Evening star., 1926-08-13
BYRD BOULEVARD
ROUTE. INSPECTED
Maj. Carey H. Brown Taken
Over Proposed Nearby vir-
ginia Highway.

Maj. Carey II. Brown, chief en-
Tineer of the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission and the
man who secuted out" the proposed
Lee boulevard route which created
some opposition in Arlington County,
was escorted yesterday over the sug-
%ested route of the projected Richard
Byrd boulevard b. members of the
straight ht-to-the- Bridge Association and
representatives of other organiZa tiOns
in Arlington and Fairfax Counties.
The inspection party also was ac-
companied by three members of the
Regional Development Commission,
which is. in effect, the Virginia branch
OF the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission. The Regional
development Commission was ap-
pointed by Gov. Harry Byrd to help
the National Capital board co-ordi-
nate development plans for Wa.hing-
ton and the bordering counties of Vir-
ginia simultaneously.
Needs Said to BE Met.
The Richard Byrd boulevard, it was
explained. fully answers the needs of
the proponents of the straight-to-th
bridge route for the Lee boulevard
Starting at Falls Church, it runs more
or less directly across the country to
Ballston and Clarendon, giving those
two thriving communities Il key bOu-
'cvard through their business dis.
tries. Immediately after leaving
Clarendon it hooks up with the re-
mainder of the route of the Lee boule-
ward as sponsored by the Lee High
WaV Association.
The inspection expedition set out
Yesterday from the Old Falls Church.
where George Washington was a
vestryman in 1865. and from which
the town of Falls Church obtained its
name. Built in 1894. just two years
after Washington was born. the Old
Falls Church remains today Just as 1t
was in the colonial days when the
makers of American history gathered
there to return thanks for the bless
ings of freedom and fresh victories
won.
Will Carry Tourist Tide.
1t is at this point that the tourist
tide coming from the Shenandoah
National Park and the South and
West will flow into the Richard Byrd
boulevard from the present Lee high
way, if the plans and dreams of the
Richard Byrd Boulevard Association
attain maturity. The route of the
new boulevard makes a swing from
the Lee highway into what is now
Fairfax street At the turn .WO
houses would have to be demolished
or moved.
The boulevard then continues two
blocks out Fairfax street to the old
Alexandria road which it crosses and
cuts across country via the Harris
estate The home on the Harris
estate would have to be moved back
some distance. The Alexandria road,
which the Lee Highway Association
plans to use to bring the Lee boule
ward into Falls Church, Is the old
thoroughfare used by Washington
and other patriots in getting from
Mt Vernon and Alexandria to Falls
Church.
The Richard Byrd boulevard route
sweeps on across country, passing
through numerous farms, nurseries
and forests, following pretty much the
course of the Alexandria road, the
two being separated by about half a
mile. In this sector it passes from
Fairfax County into Arlington County
and in similar open country it reaches
the point where 1t is to cross Four
Mile Run and the tracks of the Wash
;ngton and Virginia Railway.
Common Bridge Proposed.
A common bridge across both OBJ
stacles is suggested at this point. the
route here being about 400 yards from
the Lee boulevard.
After spanning these obstacles, the
boulevard enters the beautiful estates
Of +. M. Talbot and Col. Ashby VIII
liams. Once through these. the route
begins to leave the open country and
takes up county roads that are now
lo;, L.
small settlement of Oak View, it runs
into the Memorial Drive, by way Of
which it enters the outskirts of Ball
ston. The route through Ballston is
down Preston avenue, through a
small field and directly into Taylor
avenue, Clarendon.
In Clarendon the boulevard would
cut through an open field to prevent
making a sharp bend in existing roads.
and would then sweep directly down
Taylor avenue to Porters Woods,
through which it would continue to
meet the Lee boulevard at the point
where the latter swings south at the
corner of Fort Myer.
Twenty Houses May Go.
1t is estimated that the construc-
ton through Ballston and Clarendon
would necessitate the demolition of
approximately 20 houses, varying in
value from mere shacks up to new
and substantial homes.
Two grade crossings would be nee
essary over the tracks of the Wash
ington and Virginia Railway in Clar-
endon if present Typographical condi-
tions prevail when construction of
the boulevard is begun. Over most of
the route in Ballston and Clarendon
the tops of the Arlington wireless
towers are visible, and at times there
is flashing glimpse of the Washing
ton Monument in the distance, guild
ing the tourist to his Journeys end.