Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-22
Wirth Protests,
ArchboId Suit
Seen Possible
By JAMES G. DEANE
star stan Writer

Wesley Heights and other resi-
dental areas. the projected ex-
pressway would link upper
Wisconsin and Massachusetts,
avenues with Canal road west
of Key Bridge 1t also would
tie in with the controversial
U. S.-Maryland Route 240.
The total cost has been esti-
mated at SIS million, including
connecting interchanges.
Court Action Possible
The Senate committee action
brought immediate protests
from freeway opponents, who
said they felt the legislators
were inadequately informed.
1t raised the possibility of
court action and brought criti-
cism from park officials.
Conrad L. Wirth. director Of
the National Park Service, said
it would destroy the value Of
the park" There were indica.
tons the plan will be strongly
opposed by the Glover and
Archbold families. who gave
most of the land to the Gov
eminent for park purposes in
1923 and 1924.
A subcommittee headed by
Senator Pastore, Democrat of
Rhode Island, said IAN extraor-
binary amount" of testimony
and letters has been recorded
against the project. The unit
asked Brig. Gen. Alvin C. Well
ing, District Engineer Commits
sioner, to consider q possible
alternative, but he reported
there was mo sensible one"
the Senate report said.
Bridge Not Considered
The Senators did not explore
a newly recommended plan,
soon to go to Congress. for link
ing Wisconsin avenue and
downtown Washington over a
high-level Rock Greek Park
bridge, a committee member
said. Planners two weeks ago.
in approving the cross-park
idea. said it was far better for
meeting Wisconsin avenue con.
gestion than the Glover-Arch-
bold plan.
Gen. yelling is opposing the
cross-Rock Creek plan.
Mrs. Anne Archbold, donor
Of part Of the Glover-Archbold
Park, limited through an at
torney at possible legal action
against the freeway plan at a
March hearing before the
Pastore group. A similar threat
helped kill a freeway proposal
for the park a year ago.
Breach Of Trust" Seen
The Archbold attorney, Hugh
H. Obear, said the freeway
would be a breach Of trust" by
the Government. Congress
formally accepted the park gift
OF Mrs. Archbold and the late
Charles C. Glover, Washington
banker and civic leader, for
park purposes exclusively, he
told the Senate group.
Mr.. Obear warned that II
the Government insisted on the
highway it could be forced to
reconvey the land to the donors
and compensate them for its
condemnation. The donated
land totals some ITO acres.
The Senate subcommittee
said It's decision was particu-
larly difficult in view of the
deep interest of the citizens in
preserving the area in its ma
tural state
However" its report de-
clared, recognition of the
careful work of the Depart
ment of Highways under the
direction of the Engineer Com
missioner in planning these
construction projects so as to
bring to the District the best
answer to its difficult traf1io
problems makes it clear that
no solution other than Glover
Archbold parkway is feasible"
1913 Accord Cited
The appropriations unit re-
lied partly on a 1913 agreement
between the city and the Ma
tional Park Service. This
agreement. cited by city ON
Gals, provided for a four-lane
parkway to be built partly in
a 1O0-foot street right-of-way
owned by the District since
1893 along the edge Of the az.
mile-long park.
The Pastore report quoted
Gen. yelling as labelling the
proposed roadway essential"
not only as q traffic artery but
also to provide access to the
park for recreational use.
Mr.. With said he was
"dumbfounded" by this state
ment, He said he had not been
a party to any agreement for
such a parkway. ~
Il think any kind Of road
down there is about impossible
If you're going to preserve any
kind of park" the park chief
declared. He added he in
tended to review the entire
question.
The park Official also stated
willingness of the park service
to permit the newly proposed
cross-Rock Greek route for q
highway. Backers have called
this far superior to the Glover
Archbold plan partly because