PARKWAY HEARINGS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA UNITED STATES SENATE SEVENTY-FIRST CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON H. R. 26 AN ACT FOR THE ACQUISITION, ESTABLISHMENT, AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL PARKWAY, AND FOR ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN LANDS IN THE DISTRICT OF MARCH 13 AND 21, 1930 Printed for the use of the Committee on the District of Columbia COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ARTHUR CAPPER, Kansas, Chairman WESLEY L. JONES, Washington. WILLIAM H. KING, Utah. W. H. LONDENS, Clerk JAMES RING, Assistant Clerk GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL PARKWAY THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 1930 UNITED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Washington, D. C. The committee met pursuant to call of the chairman, at 8 o'clock p. m., in the hearing room of the Committee on Printing, Capitol. Senator Arthur Capper, chairman, presiding. Present: Senators Capper, Kean, Robsion, Glass, Copeland, Tydings, and Blease. (The committee had under consideration H. R. 26, which is here printed, as follows:) [H. R. 2, Seventy-first Congress, second session) AN ACT For the acquisition, establishment, and development of the George Washington Memorial Parkway along the Potomac from Mount Vernon and Fort Washington to the Great Falls, and to provide for the acquisition of lands in the District of Columbia and the States of Maryland and Virginia requisite to the comprehensive park, parkway, and playground system of the National Capital Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby authorized to be appropriated the sum of $7,000,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for acquiring and developing, except as in this section otherwise provided, in accordance with the provisions of the act of June 6, 1924, entitled "An act providing for a comprehensive development of the park and playground system of the National Capital, as amended, such lands in the States of Maryland and Virginia as are necessary and desirable for the park and parkway system of the National Capital in the environs of Washington. Such funds shall be appropriated as required for the expeditious, economical, and efficient development and completion of the following projects: (a) The George Washington Memorial Parkway, to include the shores of the Potomac, and adjacent lands, from Mount Vernon to a point above the Great Falls on the Virginia side, except within the city of Alexandria, and from Fort Washington to a similar point above the Great Falls on the Maryland side, except within the District of Columbia, and including the protection and preservation of the natural scenery of the gorge and the Great Falls of the Potomac, and the acquisition of that portion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal within the limits of said parkway: Provided, That the acquisition of any land in the Potomac River valley for park purposes shall not debar or limit, or abridge its use for such works as Congress may in the future authorize for the improvement and the extension of navigation, including the connecting of the upper Potomac River with the Ohio River, or for flood control or irrigation or drainage, or for the development of hydroelectric power: Provided further, That in acquiring title to any lands under the terms of this act, the title acquired by donation or otherwise shall be unconditional, indefeasible, and in fee simple. The title to the lands acquired hereunder shall vest in the United States, and said lands, including the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway authorized by the act approved May 23, 1928, upon its completion, shall be maintained and administered by the Director of Public Buildings and Public Parks of the National Capital, who shall exercise all the authority, powers, and duties with respect to lands acquired under this section as are conferred upon him within the District of Columbia by the act approved February 26, 1925; and said director is authorized to incur such expenses as may be necessary for the proper administration and maintenance of said lands within the limits of the appropriations from time to time granted therefor from the Treasury of the |