Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-20
BOULEVARDROUTE
D|SSENS|ON IS HIT
W. S. Hoge, Jr, Declares No
One viii Make Profit on
Right of Way.
By : stan Correspondent Of The Star.

cent OF profit win accrue to any I'm
dividual or group in the securing Of
the right Of way to the proposed Lee
boulevard other than that which will
come from enhanced value Of prop
erty adjoining that given for the road
way, William 8. Hoge, jr., chairman of
the right-of-way committee of the Lee
Highway Association, which has the
leading role in promoting the project,
told a large audience in Columbia Pike
Schoolhouse last night.
The meeting, which was attended by
representative citizens Of communities
which favor the southerly route for
the proposed boulevard as announced
by the Lee Highway Association, had
as its chief objective organization OF
what Is to be known as the Lee
Highway Association Of Arlington
County" The purpose of the new
body will be to combat any efforts to
change the location Of the route. to
work for countrywide capitalization Of
sentiment for the location and to as
sist the promoters Of the project in
making success Of the undertaking.
Richard L. Eacho Of Ashton Heights
was elected chairman; Walter ]. Gid.
con of Glebewood was elected vice
chairman, Thomas p. Gary OF Lyon
Park was chosen secretary and A. ID.
Davis of Virginia Highlands was elect
ed treasurer.
Corporation Holds Properties.
Throwing light on the method en-
ployed in obtaining the right OF way
for the boulevard, Mr.. Hoge said the
Boulevard Properties Corporation, OF
which he is chairman, has bought a
number Of developed properties In
the path Of the route. which will be
sold to the agency propagating the
road at actual cost, plus per cent
interest on the investment. Asked
where the money Is to come from to
reimburse the Boulevard Properties,
Inc, Mr.. Hoge said:
Holders Of large acreage are being
asked and in many instances are CIV
ing much land in excess OF what Is
needed for the right of way. The ex-
cess, by reason OF its proximity to the
boulevard when it is projected, viii
greatly increase in value. The pro-
ceeds from the sale of this land VIII
be pooled, making sum sufficiently
large to meet the cost of home sites,
which must be purchased for the
right Of way. Any surplus viii be
used in working out other features OF
the proposal"
Mr.. Hoge declared that some hold
ers of large acreage had absolutely re-
fused to give ground for the right OF
way. Where this obstacle was met,
he said, interests friendly to the
boulevard who would be willing to
give land for the right Of way were
induced to buy the land.
Says He Welcomes Inquiry.
Referring to the movement for an
investigation of rumored wild land
H. Vxyff
project, Mr.. Hoge said that he has
notified Gov. Byrd and the State
Highway Commission that the Boule-
ward Properties, Incorporated, would
welcome an investigation of its &C
tivities provided specific charges are
made. His organization would not,
however, he said, pay any attention
to innuendoes or rumors.
Mr.. Hoge predicted that sentiment
in the county in the course of q linz
tied time and when the people have
become educated as to just what the
proposition Is would be solidified Tor
the route as selected by the Lee High
way Association. He said that at the
outset he was In favor Of a boulevard
that would be on a line with the axis
of the Mall in Washington, but that
he had been convinced later that a
route in that direction would not be
feasible. He said he was Influenced
in his change of heart regarding the
location by engineers Of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion, who after surveying the straight
route, decided that If right of way
could be obtained the location would
be feasible and desirable, but far in
ferior to the southerly route.
The efforts OF DIR. s. M. Johnson,
director general Of the Lee Highway
Association, in behalf Of the Lee
boulevard were praised by Mr.. Hoge.
who stated that this project is an
ideal with him and that he is car
ryfng on at great personal sacrifices.
A resolution offered by ]. Cloyd
Byars at a recent meeting OF the Ar
| lington citizens when tentative plans
for organization of the association
were made, denouncing opposition to
the southerly route and deplor1ng ru-
mors of unethical land deals in con-
nection with the project, was unan-
imously Endorsed by the meeting.
Mass Meeting Planned.
That all persons in communities ia.
vorable to the southerly route might
become acquainted with the purposes
of the new organization, a mass meet
| ing Is planned for Tuesday evening.
July 81, lat the Columbia Pike school
house A petition to be used in lining
up members for the Organization was
presented by J.W. Watson'and adopt
ed It follows:
1--WE the undersigned citizens OF
Arlington County, Va. desiring to
voice our confidence in DR. S. M. John
son, the Lee Highway Commission,
the State Highway Commission. our
governor and all officers connected
with the enterprise of the boulevard
and to assure them of our support and
| influence, hereby apply for member
shipsin the organization to be known
as the Route Association.
I'VE deplore the uncalled-for criti-
cisrn on the part of certain interests.
and call on all good citizens to frown
upon any attempt to create dissen-
sion, realizing that success depends
upon cooperation
Communities and their representa-
tives at the meeting were Lyon Park
IL. L. Collie, J. w. Dorsey, Thomas
r. Gary, Frank Weaver, A. T. Howell
and w. E. Sias: Ashton Heights-W.
l.. Eacho, Mr.. and Mrs, Major, Miss
r. L. Lindsey and III. L. Zile; Airing
| toni. III. Brewer. H. II. Blandford, ].
r, Cock, J. Winans Watson, Thomas
| Al. Flynn and j. Cloyd Byars; Bon
| Air--W. w. Wright and A. G. Schif-
fell; lebewood--Wa I. Gideon,
Odil r. Howell and o. A. Borcherding;
/ Glencarlyn--C. g. Davis and Stuart
TIilder: Barcroft--R. j. Knicely, E.
Krause, j. w. Head, James g. Pepper
| and G.. w. Jones; Virginia Highlands
i A n navfa