Evening star., 1949-06-25
Burroge Would Extend Memorial Parkway
From Great Falls to Monococy River
Maryland PIonner
In One-Mun Drive
To Develop Area
By J. B. Zotmon

| VI1ldm ~. oNIIdkcs pidIillulk
engineer for the Maryland Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission. has launched q one
man campaign to extend the
protected George Washington Me-
mortal parkway along the Mary
land side of the Potomac River
from Great Falls to the mouth of
the Monocacy River.
II accomplished, such an extern
sion would be of inestimable value
in opening to development the en-
tire northwestern area Of Mont
gomery County fronting along the
Potomac River.
1t also would provide easy access
to scenic beauty which, according
to Mr.. Burrage. is duplicated In
only one or two other sections of
the entire country.
Sees Roadbed Available.
Almost all Of the roadbed for
such a project already Is avail
able in the Chesapeake & Ohio
Canal, which is owned by the Gov
ernment. Mr.. Burrage claims. And
the present aqueducts along the
canal could be used to carry the
parkway across streams and rivers
in some cases.
He emissions the establishment
OF major recreation areas at Sene-
ca. where the Seneca River emp
ties into the Potomac, and at the
junction of the Monocacy and
Potomac Rivers.
The entire area along the park
way route Is stepped In history, the
planning engineer points out. For
centuries. it served as the gateway
to the west and markers could be
set up to designate the sites Of old
Indian and American settlements.
he explains.
According to r. 8. Jett, historian
for the National Capital Parks,
the 512-foot aqueduct over the
Monocacy River where 1t joins the
Potomac Is one Of the largest of
its kind in the country. It is
about S miles from the scene of
the Battle of the Monocacy, fought
on July 8, 1864.
1t was there, that Gen. Lew
Wallace. commanding the Union
forces. fought a delaying action
to enable the shifting of more
troops to Washington where the
Battle of Fort Stevens took place
two days later.
Road to Battlefield.
Mr.. Burrage's idea encompasses
the building of a branch road
from the parkway to pass through
the Monocacy Battlefield.
He contends his projects would
not conflict with q proposal to
build 180-mile parkway between
Washington and Cumberland,
Md, along the c. g. O. Canal.
The National Capital Parks now
is conducting preliminary studies
Of the route under terms of a bill
sponsored by Representative Beall,
Republican of Maryland.
Mr.. Burrage claims his project
would constitute the first unit of
such a road and he plans to seek
Federal and State aid to carry 1t
through.
Supt. Irving c. Root of National
Capital Parks has agreed with MIR.
Burrage that the parkway extern
sion would be good idea" But
he emphasized that his agency
could take no official stand since
it is preparing a report and recon-
mendations on whether the canal |
is suitable for a parkway from |
the District to Cumberland. He
added. however, that he would be
glad" to cooperate with Mr.. |
Burrage.
Both he and Mr.. Burrage de-
clined to give any estimate of the |
cost involved in extending the
parkway to the Monocacy River,
adding that it depends on how
much additional rights of way
must be acquired.