Evening star., 1927-11-20
BY DONALD A. CRAIG.

How to end the strife over local
government and territorial jurisdic-
ton that is troubling Arlington Coun.
ty, Alexandria City and part of Fair.
fax County is the big question in the
minds Of many persons who have at
heart the welfare of this portion of
| Virginia. 50 close to the National
Capital. They feel that peace must
he restored between the warning fac
tions before the harmonious develop
ment of Greater Washington can
proceed in that direction.
The ambition of Arlington County
to become a city. the demand of
Alexandria City to be allowed to ex-
pand into Arlington and Fairfax
Counties, and the jealous way in
which both counties look upon Alex
andria's efforts to grow. all combine
to create a situation which some per-
sons have regarded as an insuperable
obstacle TO any move for peace.
True, it has been suggested that
the whole area-all of Arlington
County. that part of Fairfax County
closest to Washington, and Alexan
iria City-shOuld logically. be united
into one community. This proposal
however. has been regarded as purely
visionary. Nobody up to this time
has suggested a definite plan to bring
the squabbling communities together
even for serious discussion of the
project.
Ball Suggests Plan.
Such plan is here proposed in
broad outline for the first time. II
is intended to restore harmonious re-
lations between all factions and it
looks forward to period in the
future when one great municipality.
perhaps to be called Virginia City"
may grow up across the Potomac
River from Washington. The pro-
moter of the plan is State Senator
Frank l.. Ball. who is resident OF
Arlington County, but represents
Arlington, Fairfax and Prince Will
liam Counties and Alexandria City in
the Legislature.
The future of that lortion OF the
Metropolitan District lying in Vir.
ginia is more a question of the vision
Of the present generation than of the
action of those to follow s. id Sen
ator Ball today by the use of
proper foresight by the leaders in
Alexandria City and Fairfax and Ar
linston Counties we VIII lay the foun.
dation now for great Virginia city
along the south bank of the Potomac
which will be credit and asset to
the Old Commonwealth. a worthy
sister of the Capital of our Nation and
q monument to the wisdom of tn
generation which will cause our chill
dren's children to rise and call US
blessed.
I'VE now stand al the cross roads
with but two courses open. One
course leads along the way of division
and individual development of the
separate communities. with meager
cooperation and increasing local jeal.
ousies. envies and iil-feelinc, which
must necessarily retard progress and
even at its utmost development result
in three weak communities in the
place of one strong city.
Urges Steps to BE Taken.
THE other course is along the way
of cooperation and mutual under.
standing, with the ultimate purpose of
consolidating the whole terr tory with
in or 10 miles of Washington
into one municipality. This is the
dream of men of vision and thought.
and its success depends on the lay
ing of the foundation now. In order
to accomplish anything material the
following steps should be taken forth
with:
First. Alexandria must withdraw
its petition for annexation. Should
the annexation proceedings be further
pressed it will lead to the bitterest
feeling ever engendered in northern
Virginia and all hope of any co-opera-
tive plan will he killed. The people
of Arlington and Fairfax Counties teel
that ;he proposed annexation of part
of their territory is blow in vital
spot. which, if successful, would leave
them badly wounded at the hands of
neiShbor. Such a feeling IS not soon
forgotten and such a wound would
not soon be overcome.
Second. competent and expert
enced city planner should be employ.
ed at once to lay out a plan covering
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