Evening star., 1925-08-27
BELT LINE PROJECT
AGAIN IS HARD HIT
Greater Arlington County
Committee Assails Proposal
in Its Entirety.
Special Dispatch to The star

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CLARENDON. Va. August 27.-A
death blow. as far as sentiment in
Arlington County Is concerned, was
dealt the proposal TO construct the
Washington-Loughb Belt Line
last night when greater Arlington
County committee without dissent
ing voice adopted the report of it's
belt line subcommittee. which opposes
the project In it's entirety.
The subcommittee report embraces
all thai was said in opposition to the
proposal. and 2 resolution adopted at
recent mass meeting. attended by
citizens Of Arlington and Fairfax
counties and Alexandria City, called
BY the committee and held al the
office Of J. CIoyd Byars in Washing
ton. The resolution follows:
Resolved. That establishment of a
belt line railroad through Arlington
County will he highly and vitally
detrimental 10 the interests of the
county an dshould be opposed by the
civic bodies in the county. All rea-
sonable means should be taken by the
civic bodies to defeat the project"
This action OF the greater Arlington
County committee marks the crystal.
lization OF sentiment sgainst the con-
struction OF the railroad through
Arlington County. The greater Ar
linston County committee is the most
important branch OF the Arlington
County Civic Fedora ton. having 3
personnel OF about IS, representative
OF Virtuslly all civic bodies OF the
county, and no doubt is being enter
tanned that the parent orga nization
viii approve the report. Further
basis for this belief is that all civic
associations affiiiatine with the civic
federation. that have so far had the
matter under considera tion have gone
on record against the proposed line.
kiDcheioe Leads Attack.
Charles f. kincheloe. who led the
attack on the belt line at the recent
mass meeting. and who offered the
motion which resulted in the adoption
or tho subcommittee's s. report. upon in
vita ton from the chair explain in
short but impressive manner his
reasons for believing that the CON
struction of the line would he men
ace and detriment to Arlington
County.
He said that il anyhody could con
vince him that the belt line would he
n benefit to Arlington County as
whole regardless of individual disad.
vantages 1t might work he would
align himself with the other side. He
said that IL woulds turn Arlington
County into an industrial center and
would make living conditions intolera-
bic for the people now living there
and the class Of population IT hopes
TO draw
Sees Undesirable Element,
The promoters OF the belt line have
said. Mr.. kincheloe continued that
Its construction would result in "A
great increase in popula ton. This
may be true, he said but il would not
be the class of people that men and
women who have the best interests of
the county At heart would want. He
said 1t would bring hos ting and
alien population. a greater percentage
OF which could NOT speak the English
language. II for one do not wa MT 10
invite thousa nds of aliens here To as
simulate with our population and
ideals" he added.
Referring to the movement for a
great metropolitan area for the Ma.
1onal Capital, which makes Arlington
County an important link, Mr..
kincheloe said:
DO you want Arlington County 10
be an industrial center. with it's maze
OF tracks, shacks and smoke. or have
1t developed according to the plan
proposed by the regional sponsors-a
plan that calls for the extension of
the parking system Of the National
Capital into Arlington County. the
esta blishment of great and beautiful
bouievards and parks and the build
ing of fine homes"
Mr.. kiDcheloe declared that the
promoters have created the impres
sion that the proposal would be n
passenger as well as a freight carry
ing line. What earthly use would
1t be as passenger line?" he asked.
DO Eou think that people coming
from the South TO the National Cap-
ital would chose TO detrain at the
Loughborough freight terminal ra tber
than at beautiful station in the
heart OF the city,"
Situation In Other Cities.
Picturing conditions existing in
East st. Louis and other points where
ne said beautiful residential sections
nave given way TO CRIME and un-
sightlness on account of belt line
construction. Mr.. Kincheloe said he
was sure the people did not want to
see Arlington County und ergo such a
transformatio ton.
j. Cloyd Byars. chairman of the
belt line subcommittee and the vice
chairman of the greater Arlington
county committee. who presided last
night. stated that while he favored
the resolution, he hoped the idea of
belt line railroad would not be en-
urely killed until it is definitely. de-
termined IL Arlington County is TO
have any industrial development. He
suggested that steps should be taken
to determine II more suita BILE Ioca
ton for a line could be obtained in
section more adapted to industrial
development