Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-01-29
Attack Expected
On Freeway as
Planners Meet
Discussion Slated
On Arizona Avenue
Proposal Tomorrow
BY Nelson M. Shepard

Proposal Tomorrow
By Nelson N. Shepard
The Hayden bill to construct
Arizona avenue as a divided high
way for the passage Of buses, trucks
and passenger cars through Glover
Archbold Park is expected to draw
sharp attack from Federal plan
ners, who opened two-day busi-
ness session today.
Although the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission and
the National Park Service have
been feuding over the proposed
freeway with the District Highway
Department, the planners have
never acted on it formally.
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, Sd, chair
man of the Planning Commission,
has reserved tomorrow afternoons
session for a free-for-all discussion
of the proposed highway, which
would extend from Canal road
through the length of the park to
Tenley Circle at Wisconsin ave-
nue. NV.
Opposed Before Subcommittee.
Considerable opposition to the
which Senator Hayden
proposes for the greater glory OF
his State, has developed at hearings
before a House District subcom-
mittee.
Planning officials now fear that
the construction Of the K street
overpass, such a freeway from Wis
consin avenue would dump" q
greater load of traffic than the
overpass could conveniently handle
during the rush hours.
And that traffic would be di-
verted from Wisconsin avenue
through Glover Archbold Park, ,
commission spokesman warned yes
terday.
Various other problems awaited
the attention of the planning group.
These included a recommendation
for the site of the new Amidon
School to replace the old structure
at Sixth and F streets S.W. Money
is available for the purchase.
Harry Thompson, assistant SUI
perintendent of National Capital
Parks, will report on a matter af-
fecting the proposed erection of two
smoke stacks, each 284 feet high,
at the northern end of Alexandria,
Va, by the Braddock Light g.
Power Co. The stacks would be
between Mount Vernon boulevard
and the Potomac River. 1t is I'M
derstood the Civil Aeronautics Ad-
ministration believes they would OBJ
struct the southerly approach to the
National Airport used for irlstru-
ment landings and low approaches
over the Potomac.
Grand Plaza Plans Up.
Important building plans due for
consideration include notifications
of the Grand Plaza on Fourteenth
street, south of the District Build
ing, sto include bus terminal in
addition to1a new arrangement for
auto parking.
The National Institute of Health
at Bethesda, Md, including 500
room hospital proposed in the bud
get, also will be under study.
Plans for development of the
Soldiers Home and the construc-
ticn of a proposed testing basin on
the Dalecarlia Reservation will be
scrutinized.
Gen. Grant is expected to report
to the Planning Commission this
afternoon on the formation of a
19-member executive board to Sc
lect permanent chairmen to serve
as an Advisory Committee on Plans
for the Capital City and its En-
virons.
Representatives of most of the IS
business, civic and professional Or
CARNATIONS invited to attend a
meeting in the United States Cham
Der of Commerce Building, set up
the Executive Committee and elected
four officers yesterday. Gen. Grant,
as head of the planning commission
which sponsored the meeting, sue
ceeded in putting through his slate
of officers without exception.
Real estate, building, banking and
civic organizations are strongly rep
resented on the new Executive
Board, which soon will select a
slate Of permanent chairmen.
Owens Heads Advisory Board.
President of the Advisory Board
is Claude w. Owens, representing
the Washington Building Congress.
First vice president is John H.
Connaughton, president of the Fed
Grafton Of Citizens Associations;
second vice president is Ernest F.
Harper, president of the Federation
of Civic Associations, and secretary
is Miss Harlean James, who also
performs similar duties for the Ma
tional Planning and Civic Associa-
ton.
In addition to the officers, the fol-
lowing will serve on the Executive
Board: ....s
John A. Reilly, president of the
Washington Board of Trade; Slocum
Kingsbury. president of Washington
Chapter, American Institute OF
Architects; Edward Burling, jr.
president of the Citizens Council for
Community Planning; C. Melvin
Sharpe, chairman of the Committee
OF 100 on the Federal City; c. r
Preller, president of the Central La
Dor Union (AFL); Henry Beitscher
president of the Industrial Union
Council (CIO); r. Moran McConihe
president of the Washington Real
Estate Board; Richard A. Norris
president of the District Bankers
Association; William A. Powell
president of the Washington Bar
Association; Charles T. Penn, former
president of the Washington Build
ing Congress; Fisher Black, chair
man of the Board of Trade Com
mittee on Planning, and Jacob
Crane, president Of the Washington