Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-08-08
Hearings Begin
On New Gate
4 Witnesses Approve
Proposal to Create q
'PurkIike' Entrance
By Harold B. Rogers

A Senate subcommittee today
began consideration of legislation
to create a park like" entrance
to Georgetown at Pennsylvania
avenue and TWenty-eighth street
NV.
The subcommittee of the Senate
Public Works Committee headed
by Senator Kerr, Democrat, of
Oklahoma, first visited the site
and later heard extensive testi-
mony from representative of
Federal. District and private
agencies approving the pending
bill.
The proposal, which would au-
thorize exchange of two pieces of
property between the Federal
Government and the American
Oil Co., ran into a series of criti-
cal questions by Senator Case, Re-
publican, of South Dakota.
The hearing still was underway
early this afternoon, but the sub
committee. Senator Kerr indi-
Gated, may take action on the bill
soon.
The plan would provide for the
oil company to turn over to the
National Park Service a plot of
ground at the intersection of
Pennsylvania avenue. Twenty
eight and M streets, part of which
is now occupied by an old church
used by the Boys Cluo of Wash
ington. A contract has been
agreed to. testimony showed, for
the sale of the Boys Clue build
ing to the oil company.
To Get Adjacent Ground.
The Federal Government would
give to the Oil company some
ground adjacent to the present
filling station, but closer to Rock
Greek and Potomac parkway.
First witnesses approved the
measure rs advantageous to the
Government. They included John
A. Nolen il. of the National Capt.
tai Park and Planning Commits
sion; Harry 7. Thompson. associ-
ate superintendent of National
Capital Parks. Interior Depart
ment, and Henry G. Ashton, fol
the District Board of Zoning Ad-
Ijustmenus.
]. R. Whitley, engineer for the
American Oil Co, testified to that
.company's approval of the bill
Witnesses preparing to testify
for the measure included Oliver
Gasch, counsel for the Boys Clut
and spokesman for the George
town Citizens Association and the
Georgetown Progressive Citizens
Association.
Senator Case raised several
questions about the relative
amount of property to be ex-
changed, their values, and wheth-
er, if the plan went through, the
oil company would benefit by hav-
ing an improved facility at a
heavily travelled intersection, with
a front and back yard embellished
by parks maintained by the Gov
eminent.
Senator Kerr indicated by ques-
tons and explanation of the bill
that he may favor the project. but
he did not definitely commit him.
self during the early part of the
hearing.
Senator Martin, Republican. oil
Pennsylvania was among commit
tee members who visited the site
along with the witnesses from al
agencies interested.
Oil Firm to Cooperate.
| During the informal discussion
at the site Mr.. Whitley, who will
be in charge of the new oil sta
ton building on the site trans.
Iferred by the Government to his
firm. said he would cooperate
fully with whatever Fedora
agency has jurisdiction and plar
a building to NEE federal ap.
proval.
Mr.. Thompson told the subcom-
mittee that his office would sug-
gest structure in line with the
Colonial and Georgian type OF
architecture traditional in Ole
Georgetown.
To assure conformity to the
Federal plan, Mr.. Thompson pro.
posed amending the bill to give the
Fine Arts Commission full power
to approve or veto building plans
instead of what he said was the
Fine Arts Commissions present
advisory jurisdiction.
The oil company, he said, woulc
raze the old Boys Club building
and prepare a site for planting
grass, shrubs and trees.
Under the agreement already ir
contract form, the oil company
would pay the Boys Club 62,5Ot
for its property. including the
ground and the old church build
ing which has been used by the
club for years.
The club has new site now ir
Operation. including a building anc
athletic fields near Wisconsin ave.
nue. and S street NV.
Chamber Picnic Today