Evening star., 1924-07-13
ENGINEERS TACKLE
D. c. LIMIT PUZZLE
Survey to Begin This Week
to Find if D. c. Owns
Part of Virginia.
BRINGS UP BIG PROBLEMS
In Case Geography Is Disturbed
Many Voters Will Lose
Right of Suffrage.
BRINGS UP BIG PROBLEMS

Does the District of Columbia ex-
tend across the Potomac River into
several square miles of land now
claimed by the state of Virginia. in
cluding the present National Capitai
horseshow grounds, Arlington Beach,
the private flying field to the west
and other important property!
This question at first seems an
easy one TO answer. Almost any one
would say "Of course not
But that very question has as
sumed such perpleXing proportions
to the United States government thas
Congress at the last session anpro-
priated $1,000 with which to seek an
answer to it, and engineers of the
office Of public buildings and grounds
this week will launch thorough
survey AID investigation in an effort
10 settle what they admit is moot
problem.
Maps May Be Wrong.
Any present day map of the ter
ritory in dispute will show the
boundary line between Virginia ana
the District of Columbia as extend
Potomac River from the Distfict OF
Columbia Maryland line above Chain
bridge to Jones Point. below Alex
andria. But very fine question nds
arisen, during recent actlFltleS oi me
federal government along the VT
einia shore as to the legality OF TINS
boundary. s,,;,
Al the office of Col. c. 0. Sheriff.
who is in charge of the survey, II
was pointed out there is posslnil-
ity that the investigation may dis-
close that legally the boundary me
should be Established approximately
half a mile inland in some places ana
that the land thus affected autofnau-
cally would become part of the DIS
trict of Columbia, instead OF part OF
Arlington county, Va. The eN-
haustive survey now being under
taken is expected to settle this point
definitely.
Boundary Specified.
The presumption that the land IN
dispute may really be part of the
National Capital is based on the fact
that when Virginia took back INTO
its commonwealth the section of
Alexandria, now Arlington county, at
first donated as part of the District
of Columbia, the specification was
made that the boundary line between
that state and the District should be
located along the high water mark
on the Virginia shore of the Potomac.
ginia portion of the District was
ceded back to the state, show a
boundary line considerably different
from that of today.
In those days what is now the horse
show grounds, the beach, the flying
field the Corinthian Yacht Club
property and contiguous territory
composed Alexanders Island, entirely
distinct from the Virginia shore. A
branch of the Potomac separated the
,,lo h Ia hicrh
water mark of the Virginia side con-
sequently was far south of it's pres
ent designation.
Island Disappeared
Three-quarters of a century left
marked changes in the shore line,
however. The branch circling Alex
anders Island on the south grew
smaller and smaller. and it eventually
became closed. The island" no longer
could be called such. Swamps formed
where the bed of the stream formerly
ran, they became closed in and filled
in. and today Alexanders Island is
to all intents and purposes part of
Arlington County.
But on whose authority was the
boundary line moved out to the north
side of Alexanders Island? When the
Virginia part of the original site for
the National Capital was retroceded
no provision was made for a chang
Ing shore line. Was it proper to pre-
sume that the high-water mark Of
the Virginia shore should be extended
across Alexanders Island when the
island became first a peninsula and
then actually part of the mainland?
Deviations Marked.
1t is with the intention of answer
ing these and other questions that
War Department engineers have de-
cided to make the present survey
and probe of records. The Alex
ander's Island territory is only part
of the land in question, however.
bridge has suffered the greatest
change. it is true, but mark ed dev1a-
tions, it is believed, also have taken
place throughout the whole length
of the boundary line. River sedi-
ment has formed accrettons along
the shore in numerous places Great
ing large areas of solid, verdant
ground and, possibly, the waters OF
seventy eight years have eaten great
hunks out of the commonwealth in
other places. Firginia's curves to-
day would present a strange aspect
to her boosters of long ago.
If the government engineers should
report that the property across High
way bridge and in other localities
along the shore line should be within
the limits of the District of Columbia,
many nice legal technicalities would
have to be ironed out. For instance,
there would probably arise the ques-
tion of whether the taxes which Vir-
ginia has derived from the affected
land should not be turned over to the
District of Columbia.
Votes May BE Lost.
Owners of property in the territory
who have been enjoying the privilege
Of voting for their Presidents would
find themselves deprived of the right
of suffrage, along with other citizens
of the National Capital.
The District Commissioners would
have some more road. to look after
and the police department new
territory to patrol. The federal author
tiles no doubt would put in claim
for certain portions of the land.
1t is possible that many of the
questions would have to be put up
to the Department of Justice or some
other authoritative branch of the
government.
The survey probably will not be
completed for number of weeks.
Meanwhile property owners in the
disputed area will spend many a
restless night. Not knowing whether
they are In Virginia, the District of
Columbia or government reServa
tion is bound to bring on the no
man 's-land feeling that makes for in
somnia-