Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-03
New Mt. Vernon Route.
Writer Points Out Shorter Bou-
levard Which Would
Cost Less.
To the Editor Of The star:

10 bDe Editor OF Ihe star
/ note by The Star of the 18th the
Agriculture Department has recon-
mended the adoption by Congress of
what is caller tho river route" for the
proposed Mount Vernon boulevard.
People sometimes. and birds and
beasts always, take direct course in
going from place to place, especially
so when the direct route Is most feasi-
BILE. That the persons surveying the
two routes south OF Alexandria should
have so carefully avoided a route more
to the west than either of those sur
veyed is indeed passing strange. Did
these gentlemen ever go to the plateau
between the home of Mr.. Richardson
and the old Collard homestead and
look north to the Washington Monu-
ment, then turn half way around and
look south right over Mount Vernon?
II not, why not? One view from this
point would be worth more than
many days of surveying with an in
strument.
The Government is building for all
time road of magnificent proportions,
not simply a winding, twisting cow
path, and the writer would like to sug-
gest to Congress that 1t hesitate about
the adoption of any route until this
matter is further investigated. Though
to say this western route would cost
from rs to 30 per cent less than the
river route. Why? First, 1t is about
two miles or more shorter. There
would be no bridges and there would
| be material in abundance along the
route to make such fills in Cameron
Run Valley as would be necessary.
Assuming a. change in the course to
the ridge from Washington to a point
about half q mile west of the reservoir
| at Alexandria, it would cross the Little
| River road above grade; also above the
grade Of several railroads entering
Alexandria, thence close to sharon
Church and the schoolhouse on the
Telegraph road to Richardson's house
and to Collard house, direct to its OBJ
iective. The right of way by this route
would cost as little as any other. Thus
there is absolutely no road to run into
the boulevard at grade, the lay of the
| land being such that the new road
would cross all others above their
level.
The route recommended is certainly
most illogical throughout, in that 1t
suggests q sweep from the bridge to
| the river, thence along the river, in
volving much bridging and filling, to
Washington street in Alexandria,
through a network of wagon, trolley
and steam roads, to say nothing OF the
scores of tracks in and about the rail-
road yards. What are you going to
do with them? Put them out of bust
| ness. and then do you propose to cut
down the 200foot width to go feet or
less, the width of Washington street?
This, in itself, would spoil the beauty
and usefulness of the entire thing, to
say nothing of the congestion of traf-
f1c in this restricted portion. Now.
| won't there be a nice glut Of traffic
in this bottlenecked area crossed as it
is by every east and west street at
grade in the city? Veritable death
traps, all. All right. go little
further. What do we find next?
There is Hunting Creek to bridge and
the highland; after about three miles
on the ridge we get down to the level
of Little Hunting Creek requiring an
other bridge. Then the detour to
Fort Hunt. This surely was not con-
templated in the original idea to con-
struct a boulevard from Washington
to Mount Vernon.
To one familiar with this section it
looks as though the Government is
paying out a lot of money to go
around Robin Hoods barn. The most
however, is the bottleneck of Wash
ington street. A chain is no stronger
than it's weakest link. So also will
this magnificent 200-foot boulevard be
but 60-foot road all the way. And
since safety is the thing of primary
Importance, these death traps in
Alexandria should be avoided by all
means.
Yes, I would invite the surveyors
to take a look at the route suggested
herein. It would certainly be to the
Governments interest to have them
do so, in order that the route may be
shortened, reduced in cost and made
safer for the many who will use it as
the years roll on.
The writer is assuming, of course,
the original idea will be maintained
which contemplates the construction
OF magnificent highway connecting
the Capitol of this great country with
the home and tomb of our first Presi.
dent and great military leader, who
at crucial point of our Nations life
crossed the icy waters of the Della
ware in the darkness of night and by
so doing saved to us and to posteritv
the land we now enjoy. Surely he is
worthy of 1t, as well as to symbolic
the reunion of the North and South
which would be in keeping with the
wealth and dignity Of this great Ma
ton. Otherwise this matter will be of
little moment. 1T should indeed be
the Nations tribute TO her greatest
son: JAMES f. JOHNSTON.