Evening star., 1952-09-07
Maryland Decide Soon On Parkway on O. Canal Route

A. The plan calls for Is en-
frances to the parkway. Additional
connections would be arranged
with State park or recreational
areas yet to be established.
@. Won't the land Maryland has
to buy cost a lot more than the
50 million estimated by the park
service? Won't it actually cost
nearer IS million? What about
sporting clubs whose land and i'm.
provements might be involved?
A. Little improved, industrial or
farmland is involved. Under all
ready existing legislation. WASH
ington's Capper- -Cramton Act. the
Federal Government can put up
so per cent Of the purchase price
of added right-of-way as far az
Point of Rocks. The 81 million is,
not a precise figure.
Stands on Cost Estimate.
@. Won't the parkway cost
nearer $50 million or more, rather
than SIT million?
! A. The grading is already there.
Existing aqueducts and culverts
can be repaired and used, avoid
ing the high cost of new steel and
concrete bridge work. Less than
half-a-mile of the canal earth
works has been destroyed by
floods. All that's needed Is some
fill to raise the road slightly in
some places. The park service
stands pat on the Bureau Of Pub
lie Roads SIT million construction
estimate. ....
@. What about traffic control
and service and comfort stations?
A. Traffic would be controlled
by Federal regulations in conform
ity with State traffic regulations.
The park service would provide
service and comfort stations. SOU
= venir shops. eating places, ETC.. on
competitive bid concession basis.
@. What about sanitation?
A. Public Health Service regu-
lations would be in force except
|, that if any State regulation Is
E more stringent, the State regula-
ton would be enforced, instead.
@. What assurance will the
Federal Government give that
wildlife habitat will be preserved?
. A. One of the main aims Of the
Interior Department is the preSer.
vation of natural resources. in
I Guiding wildlife and its habitat.
Every effort would be made to
f preserve it in the case Of the
' parkway. State licenses and regu-
E lations would control fishing.
{ Hunting on the ight-of-way
would be prohibited, but armed
e hunters would be free to come
4 and 60 across the parkway. A
r survey of duck shooting blind los
t cations showed none close enough
to the proposed right-of-way to
require relocation.
Wouldn't Destroy wilderness.
@. Won't a roadway generally
= spoil large areas of wilderness now
: existing along the canal right-of-
: way? -s. .ar
A. The wilderness areas, al.
= though first class, are not as ex-
tensive as might be supposed. For
= 81 of the 1853 miles between Great
. Falls and Cumberland the canal
is flanked by railroad. Over
J, other stretches farmlands and
" local roads lie close to the right
!, of-way. The parkway, in the
= opinion of the park services, would
~ not destroy wilderness values.
. merely make them available to
. more people.
!. !, @. Would the public be charged
= for using the parkway? "
A. No.
@. Would the proposal prevent
= State restoration of historic sites?
A. No. The park service would
cooperate fully in aiding such
= restoration and help provide
access to such sites.
@. What about flood damage
to the road?
A. Flood records show that at
normal flood stages the road
: would remain above high water.
= Extraordinary floods would affect
: only eight miles Of the proposed
+ roadway. These occur only every
j five to 10 years.
. @. What are the Federal GOV.
, ernment's alternative plans for
r the canal, if. any?
A. There has been only one.
, a proposal by the Army's Corps
, of Engineers to construct a series
of flood control and power dams
throughout the watershed, there,
| by flooding substantial land areas.
(Note-This proposal was strenu-
ously opposed by the Interior De-
partment. which played d lead
: ing role in defeating 1t in 19440
y Other Reasons Indicated.
These answers. however. do not
5 satisfy many Marylanders. There
! are several factors which lead
to the inescapable impression
t that there are only deeper rea-
e sons for opposition.
! First, there is instructive fear
, Of compromising State sovereign
| ty in some unforeseeable way.
{ Second, there is the traditional
: tendency Of Baltimore to regard
: with suspicion new and better
ways of diverting travel and COM
merce toward the Federal City.
r Baltimore was fan unrelenting foe
{ Of the original canal and the
] principal booster for the railroad
r that sounded its death knen.
To this day, Maryland roads lead
ing to Washington are inferior to
those leading to Baltimore. I'm