landing area for
family-type seaplanes. Col. White
was told.
Leading the discussion for the
landing area were Palmer c. Scar
necchia, 5409 Glenwood road, Be-
thesda, seaplane owner and flying
enthusiast, and j. B. Hartranft,
general manager of the Aircraft
Pilots and Owners Association.
Landings on the mole at the
mouth of Rock Creek, near the Ross
lyn END of Key Bridge and where
Georgetown streets dead-end at the
river could handle more than so
planes, they said.
They added that larger Seaplanes,
''as big as they come" could land on
the river near Alexandria and use
terminal on Hunting Greek.
Report to Be Drafted.
Although the point was not raised
at the hearing, there were indica-
tions the Districts share of recently
enacted Federal aid airport legisla-
ton (about 5000 ,000) could be spent
for such facilities.
On the basis of testimony re-
ceived by Col. White yesterday he
will make a preliminary report to
the chief of Army engineers. If
the latter approves it, detailed
studies will be made and appropri-
ate rivers and harbors legislation
and appropriations sought.
The Washington Board Of Trade
is credited with having pushed
plans to create such a waterfront
master plan and William McManus,
vice chairman of its Rivers and
Harbors Committee, was star wit
ness at the hearing yesterday.
Testimony disclosed that public
and private interests believe the
master plan for the river area should
also include these elements for rec
reation:
Additional private boating facili-
ties at Fletcher's Cove between Key
and Chain Bridges; on the East Po-
tomac Park side of the Washington
Channel; between the Eleventh
Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
Bridges on the Anacostia; at and
near Bladensburg; on Daingerfield
Island just below the National Air
port. and in Hunting Creek.
improvement of the President Cup
Race course and the removal of the
mud flats near East Potomac Park.
Streamlining of Kingman Lake to
provide more land for the develop
ment of proposed National Sports
Center at the end of East Capitol
street.
A Sea Scout base and areas for
wildlife preservation.
Commercial Projects.
Projects affecting commercial &C.
tivities which were advocated in
cluded these:
The concentration of commercial
shipping in the Buzzard Point area
below the Naval Gun Factory on the
Anacostia and in Alexandria, a cold
storage plant for seafood, and ia
cilities for receiving nonperishable
bulk goods such as fuel oil, gasoline,
lumber, etc.
Other projects included the relo-
cation OF the Anacostia seawall be-
low Benning Bridge to permit park
expansion; three more bridges in
upper Anacostia Park, one to carry
the Baltimore Washington Parkway,
another for Fort drive and the third
tor an extension of New York ave-
nue. NE; retention of low-lying
areas where city refuse can be
dumped, more adequate sewer out
lets and pollution abatement.
Among those who testified were
Harry 7. Thompson, assistant su-
perintendent Of National Capital
Parks; Eric G. Greenleaf, spokes-
man for the Presidents Cup Re-
gatta Association and the American
Power Boat Association; Milo F..
Christensen, District of Columbia
recreation superintendent; Harold
A. Kemp, District of Columbia di-
rector of sanitary engineering, who
represented other District of Co.
lumbia agencies whose work involves
the water front; Leonard E. Penso
of the Potomac River Sailing As
sociation, william w. Barker, COM
modore of the Sea Scout Division
OF the Boy Scouts of America; P. A.
Rice, spokesman for the Richmond
Fredericksburg and Potomac Rail-
road; Capt. D. A. Chase, spokesman
for the Coast Guard, and Maj. Gen
U. S. Grant III, chairman of the