Evening star., 1955-07-09
BY GEORGE BEvERIDGE

~ @S~AA< ANNN v AS&SA@~ ~AA
District and Federal officials
have agreed to work out a speedy
request to Congress for permis-
sion to build Washington's new
Potomac River bridge over the
lower portion of Roosevelt Me-
|morial Island.
The way for such a move was
cleared yesterday. when the
Theodore Roosevelt Association
waived its long objection to a
crossing of the islands lower tip.
The association took the step
reluctantly and noted it would
force drastic changes in plans
for the islands development as
Ia wilderness memorial. But 1t
concluded that the modification
was justified by reducing esthetic
damage the bridge would do ii.
tits presently authorized location
between the island and Arling-
ton Memorial Bridge.
Plan to Be Submitted
Immediately after the associa-
tion made its position known,
Federal park, Fine Arts Commits
sion and District officials met,
and agreed:
/. That the park officials will
submit to the District Commits
Isioners Monday a draft of pro-
posed legislation that would per-
NIT the span to cross the island
2. That a committee of Dis
trict highway, park and Ma
|tional Capital Planning Com
mission technicians get together
Monday to try to work out a
practical location design for the
new span.
Senator Case. Republican Of
South Dakota, has said he would
be willing to introduce such a
bill and that he hoped there
would be time for it to clear
Congress before adjournment.
Problems Indicated
Yesterdays discussion made
plain that there will be consid-
Ierable technical problems in
volved in the new location.
But a more serious problem
arose when Federal park officials
proposed that the new legisla-
tion give Interior Secretary Nc
Kay flat powers to approve all
features of the span, which would
be built by the District with
city funds.
Brig. Gen. Thomas A. Lane
District Engineer Commissioner
proposed that Congress be asked
simply to permit the new loca.
tion across the islands southern
tip, provided one can be worked
out.
However, Conrad L. Wirth
National Park Service director
Icontended the Interior Depart
|ment should have q voice in the
design of the bridge, which would
make extensive connections on
Federal park land.
Mr.. Wirth noted that Presi-
dent Eisenhower had said the
Interior Secretary should have
powers to safeguard the Federal
land involved when the President
signed the original bridge-au.
thorization bill last year.
He urged that the present legi-
islation leaves "no check what.
soever" on the District by any
Federal agency and said thai
has never been done in the his.
tory Of the development Of the
lefty Of Washington"
Approval Necessary
In giving its permission fol
the bridge to cross the lower tir
Of Roosevelt Island. however, thu
Roosevelt Association did i'm.
pose a condition yesterday thai
the Fine Arts Commission mus
approve final plans.
When it became obvious that
no decision would be reached
yesterday, Commissioner Samuel
Spencer asked Mr.. Wirth to have
a draft of a bill sent to the city
heads on Monday. He indicated
a fast reaction to 1t would come
from the District Building.
Mr.. Wirth said he hopes a
proposal, agreeable to all, will
be in form for discussion with
Capitol Hill leaders by Tuesday
City highway engineers, an
ticipating yesterdays meeting
submitted O plan to the group
It showed q bridge about $50
feet upriver from the presently