Evening star., 1961-09-18
CityHeodsG Get
Protests Over
Works Plans
BY CHARLES ID. PIERCE
Star Staff Writer

BY CHARLES ID. PIERCE
Star Staff Writer
A warning that Washington
may become "a petrified forest
of concrete" instead of a capi-
tai of tree-lined streets was
sounded today at a public
hearing held by the District
Commissioners.
This gloomy prediction was
made by Mrs. Samuel Bigio,
one of several witnesses who
registered vigorous opposition
at the hearing on the Districts
$576, ,733,800 six year public
works program.
Mrs. Bigio, a spokesman for
the North Washington Council
of Citizens Associations, and
other witnesses protested any
further widening of residential
streets until a rapid transit
system has been provided.
Mrs. Bigio said highway de-
partment planners contend
that all trees cut down in the
process of widening a street
will be replaced.
Notes Time Gap
However, she continued,
they do not tell us that they
are cutting down tall, old trees,
which are a necessity in this
tropical climate providing shade
as we'll as beauty and dignity,
and are replacing them with
little saplings which will take
80 or more years to reach
majority, while we, in the
meantime, look at ugly barren
viStas."
Peter Glickert, chairman of
the city planning committee of
Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations, told the Commission
ers that the Associations are
opposed to ANY further widen
ing of residential streets until
the freeway system is COM
pleted."
1--WE are aware that the con-
tractsfor street widening prof.
ects include provisions for re-
placement Of trees" he said.
yet when we see the desola-
ton that once was New York
avenue Or Rhode Island avenue,
we realize that generations will
pass before these thoroughfares
are reforested, perhaps genera
tions even before trees are
planted which are viable and
can withstand the greatly in
creased fume- load"
Delay Requested
Mrs. Margaret Fischer, vice
president of the Mount Pleas
ant Citizens Association, said
she felt the District Govern
ment should hold up on WIDEN
ing of residential streets and
cutting of the trees that line
them until a rapid transit sys-
tenn is provided.
Mrs. Fischer also urged the
Commissioners to make a care
full study to determine if the
costs of the Districts welfare
program can be reduced.
Mrs. Richard C. Simonson,
president of the League of
Women Voters of the District
of Columbia, told the Commits
sioners the league is happy to
find that provision has been
made in the siX-year public
works program for construc-
ton o ia new building for the
Teachers College.
She added that the League
also supports other proposed
school projects in the program
"as minimum for providing
adequate school facilities"
Mrs. Simonson also said that
the league indorses the item in
the plan pertaining to separa-
ton of combined sewers as IAN
important step in the direction
of reducing pollution of the
Potomac River"
Backs Health Center
Frank Mckinney, vice presi-
dent of the board of the North
west Settlement House, SIS M
street NV, also emphasized
the Importance of building a
proposed health center at Fifth
street and Florida avenue NV.
He cited statistics to show
that disease rates in this area
are higher than the average
rates in other sections of the
city.
Homer Gable. president Of
the Naylor Good Hope Citizens
Association, urged support for
a number of school projects
included in the proposed public
works program.
However, he said, his asso-
citation is opposed to the pro-
posed construction of new
teachers college at Thirteenth
and Upshur streets NV.
Urges Different Sites
Instead, he said, his associa-
ton favors a bill providing for
a new District of Columbia
College at the site of the pres
ent National Training School
for Boys. The teachers college
would be part of this proposed
college.
Philip Scwartz, vice chair
man of the Washington Chap
ter of Americans for Demo-
cratic Action. urged stepping
up the schedule for additional
school construction here.
If the building program is
carried out as proposed by the
board of education" he said,
"in 1867 there will still be 5000
more children than the ele-
mentary schools then scheduled