Evening star., 1949-01-14
Air Photos toAid
HighwayP|ans
In Rock Creek
Tunnel Under Zoo
And Playing Fields
To Be Studied
By William A. MiIIen

Alr Photographs OF nOck Creek
valley are being studied by Federal
highway engineers to lay plans for
a better roadway system north Of
Massachusetts avenue through Rock
Greek Park in the District.
This was disclosed today by
Harold J. Spelman, division engi-
neer of the Public Roads Admins
tration. with headquarters at Ar
lington. Mr.. Spelman addressed
the morning session of the Ameri-
can Society of Photogrammetry at
the Shoreham Hotel.
A thousand delegates from vari-
ous parts of the world are attend
ing the society's convention, which
is focusing attention on use of
aerial photographs in engineering
problems. Part of this mornings
session was devoted to highway en-
gineering, aided by air photographs.
Study Not Yet Completed.
Mr.. Spelman said his Office has
not yet completed the Rock Greek
Park study and more details re-
main to be worked out. One Of
the plans under discussion, he said,
is a proposed tunnel under the Ma
tional Geological Park coming out
near Pierce Mill. This tunnel is
projected as nonstop highway to
speed traffic through the valley.
Air photos show how much damags
may be done to the park and tbs
terrain if various routes under study
for improved highways are carried
out.
I'm Rock Greek Park" Mr.. Spell
man said, I'VE find combination Of
rugged terrain, water courses, play
ing fields, wooded areas and traffic
arteries The selection of highway
line must consider all of these and
in addition must be made in such a
way as to avoid destruction or exten-
sive injury to the natural features
of the terrain, the preservation Of
which is one of the principal pur-
poses in establishing the park"
Many Routes Studied.
Mr.. Spelman declared that large
scale aerial photos of Rock Creek
Park are enabling the engineers
to decide on the best routes for
improved highways. Under study,
he said. are variety OF possible
routes for northern extension OF
the present improved road system
ending in Massachusetts, avenue.
mo final determination has yet
been made as to the desirable loca-
ton and a considerable further
study of the whole problem is ex-
pected," Mr.. Spelman said.
The division engineer showed the
delegates aerial photographs of the
Alexandria water front with an
loverhead viaduct projected to re-
lieve traffic congestion or the
Mount Vernon Memorial highway
over Washington street in that city.
! Mr.. Spelman made it clear that
the viaduct project has never been
undertaken and may never be" but
the preliminary studies are avail
able in case it is needed. He made
the point that for 500 his Office
was able to obtain set of air pho
tos for several alternative routes to
the Mount Vernon highway.
Air Photos Save Money.
The same information secured
from the air photos, he declared.
would require the work of several
men for several months. Air pho
tos enabled the Public Roads Ad-
ministration to save money in the
construction of the new Baltimore
Washington highway, Mr.. Spelman
said. He cited the point that the
original location would have cut
in two the projected landing strip
of privately owned landing strip
near Greenbelt, Md. The alternate
route cut off only a piece Of
one end of the airport and con-
siderable sum was saved in land
damages as a result, he added.
Photographic film as thin as the
cellophane around pack Of ciga-
rettes and a plane that will carry a
240-inch aerial camera for work in
the substratosphere are among to-
morrow's scientific developments.
Col. George w. Goddard, chief Of
Photographic research for the Air
Force at Wright Field, Dayton. Ohio,
described these prospects to the
society yesterday afternoon.
Describes New Camera.
Col. Goddard told of the develop.
ment of a new type of camera, with
film in the roof of plane. The film
can be fed automatically into the
camera, he said. To meet the
demand for long-range, large-scale
scouting, the Air Force now has a
96-inch camera which cost $760,000
to develop. But he envisioned a
240-inch camera working 10000 feet
high.
Because Of radar detection, Col.
Goddard predicted photo planes
would either have to fly over enemy
territory at very low levels or stay
above 10000 feet.
He showed the audience photo
graph of a sergeant on a runway,
holding a deck of cards, clearly
visible, taken from a jet plane
travelling 500 miles an hour at a
150-foot altitude. Even the threads
on the soldiers cap were visible.
n