Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-04
Critical Report
0nRoads Plan
Backed in Part
Committee of 100
BuIks at Attacks
On Some Projects
By George Beveridge

Struction program fails to pro-
vide adequate long-fange cures
for Washington traffic ills has
been registered by the Commit
tee of 100 on the Federal City.
At the same time, however,
the. group of civic and CITY,
planning leaders refused to go
along with an indictment of
certain specific projects in the
$124 million program.
Up for action by the commit
tee yesterday was a strongly
worded 21-page subcommittee
report on the program, drawn
up by Tracy B. Augur, Maj.
Gen. u. S. Grant III, John Ihlder
and Horace PeaSlee.
First Portion Approved.
In its first portion, the report
complained that the Districts
program primarily is a series of
short-range, stop-gap proposals
to solve immediate traffic prob
lens. Instead, it said, highway
planning should start with a
concept Of what the city's needs
will be 20 or 80 years from now.
The report said the primary
need is for a network of high
speed expressways, supplemented
by ring roads" for traffic cir
cumVenting the city.
The full committee approved
this portion of it's sub-group'S
report.
However, it sent the other IL
pages back to its subcommittee
with instructions to: Cd Try to
reconcile specific differences
with District Highway Depart
ment officials and ca redraft
the remainder of the report in a
way that it will be- more in line
with the approved general prin-
cipleS.
John A. Remon, vice chair
man of the National Capital
Planning Commission, fought
losing battle to withhold general
support of the reports prin-
ciples. While he proposed
efforts to reconcile differences
with District officials, he said he
wanted to see a more concise,
written statement of principles"
before voting on them.
Lee Partly Critical.
Blair Lee III, executive officer
of the NCPC, said he agreed
with the reports general criti-
ciSm as to aims of the programs.
But in it's handling Of specific
projects, he declared, the report
suffers to slight extent from
SchiEophrenia."
Among projects criticized by
the subcommittee were the pro-
posed E street bridge, a Rock
Greek Parkway which would
connect with Maryland high
ways, and an express road
through the Glover-Archbold
Parkway.
Mr.. Lee said the report, with
its emphasis on radial highways,
should recognize need for a
new central area" Potomac
River bridge to connect with Vir-
ginia's Arlington boulevard. If
not at E street, he said, such
a bridge should be elsewhere to
serve Washington'S downtown
area.
Mr.. Lee also attacked as too
expensive a subcommittee pro-
posal that North Capitol street.
rather than Rock Creek Park,
might be developed as a new
northbound thoroughfare.
Alternative Use.
1.-THE report, to be consistent
with itself, should say Rock
Creek Parkway might be needed
If alternatives are found i'm
practicable" he declared.
Mr.. Lee pointed out that the
subcommittee based its objec-
tons to the park proposal on
traffic considerations, not on an
encroachment of park land. The
discussion that followed, how
ever. brought out strong objec-
tionS to the basic idea of yield
ing park lands to highway uses.
At one point Gen. Grant said
the committee is a member Of
a national group fighting such
moves. ...
Don't let us be the people to
say the use of Rock Greek Park
is to be given over to be made
into a highway" he declared.
Mr.. Lee argued that a 200-foot
strip through the mile-wide
northwestern part of the park
would not destroy it's value as a
recreation and beauty area. He
added that engineers would route
the parkway around the Zoo.
star Editorial Cited.
Mr.. Remon placed into the
committee record an editorial
from Monday editions of The
Star, which pointed out conflicts
of interest involved in proposals
to use park land for highway
purposes. He added:
"I don't want to see parks
destroyed. But I think we must
give way at times. The greatest
enjoyment I get out of Rock
Greek Park is taking q drive
through the park from my house
to the Interior Building"
In another action. the COM
mittee Endorsed efforts of the
Audubon Society to maintain a
marsh area south of Alexandria
as natural bird, fish and ami
NAL preserve. Mrs. Cazenove
Lee, a member of the society,
explained that the area is owned
by the Smoot Sand & Gravel Co.
and valued because of a sub
surface gravel deposit.
She said the society is at
tempting to bring about a trade
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