Evening star., 1927-05-29
DRIVE is PLANNED
TO BUY RAIL LINE
Committee in Arlington to
Seek Subscriptions to
Act on Option.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.


CLARENDON. Va. May oS.-Citi
xens of Arlington County in mass
meeting at Clarendon last night ac-
cepted the challenge to equal the goal
of citizens of Falls Church and Fair
fax I'm the campaign for subscriptions
to the 500, 900 fund required to make
possible community ownership and op-
GRAFTON of the Falls Church division
OF the Washington & Virginia Rail-
way.
On motion of Milford Wits, man
ager of the Arlington County Cham
ber Of Commerce. under whose aus
pices the meeting was held, bond
''sales committee" was authorized and
the following named for the work:
Cha rles T. Jesse, chairman; III. G. SAT-
fell, Harris Levy, Robert f.. Plymale.
T. E. Sebrell, jr.; Howard b. Fields
and DR.. F. T. Stone.
Option Expires Wednesday.
Attention was called to the fact that
the option obtained by NJ. L. Church
and Thomas r. Keith from G. r.
Hinchman of Philadelphia. who came
into ownership of the road at the re-
cent auction sale, expires Wednesday.
and the committee was requested TO
make an effort to complete its work
of raising the county's quota of $4,000
by that time.
According to Mr.. Church and Mr..
Keith, Mr.. Hinchman informed them
that If he could not find a purchaser
the road would be scrapped. Realiz
ing the injury TO the communities of
Fairfax and Arlington Counties
through scrapping of the road they
asserted, they Immediately asked for
and obtained the option, feeling conf
dent when they did that the people
of the two counties would fall into
the plan of buying the property and
keep the road in operation.
Mr.. Church declared that enthusi-
asm has met the proposal on all
sides, the people seemingly realizing
that to take the road away would be
one of the biggest calamities the
communities could suffer, but bond
subscriptions have not been in ac-
cord with the enthusiasm. To date,
he said, verbal pledges have amount
ed to close on to $150,000. but signed
subscriptions run less than S50,000.
He urged the importance of acting
quickly If the citizens are to exercise
the option.
Fear Valuation Cut.
Other speakers in favor of the pro-
posal were Charles L. Jesse, Harris
Levy. DIR. Frank r. Stone, II. c. SAT-
fell. Robert E. Plymale, Z. 4. Sc
brells, Mr.. Robey and Sheriff Howard
B. Fields.
All speakers were of the opinion
that IL the road is scrapped every
property owner would suffer at least
a so per cent loss in their holdings,
and the county would get setback
from which it would never recover
until another railway is built. Mr..
Church and Mr.. Keith were praised
for their interest in the matter.
In addition to the dropping of OF
realty values and inconvenience to
the residents through the elimination
of the electric railway means of
transportation, it was pointed out. the
counties would undoubtedly lose the
use of outside capital. which is SO
necessary to their development and
which has been coming in and will
continue to come in in increasing
amounts IL the railroad is maintained.
Expect Profit From Road.
Opinion was general that with
proper management and increased
patronage that should result with
citizens taking a deeper interest by
reason of their investment. the road
could be operated at a profit.
Surprise was expressed on all sides
that the first 100000 needed had not
been oversubscribed before this. This
apparent apathy among the citizens,
it was said, is not because the people
are skeptical of the proposition or
afraid to take a chance, but because
the seriousness of the situation has
not been brought home to them.
According to Mr.. Jesse. who heads
the committee, rapid canvass of
Arlington County will be made. He
expressed the view that the filling of
Arlington's quota was simply mat
ter of seeing the right people. and
this the committee expected to do in
the next two days.