Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-25
COUNTY RUIN SEEN
IN POTOMAC LOSS
Arlington Federation Head
Says Reorganization Would
Be Necessary.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CLARENDON, Va, September "a.
Annexation by the city of AleXan-
dria Of a part of Arlington County
would financially embarrass the county
and ruin its future possibilities, max
ing reorganization of the county neces-
sary. said Robert +. Plymale, presi-
dent of the Arlington County Civic
Federation. today,
He EXPRESSED the view that civic
end commercial bodies of the county
as we'll as the county officials would
present a strong front to combat any
such step by the city of Alexandra.
Alexandra already hes appropriated
$1,000 for survey looking to annex
alton.
Mr.. PIymale pointed out that the
annexation proposal embraces some OF
the county's most valuable assets,
chief among them the Potomac Yards.
having railroad property worth about
$500, 900. The territory includes
high class realty development said
10 have an assessed valuation of APP
proximately $4,000 In Jefferson
District. where the expansion is pro-
posed the total valuations are approx
mately $4,000, 900. The taxable in
come of the county in Jefferson Dis
frict is based on rate of S2.20 on the
500 assessed valuation.
Mr.. Plymale deplored the fact that
the Arlington County enabling act
failed to pass at the last session of the
State Legislature. stating that the act
not only provided for referendum
vote to determine il the county should
incorporate, but contained clause
that would have protected the county
from annexation by Alexandria. 1t
taI A1nNng96r;l
from annexing a part of the county
without a referendum of the people
affected
.AIexandrians Are Seen.
Aroused by statements of officials of
the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce
that State Senator Frank L. Ball had
suggested a compromise of the ques-
ton of annexation, to be worked out
by a joint committee of the chambers
of commerce of that city and Arlington
County. representatives of the Airing
ton County Better Government Com
mission yesterday went to AleXa ndria
to interview the officials at first hand.
They reported, according to l.. c.
McNemar, chairman of the Better
Government Commission, that the
president and secretary of the Alexan-
dria Chamber of Commerce had not
only confirmed the accuracy of the
statements attributed to them that
Senator Ball had suggested such
compromise move, but that he had
conceded to the Alexandria officials
the justice of that city's proposals to
annex Arlington County as far as the
mouth of Four-mile Run, which not
only includes the town of Potomac,
but the Potomac freight yards, which
are Arlington County's largest single
source of tax revenue.
Viewpoint of Alexandria.
According to the report made by the
committee to Mr.. McNemar, j. Z.
Timberman, president of the Alexan-
dria Chamber of Commerce and
member of the city council, said:
II talked the matter over with Sena-
tor Ball some days ago, and told him
that the Arlington County incorpora-
ton bill looked bad for Alexandria be-
cause it would not allow us to take
any more of the county into our cor
porate limits. / told him that IL Ar
lington County incorporated as city
of the first class that would prevent
us from annexing another inch of the
county territory, and that we desired
to annex as far as Four-mile Run.
Senator Ball agreed with me that
AIeAdU0Tla ought 10 DC dlOW0u u dIt-
mex Arlington County up to Four-mile
Run, provided the boundary follow
straight line from the mouth Of the
run rather than follow the course of
the stream. He expressed the opinion
that If both chambers of commerce
would appoint committees to confer
on the subject an agreement could
readily be reached as to Alexandria's
new boundaries"
Mr.. McNemar stated today that he
was sure the citizens of Arlington
County will never consent to the an
nexation of any more of it's territory
by the city of Alexandria, regardless
of the stand which may be taken by
Senator Ball on the issue. He further
stated that he expected to call a
meeting of the Better Government
Commission at an early date. and
probably in the town hall of Potomac,
for ascertaining sentiment.