Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-12
Seaton Stresses
Right 10 Okay
Bridge Plans
Further DeIoy Seen
On Structure for
Constitution Ave.
BY GEORGE BEvERIDGE
star star writer

star stan Writer
Secretary Of Interior seaton
has asked the District Commits
sioners to submit TO him for
approval all plans for. the new
Constitution avenue bridge. |
which affect park areas. before
bridge construction begins.
The request raises possible |
ties Of q further delay in bridge |
construction. In view Of the In
terror Departments strenuous
opposition to the bridge in the
past.
The Commissioners have an
nounced that they were push
ing full-speed ahead on the
bridge project. under approval
Of q 1854 act Of Congress.
Mr.. Seaton said yesterday his
request was made under the
authority of a statement issued
by President Eisenhower. when
the President signed the bridge |
act In 1854. The Presidents
statement said that in order tol
insure protection Of Federal
park areas in the monumental
Lincoln Memorial area. the |
Secretary of Interior should |
be authorized to approve all
plans for the bridge and for
approach roads and inter-
changes at both ends Of the
bridge since park structures
and land are involved"
The Interior Secretary said
he made the request q few days
ago by letter to the Commits
sioners and verbally to Commits
sioners Robert E. Mclaughlin
and A. c. yelling.
Hopes 70 Meet This Week
The Secretary said he hoped
to arrange q meeting this week
with Col. yelling. the Engineer
Commissioner. TO 90 over the |
plans and agree on procedures |
to be followed.
During each Of the last two
years. the Nationil Park Service
"a part Of Interior-has |
strongly pushed moves on Cap
itol Hill to block the bridge. |
and instead has urged that q
tunnel be built.
Asked II any such move would
be made again this year. Mr.. |
Seaton said. Il have not any /
such intention" /
Asked If he thought he would
be able to approve the plans
so the bridge could get built.
Mr.. Seaton said:
Il certainly would hope 50. /
am entirely convinced that
we need more ways and means
Of getting across that river. No
one needs to convince me Of
that.
But whether ] can approve
the plans. can't say until I
see what they are. have never
seen them at all"
Mr.. Seaton said the Presi-
dents 1854 statement had
placed on his shoulders "A
heavy responsibility have to
certify that whatever is done
there will not be inimical to
the interests Of the Lincoln
Memorial"
Col. yelling, asked IL he in
tended to meet with Mr.. Seaton
this week. said he was Inter
ested in working with anyone
who has a legitimate interest
in the various phases Of the
bridge-provided the CONVERSE
tons are in the direction Of
progress rather than in the di-
rections Of impediments and
delays"
yelling Stands Pat
I'm this particular instance"
Col. yelling said, Il am not
interested in a tunnel or in q
four-lane bridge. From q con-
siderable position Of strength.
I am opposing efforts to amend
the existing legislation. either
in favor Of a tunnel or to choose
q new location for the bridge"
It was understood that the
District decided to move ahead
with immediate construction Of
the six-lane bridge with con-
curTence Of the White House,
as well as key members Of
Congress.
It was reported by one source
that Sherman Adams, Assistant
TO the President, recently wrote
to q civic organization that
since the decision has been
made to build the bridge. 81
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