Evening star., 1954-11-11
Arts Group
Opposes Span,
Urges Tunnel
Commission to Try
To Get Congress
To Change Plan
By George Beyeridee.

The Federal Commission OF
Fine Arts has served official
notice 1t will try to get Congress
to substitute q tunnel for the
new Potomac River bridge au-
thorized for construction near
the Lincoln Memorial.
The commission position. voted
yesterday. was expected. It re-
f1ected views frequently voiced
by Fine Arts members ever since
Congress authorized the new
bridge. to cross the river about
1900 feet north of Arlington
Memorial Bridge.
The members did not suggest
a way of paying for the tunnel.
estimated to cost about three
times more than the $24.5 mil
lion bridge. Individually. mem
bers have said previously they
thought the Federal Government
should pick up the tab.
In a statement following its
closed-door meeting. the COM
mission said its reason for OPP
posing the bridge is that 1t would
seriously impair the beauty Of
the carefully. planned Lincoln
Memorial area.
Appeals Expected.
Members declined to be ques-
toned by reporters, but their
courses of action appeared to be
clear:
/. Direct appeals to Congress
to kill the bridge, probably
backed up by some conservation.
planning and other groups
throughout the country.
2. Appeals to administration
leaders-especially Interior Sec
retary Mckay, who presumably
will be given the right OF ap-
proval over the bridge plans.
Conrad wirth, chief of the
National Park Service, which is
part of Interior, has made it
plain his first choice also is a
tunnel. But, along with District
and Federal planning, public
buildings and public roads OFF,
cials, he last week indorSed plans
for the new bridge if the tunnel
is not feasible.
President Eisenhower. In sign
ing the bridge bill, said Mr..
Mckay should have a direct
voice in the plans because they
involve monumental Federal
lands under his control. AS q
result. Interior has sent the
White House a proposal to give
/ Mr.. Mckay powers Of approval.
Plan May Go to Capitol.
The proposal, it was learned
today, suggests that the Presi-
dent ask Congress to sanction
extension of the power to Mr..
Mckay by sending q reorganiza.
ton plan to Capitol Hill. Under
the Reorganization Act. such a
plan would become law unless
Congress specifically rejected 1t
within go days.
The Fine Arts Commission, In
asking Congress to reconsider the
approved bridge, said it fully
appreciates" District officials
efforts to meet increasing traffic
demands for Potomac River
crossings. But it added:
"Such considerations, however.
should not be allowed to mar the
beauty of the city, particularly
in an important area such as that
surrounding the Lincoln Me-
mortal at the termination Of the
Mall with the view of Arlington
National Cemetery across the
river.
IF no other site is available
for q bridge without sacrificing
the beauty Of this area, an ad-
ditional thoroughfare between
the Virginia suburbs and the
center of Washington should be
provided by means Of a tunnel
under the river.
"Such a tunnel would be costly,
but the cost would not be COM
parable to the loss we would
sustain If the projected bridge
is built as now authorized. Nor
would this cost be incommen-
surate with the resources Of this
Nation or the dignity and beauty
Of its capital city.
No Other Site Suggested.
''The landscape setting Of the
Lincoln Memorials unique COL
laboration of nature. art and
history-belongs not only to the
city Of Washington but to the
American people. It also belongs
to the coming generations for
whom we Of our generation are
The Fine Arts group, calling
for the tunnel eff no other
(bridge) site is available" did
not suggest any alternate site for
an above-water crossing.
Previously, however. commits
sion members have told reporters
they thought a bridge might be
built over the northern end Of
Roosevelt Memorial Island II a
tunnel is not found to be feasible.
Although they disapproFe Of any
bridge. the members had said
they preferred a crossing of the
controversial island rather than
the downriyer location Congress
approved.