The Washington herald., 1910-05-23
Virginia and District.

Editor The Washington Herald;
Having read your extracts OF the letter
from Hon. ". E. Chandler 10 Senator T
s. Martin regarding the retrocession OF
/ Alexandria County. Va. 20 the District
Of Columbia, and being unfavorable 10
this move, I ask leave 20 make a few re-
marks upon the subject
No one who reads history can deny
that Virginia has been liberal TO the
/ United States: but this is not an occasion
for attempting a history OF II. further
than a reference TO the extent OF the
7 colonial domain she gave TO the United
States government the great northwest
/ territory out Of which five great States
were carved, and the sale Of which lands
brought 10 the United States Treasury
large sums. This was not sufficient re-
ducton OF her territory, so the State Of
West Virginia was whitfield OF at the
time Of war between the States.
Virginia had willingly given that Dor
ton Of her territory (now Alexandria
l County. Va 10 form a part OF the Dis
/ trict OF Columbia; but as the United
states government saw fit 70 cede that
portion back 20 Virginia, and as claimed
then and stated now by men OF capacity
and position, II is not and will not be
needed for governmental purposes.
There IS q vast amount OF unslghtlv
property in the present District. along
Pennsylvania avenue and in other con-
sDicuous localities, which If condemned
and improved for governmental purposes
could be made 10 add greatly 10 the
scenic beauty OF the city. and be ample
for any present and future requirements
Of the government
Virginia needs her territory. She has
lost too much already Alexandria County
is destined TO add much 10 her taxable
property and 70 her voting population.
For many reasons Washington needs
a manufacturing and business city near
IL. and there is great advantage on the
Virginia side Of the Potomac FOR build
ing up such a city. Under the District
Of Columbia this would be handicapped
and thwarted by the fact that the idea
is TO reserve the water front. which
should be for shipping, for so-caued
identifying. With such development the
property would, 10 a greater extent and
more permanently. increase in value
business property is always OF more
value than the mere residential-and IN
der the State and local government IL
would more surely develop along
these lines. because business would
be the object In view. The Dis
trict government Is a handicap TO bust
ness and to manufacturing It's faxes
are shown TO be higher than almost all
cities in this country The taxpayers
would have no voice in the government.
and there is no assurance that the taxes
collected from the people OF tire Viz
GINA side would not be spent on the
Washington side OF the Potomac. Mr.
Chandler says Virginia has not. 10 any
great extent improved that side But
what has the United States done to i'm
prove the property it owns in Alexan-
dria County, Va There is an experi-
mental farm, a graveyard. and a cav
airy camp, the latter anything but an
object OF beauty. There has been great
reluctance on the part OF the United
States government IN connecting its
property with proper bridges across the
Potomac, and Virginia certainly came
forward with her share to construct the
new Long Bridge"
This restoration agitation was not
thought Of until the speculative lands
became scarce in the present District and
It became evident that the growth had
turned toward Virginia.
AS the promulgators Of the agitation
are interested In. speculative real estate, |
am INCLINED 10 ask the new ones that
crop up what interests they possess. I'll
sounds very smooth to appeal TO vir- |
ginia with pretty sentiment, but wha,
are the personal business interests Of the
agitators? That is the question / would |
like them to answer.
For conscience sake let Virginia and
Virginians take care Of their own az
fairs -.