Evening star., 1948-06-04
Students Plans for Future D. C.
Displayed in Armory Exhibit

Maj. Gen. U. s. Grant III and
his National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission have discovered
Washington's youngsters have lot
of the answers to what can be
done to improve the city.
Gen. Grant and other members
Of the commission dropped by the
National Guard Armory yesterday
to take a look at the exhibits en-
tered in the Junior Community I'M
provement Project.
The exhibit, arranged by the City
Planning Committee of the Wash
ington Board of Trade, covers the
entire floor of the huge Armory. II
will be open today and tomorrow te
the public.
Gen. Grant stopped by a project
which showed what should be done
ito make Southwest Washington a
perfect section of the city in which
to live.
Student Explains Plan.
IT don't believe you planned fol
as many people to live in Southwest
as do now" he commented to one
student, referring to the fact thai
the project replaced many OF the
crowded row houses with separate
homes.
Gordon Still, 16, Of 614 Fifth
street NV, a student at Jefferson
Junior High School, explained that
this would be taken care of by large
apartment developments overlooking
the waterfront.
"I see," Gen Grant said.
This exhibit, one of the largest
and best, was completed by students
of the Jefferson Junior High School
a white school, and the Randall
Junior High School, colored
school. They were assisted by two
Catholic schools, St Dominic's and
St. Vincent's.
One of 10 Top Exhibits.
It was one of 10 exhibits to re-
ceive the excellent" rating from
the judges and in addition received
special commentator for the CO.
operative spirit shown.
The spirit of cooperation among
the races and religious groups was
evident when Gordon and another
Jefferson student, Edward Weber
IS, Of 4907 r street, Bradbury
Heights, Md, explained how 1t
worked.
The two junior high schools de-
cided to divide the Southwest sec
ton in half Student central plan
ming committees from each school
were formed. Then groups of stu
dents from each school went out
and actually surveyed the area,
making sketches and notes of what
should be done, what houses should
be replaced.
The colored students came over
to Jefferson to hold meetings-at
which tea and cookies were served
And the Jefferson students attended
planning meetings at Randall.
Vote on Priority Project.
After the surveying parties re-
ported back, the two students ex-
planned, a vote was taken and it
was decided that, in order of i'm
portance, Southwest needed better
housing, sanitation, traffic safety
and recreation.
The Southwest Of Is years from
now. as visualized by the students.
would have new schools, a super
highway for trucks and an under
ground railroad to replace the pres
ent tracks which run through the
section. The water front would be
modernized and would become one
of Washington's Showplaces.
The principals of the two Junior
high schools who worked out the
cooperative venture were Hugh S.
Smith of Jefferson and Mrs. G. T.
Peterson of Randall.
The opening ceremonies yesterday
were attended by top District and
Government officials The ribbon
guarding the entrance was cut by
School Supt. Hoba rt M. Corning and
the project was praised by Mrs.
Henry Grattan Doyle, president Of
the Board of Education; Fischer S.
Black, chairman of the trade boards
City Planning Committee, and Ken
meth Holland, director of the Office