Evening star., 1950-12-14
Phone eContact
Assured Under
Dispersal Plan
Network of Lines .
Described by GSA
Official at Hearing
By Francis P. Douglas


Maintenance of communications
between Washington and the
rest of the country in the event
Of the bombing of the Capital
would be assured under the Gov
ernment'S dispersal plan, Senate
subcommittee was told today.
Underground telephone and
teletype lines, the committee was
informed, not only would inter-
connect Washington and build
lngs at outlying sites in Maryland
and Virginia, but also would link
up the Nations communications
through other cities.
While the Holland subcommit-
tee of the Senate Public Works
Committee was holding a hearing
on the $3.50 million dispersal plan
today, the House Public Works
Committee voted to continue con-
slderation of the plan and to ask
for more information.
Executive Session Held.
The House Committee, which
held a hearing last Friday, met in
executive session today. 1t was
said afterward that since last Fri
days public hearing it had re-
ceived information that dispersal
distance of 10 miles rather than
20 miles from downtown WASH
ington would give adequate safety.
1t was said also that other plans
for protection against atomic bomb
attack had been suggested by
members.
Later today, representatives of
planning commissions in the
Washington area were to be heard
by the Senate committee. Chair
man Holland of the subcommittee
received telegram from the Re-
glonal Development Council of
America asking to be heard. He
said it would be given an oppor-
tunity.
Halfway Measures"
The telegram from New York
said the present dispersal pro-
posals are admirable but are only
halfway measures. It added that
no decentralization should be at
tempted without providing both
housing and working space.
The telegram was signed by
Clarence S. Stein. president, and
among others, Lewis Mumford,
widely known authority on plan
ming and architecture.
The testimony on the COM
munication lines. which would be
placed underground. was given by
w. E. Reynolds, public buildings
commissioner in the General Serv-
ices Administration. Mr.. Reynolds
said the cost has been estimated
at $6.2 million. He said also that
SAL million would be required for
highway work in connection with
the buildings on the eight sites.
Original Figure Higher.
Mr.. Reynolds said that the
Public Roads Administration
originally put the highway figure
at $64 million. Thomas H. Mac
Donald, public roads commits
sioner. said the $64 million figure
was tentative and not based on
precise knowledge where the sites
would be.
He testified that the figure was
reduced to SAL million by Mr.>
Reynolds and not by the public
roads bureau.
Mr.. Macdonald said that, in his
agency's estimates, it was figured
that go miles of new roads would
have to be built and 10 miles of
roads modernized. He
said he believed that $64 million
total could be reduced if more
use could be made of the highway
arteries leading out of Washing
ton. He cited as examples that
one or two sites could be reached
by the Shirley and Suitland high
ways. that one site might be on
the Baltimore Washington park
way without the necessity of an
access road and that it might be
feasible to place as many as three
on relocated Highway 240 with
only short access roads.
Mr.. Reynolds testified yester-
day that the present temporary
buildings in Washington are vir-
tual f1retraps, and that he does
not think "a single life would
remain in event of an atomic bomb
attack
1t has been stressed in testi.
mony. however, that Government
employees would have to take their
chances with others and that the
dispersal programs primary pur-
pose is to keep necessary agencies
functioning.
Would Raze Tempos.
Under the plan, the temporary
buildings, where 5000 persons now
work, would be razed. Eight new
permanent buildings in the out
lying areas would provide for
10000 workers, and ultimately
10000 more could be provided for
in temporary buildings on the
outlying sites.
The building plan is also GSA's
answer to the problem of finding
space for expanding defense
agencies. GSA Administrator Jess
Larson said there are now 10000
employees in the Capital area, exc
elusive of such military installa-
tions as the Naval Gun Factory
and the Army Map Service plant.
Sees Higher Space Demand.
There have been requests for
space for 10000 more workers, he
said. and the expansion sis going
to be much more rapid after FRI
Lo1y -