Evening star., 1923-05-15
COUNTY
PROGRESS VOICED
Speakers at Clarendon Citi.
zenS' Association Meeting
Proud of Growth.
Special Dispatch to The star.

Special Dispatch to The star.
CLARENDON. Va. May 15.-That
Arlington county has enjoyed phe-
romenal growth and will continue to
do SO, was the keynote Of a number
of speakers at the regular semi
monthly meeting of the Clarendon
Citizens Association at Clarendon
Citizens Hall last night. Addresses
were made by Carroll Pierce, vice
president of the Citizens National
Bank Of Alexandria; Hugh Reid of
Thrifton village and chairman OF the
legal committee of the Arlington
County Civic Federation's incorpora-
tion committee; DR.. Frank T. Stone,
president of the Clarendon Trust
Company; A. P. Payne, candidate for
the state legislature, and Fred L..
Sharp. vice president of the associa-
tion. President c. r. Taylor pre-
sided.
Conditions Compared.
Mr.. Pierce, in comparing conditions
of a few>years back with those of
today, ventured the remark that
there was no community In the state
of Virginia, or probably In the United
States, where as many houses were
built in the past few years and as
In Arlington county. He stated that
at the beginning of the last building
loom investors were warned to go
slow" in putting their money into
Arlington county. but that many
failed to heed the warning and they
have not had any regrets. Mr.. Pierce
stated that he was in a position to
know that mot dollar invested in
Arlington county has been lost" The
home development in Arlington coun-
axy
to the fact that many salaried men
nowadays find the price of city homes
beyond their reach.
Progressive Spirit Praised.
Mr. Pierce uttered words of praise
for the progressive spirit of the peo-
pie Of the county, particularly those
of Clarendon, stating that their ef-
forts have been an inspiration to
other communities. He said, however,
that while the average citizen of the
county is comfortably fixed in his
home, there still is room for further
development before the county can
realize its greatest ambition-that of
blooming forth into a great city. He
emphasized the need of water and
sewers and permanent roads, all of
which. he said. are going to be costly,
but will prove good investments.
Mr.. Taylor. in responding to Mr..
Pierce, stated that all of the suggest
ed improvements are being given So
rious consideration by the people Of
the county, land while they are big
problems. the people ara big enough
to put them over"
Mr.. Reid nkened Arlington county
to a period in his boyhood. when he
all of sudden departed from "the
runt" class, taking on several inch IS
in stature, which made new suit Of
clothes necessary.
Argues for City Government.
Arlington county, Mr.. Reid de-
clared, has outgrown the county form
of government, which he said lacks
the power to provide the improve
ments necessary to a thickly settled
community. The present form Of
government, Mr.. Reid said, provides
no means of dealing with public util-
practically on their own terms. he
said.
Centralized power with equal rep
resentation for all sections, Mr. Reid
said, is the crying need of the county,
| 80 that we can get all that goes
with grown-up community"
He said that the county in addi-
tion to needing water and sewers
had outgrown its present police force:
should have fire protection in a
depend on few volunteer companies;
be in a position to obtain better
streets, sidewalks, etc, but all of
these things were out OF the question
under the present form of govern
tion at present, as no authority is pro-
vided for levying for them.
Present Form OutKrown.
because of the fact that they have
no particular problems. are only
adapted to county form of govern
ment; Mr.. Reid presented statistics