Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-01
LEE BOULEVARD
ROUTE IS CHOSEN
SoutherIy Plan, Avoiding Con-
gested Centers, Agreed
Upon After Survey.

The Lee Highway Association an
nounced last night it's tinal selection
OF a sO-called sOutherly route for the
great 200-foO Lee Boulevard which
ultimately will connect the new Me
mortal Bridge with the Shenandoah
National Park.
The course designated. 10 Use Of
fetal phraseology, "sidesteps" the
huilt-up Arlington County section in
the vicinity Of Clarendon, Ballston and
Cherrydale, Curving in a broad arc a
mile or so to the south of these COM
munties and opening up compare
lively undeveloped territory.
This route it was declared by DIR.
S. NJ. Johnson. general director Of the
association, was selected only after an
intensive investigation of three pro-
posed routes. and has been approved
not only by expert highway engineers,
but by the Virginia State Highway
Commission.
State Agrees to Aid.
The State Highway Commission. DR..
Johnson asserted, already has agreed
to assist in the improvement Of an SO
loot wide strip of the boulevard. which.
in its initial projection. c"ntemplates
extending only as far as the l-eesburs
pike. near Falls Church.
The detailed course of the magnifi-
cent highway. as announced by l)r.
Johnson before "A large audience in
the Washington Auditorium. follows:
From the Virginia terminus of the
Memorial Bridge along Columbia
Island to point Of intersection with
the main axis of tho Mall: thence
along this axis To Radner Heights,
81 It'd 81 10 nd
NEEDING with the north curve of
Whipple street in Rsdnor Heights:
thence through Fort Myer Heights,
along Potomac street: through the
Porter woods. and by a southerly
direction toward the Government
wireless towers at Arlington: thence
through Penrose. skirting Arlington
Cemetery and passing through the
Henderson. Garrison and Ada ms
tracts: crossing Wilson boulevard
just west OF Garrison: crossing Four
Mile Creek at point near Torrey
son: skirting the 1~othrop property.
and extending TO Fort Buffalo Al the
intersection of Wilson boulevard with
the Leesburg- Alexandria pike
Palisades" Drive Discarded.
The announcement was greeted
with applause.
The other two routes under consid-
GRAFTON, DR.. Johnson said. We're: The
more direct course through Claren
don and Rallston and along Memorial
drive to Falls Church: and the north
erly or palisades route. along the
Virginia heights OF the Potomac
River. The latter route swas dis
Carded early, he stated, because II
was felt ii was too far afield." but
he expressed his belief that I'm time
such road would he developed.
Then we came To an investiga-
ton of the southerly route" Or.
Johnson pointed out. "A route side
stepping the built up section. Ir de-
Gliding on this route We had the CO.
operation Of highway experts. engi-
neers and the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission. Before
deciding we invited the proponents
of each route 10 discuss with us the
advantages of each course. As re-
suit we came to the conclusion that
only the southerly route came up
to our requirement. which was p
200-foot right f-way.
Offers Engineering Advantages.
"Our decision was reached only
southerly route. We were surprised
To learn that this course presented
enSineering advantages over the
more direct route. lending itself. for
example. to the elimination of Il num-
Der of grade crossings. Further
more, the engineers asserted that
the southerly route was the oni"
feasible way of crossing Four Mile
run.
DR.. Johnson said that most of the
right of way for the approved route
had been donated for the bouleva rd and
that the association had been apprised
of another gift of land for a spacious
park. Assurance has been given al
ready by one large owner along the
route that he will lay out his property
for fine residential community, not
of the checker board variety, indi-
eating. DIR. johnson said. the high.
class of residential development that
will line both sides of the boulevard.
The speaker said he had been re-
quested to outline the plans for financ-
ing the big project. but explained this
would take too much time. Full an
nouncement regarding these plans
will he made at the proper time, he
said, adding that the tina ncing scheme
had been worked out with view to
obtaining the cooperation OF the prop
erty owners along the route, the aid
of Arlington and Fairfax Counties
and the business interests of Wash
ington.
Will Aid County Plan.
THE degree of co-opera ton to be
afforded by the two counties is Yet
to be determined" DIR. Johnson de-
clared.
referring 10 the agitation for n
direct route to the new bridge
through Clarendon and Ballston, DR..
Johnson pledged the aid of the Lee
Highway Association to Arlington
County in any bodybuilding program
it may undertake. the most impor-
tant project of which program. to the
mind of the association. being a direct
1O0-foot highway from Falls Church,
along Memorial Drive, through Tay-
Tor avenue in Clarendon and connect
ing with the Lee, Boulevard in the
Porter woods"
DR.. Johnson was the final speaker
on the program. over which Secretary
of commerce Hoover presided. Mr..
Hoover opened the meeting by praiS-