Evening star., 1926-08-18
PARK BOULEVARD
PLANSLAUNCHED
Delegates of Seven Counties
Back Shortest Route From
D. c. to Shenandoah.
By q Stan Correspondent.

Plans for construction Of a great 100
root boulevard to afford tourists the
shortest route between the National
Capital and the Shenandoah National
Park took definite shape here late
yesterday afternoon with the formal
organization Of the Shenandoah Ma
tional Park Highway Association.
The movement, which recently had
Its inception in Arlington County
through the formation of a Straight
to-the-Bridge Boulevard Association"
later renamed the Richard E. Byrd
Boulevard Association. had contem-
plated originally a highway COM
memorating the achievement of
Comdr. Byrd in flying to the North
Pole, but in view OF reports Of Byrd s
disinclination to have this additional
honor thrust on him, the suggestion
was dropped in favor of the name
shenandoah National Park High
way"
With several hundred prominent
citizens and officials in attendance
from seven Virginia counties, through
which the new road would pass. the
conferees unanimously elected the fol-
lowing officers:
Hugh e. Naylor President.
Hugh E. Naylor OF Front Royal,
president; Arthur Orr, Arlington
County; George B. Robey. Fairfax
County; Thomas H. Lion, Prince VIII
liam County; George T. Strother, Fau-
quier County. and Frank l.. Taven-
ner, Shenandoah County, vice presi-
dents; Mrs. Catharine M. Roger. Ar
lington County. secretary: DR.. F. W.
Huddleston, Fairfax County, treas
urer. and O. w. Borden, Warren
County. assistant secretary.
Mr.. Naylor was chairman Of the
Front Royal committee which recent
ly appeared before the Arlington
County Association and urged 1t to
broaden its scope in furtherance Of
the project for a nearly direct high
way from the Arlington Memorial
Bridge to the northern entrance of
Front Royal. by way Of Manassas
Gap. lowest pass in the Blue Ridge
south of the Potomac River.
Mr.. Orr was prime mover in the
straightforward e-bridge" movement
and was president of the Richard E.
Byrd Boulevard Association. He re-
sides in Lyon Park. Mrs. Rogers.
whose home is in Ballston, was assist
ant secretary Of the same organiza-
ton. DR.. Huddleston is treasurer OF
Fairfax County.
Two representatives on the board
of directors from each of the seven
counties traversed will be selected by
local committees Of the new organiza-
ton.
The association went on record at
the outset as indorsing the proposed
100-foot straight route through Clar-
endon and Ballston from the memorial
bridge to Falls Church as the first
link of the new highway.
Speakers Favor Movement.
Formal organization was effected
after a number of speakers had
spoken in favor of the movement.
These speakers included Col. H. G..
Benchoff, president of the Shenan-
doah National Park Association;
Prof c.. l.. Melton. principal OF
Randolph Macon Academy; Mayor B.
J. Hillidge of Front Royal; Maj. E.
w r. Ewing Of the Manassas Battle
field Commissions; George F. Harri-
son of Fairfax County, who said he
was one of the initiators Of the Lee
highway project, and Lynn Robert
son of Manassas, another early
leader in the Lee highway movement.
Col. Benchoff pictured a highway
system of the future that would in
terlace Virginia with maze Of boule-
wards, many of them centering around
the proposed national park and others
leading to Washington. He pointed
to the urgent necessity of the cltl-
zens of Virginia making certain, be-
fore long, that the quota of $500, 900
on which the Governments offer OF
the park Is predicated is raised by
popular subscription.
Prof. Melton declared there are
80, ,Q00. 900 persons who want to get
to the new national park and who
won't tolerate the necessity for go
ing over a route that is 20 miles long
er than the one contemplated through
Manassas Gap" He referred to pre-
vious statements comparing the diff
ference in length between the propos-
cd Lee boulevard and the Shenan-
doah Park road. The former would
enter the central portion OF the park
at Luray.
The meeting, which was held in the
auditorium Of Randolph Macon Acade-
my. was opened with an announce
ment by Mr.. Orr of the purpose or
the gathering, viz. Ito get highway
from Washington to the park by the
shortest feasible route" This purpose,
he added, embraced the cardinal
principle Of highway construction,
that of connecting one point to
another by the shortest route.
Present Road in Bad Shape.
Those who made up the caravan OF
automobiles from Arlington and Fair
fax Counties were convinced OF the
necessity for new road through
Manassas Gap. If this is to be the
northern gateway of the great park.
Following as nearly as possible the
route tentatively proposed for the new
highway, the caravan was forced TO
creep slowly over the slippery, tor
tuous road which leads from Della
plane TO Front Royal. More than once
the delegates had to halt in order to
help push some car out of a ditch.
Approximately IS residents Of
Arlington and Fairfax counties made
I'D the caravan, which left Arlington
County Court House at s o'clock and
passed through Falls Church, Fairfax,
Aide. Middleburg, Cppervtlle and
Delaplane. At Upperville the dele
gates We're met by a committee or well
come from Front Royal, headed by
Mr.. Naylor. At Front Royal Mayor
Hillidge greeted the visitors and gave
them the keys to the city" The
mayors committee included Town
Councilman Frank e. Evans. Prof.
Melton, Col. s. w. Millar and r. E.
Herr, president of the Front Royal
Chamber of Commerce.
Among those in the caravan were
William l.. Bragg, chairman of the
newly appointed governors committee
on park and city planning for Arling-
ton and Fairfax Counties, and H. Earl
ton Hanes of Fairfax. another mem
Der of that committee.
Caravan arrangements were in
charge of c. r. Taylor of Clarendon.
NJ. +. Church of Falls Church and
Mrs. Catharine NJ. Rogers of Ballston.