Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-11
WANT REFORMATORY
Landowners Near Belvoir
Tract Petition the Senate.
DON'T THINK IT MENACE
Fears for Mount Vernon Are De-
clared to Be Ridiculous.
LOOKED ON AS A BENEFIT
Point Out That occoquan Neighbor-
hood Has Been Helped
by Workhouse.

Petitions by residents of that section Of
Virginia within ten miles of Mount Yer
non-n the zone where the House has
prohibited the location Of a penal institu-
ton of the DISTINGUISHING that the Dis
trict reformatory be established in their
midst on the Belvoir tract. have been re-
ceived by the Senate committee on ap-
preparations. The Senate is asked not to
concur in the amendment to the District
appropriation bill adopted by the House
prohibiting the use of the Belvoir tract
for the reformatory. and asked by nearly
80 real estate owners who would be
neighbors of a reformatory opened there.
One petition is signed by lis citizens OF
Virginia living within three miles of the
proposed site. and the postmaster at Lor-
ton says of 1t: in postscript:
Says All Favor It.
These signatures were secured inside
four hours. and every one in the section
Of Woodlawn Mansion and Mount Yer
non district is in favor of reformatory
site"
The petitioners ask the Senate to con-
slider the following statements with re-
gard to the use of Belvoir, near Mount
Vernon, as the reformatory site:
The action of the House of Represent
atives if enacted into law would work an
injury to the inhabitants OF about 80
square miles of territory and would be an
infringement on the rights OF the people
of said territory to sell their property FOR
any legitimate purpose and is opposed to
the very principles for which george
Washington fought
The action of the House Of Represent
atives was taken without a correct under.
standing of the location of the proposed
site or of the sentiment of the majority
of the. people of this section, most of
those opposed to the location of the re-
formatory, including the regents OF Mount
Vernon being non-residents of said ter
ritory.
Declare Fears Ridiculous.
The assertion that the establishment
of this institution at the place proposed
could in any way be a menace to the
property at Mount Vernon, would be
dissertation of the tomb of Washington. Is
to those who are familiar with the geog-
raphy of this country too ridiculous Cor
serious consideration.
The establishment of the wOrkhouse
at Occoquan, Va, has been Of great bene-
fit to OccOquan and the surrounding coun-
try furnishing as it does a market for the
farmers and employment for a great
many people, and wherever the reforma-
tory is established it will mean progress
and improvement for the surrounding
country No part of Virginia has been so
backward as most of the territory within
ten miles radius OF Mount Vernon, and We
earnestly believe that il Washington We're
alive today he would frown on his would
be protectors and welcome an institution
that would build good roads and give en-
plOyment to or afford market for his
neighbors.
nd
ments to the District appropriation bill,
however, the Senate appropriations COM
nittee did not recommend change In
the House provision for an immunity zone,
with a radius OF ten miles, around Mount
Vernon. Unless the bill is altered on the
floor of the Senate the House provision
will stand, and the Commissioners must
seek new site for the reformatory.
Colchester Mans Inquiry.
George l. Alling of Colchester. Va. in
a communication takes exception to the
Carlin BILL which proposes that It shall
be illegal to establish a penal institution,
such as the District reformatory. within
ten miles of Mount Vernon, the old home
of George Washington.
What right Mr.. Alling asks, "has
Congress to make 1t unlawful for any
property owner in Virginia to sell his land
There are several other residents of Vir
sinia who would like an answer to this
question
Referring to the Carlin bill, Mr.. Alling
says: IF this bill may limit the sale of
property within ten miles of Mount Yer
non. why may this limit not be extended to
twenty or thirty miles? / am possibly not
within the ten-mile limit, and l have no
land for sale. l. am. asking the above
questions for information"
Mr.. Aling takes occasion also to COM
ment upon the District workhouse located
at Occoquan. He says:
II live about as near the workhouse as
any one. | have been through the grounds
and have taken many visitors from Wash
ington and elsewhere to visit it. 1t will
compare very favorably with other vii
lagos OF about 900 inhabitants. Ii the es-
enlistment of the, workhouse at Deco
guam has caused property in the neigh
Eorhood TO depreciate, as has been charg-
ed. the county assessor has failed to take
note of it. as he recently increased the
assessments about here some 70 per
cent.