Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-05


ropolitan area. and providing for the
corporation of the Inhabitants there
Of. and the State Of Virginia. and the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission. in the development. with
respect to boulevards, highways, parks
Fairgrounds and like public projects. :"
Shiriey's Reply.
Gov. Byrd referred this letter TO Henry
@. Shirley. chairman OF the State High
way Commission, who replied TO the
| governor as follows:
When the State Highway Commits
sion started 70 take In the road leading
from Berryyille via Bluemont. Purcell.
VILE. LeeSburg and on through Loudoun
and Fairfax counties TO intersect with
the road leading from Fairfax TO the
CHAIN Bridge at Tyson's Crossroads. a
public hearing was given and after
most careful consideration the commits
sion felt that II would be very much
better to take the road 10 Tyson's Cross
roads. as II would occupy the Alexan-
| dria Falls Church Leesburs turnpike.
Alexandria insists on this road start
ing al the city limits. and the counties
OF Fairfax and Loudoun also request
that II be taken In rather than branch
on at Dranesville. and come In over the
road referred TO In the communication
addressed TO you from Mclean.
The road leading In over the Dranes-
Vile turnpike Is turnpike road oper-
ated with tolls The request TO take
over this road has been before the State
Highway Commission a number OF
times, and an II ran very close 10 the
other road the cimmission did not feel
justified In adding II 10 the system.
The development Of the Potomac is
most excellent proposition and should
be urgently pushed by the District OF
Columbia. for at least 90 per cent of
the people using such q park will be
! from the District Of Columbia. and the
District should participate quite ex-
tensively In any such movement
The park would also be more OF a
| local proposition and It would be more
! Counties 10 take hold and push 10 COM
| pietion than a State project II is a
very beautiful stretch OF country rug
ged, admirably adapted for park pur-
poses and would make a magnificent
addition 10 the park system now owned
and operated by the District OF Co
lumbia."
Used by Stage Coaches.
has been toll road since It's con-
strlction more than q century ago. ex-
! cept for the section between On if'
Bridge and Langley taken In the State
highway system some years ago Stage
| coaches once piled their way from
taverns In Georgetown 20 Ieesbiirg over
this torturouG th0roughfsre, originally
| built after the OLD Tilford type OF con
stfuetion with large rocks forming n
rOsdbed and dirt and gravel Top
surface
One 0f tbs famous stage coach inns
waA looted al Langley. where the road
now torks the right branch continu-
ing 10 Great Pals. Dranesviiie and
f0ads and Fairfax The left branch
nov IL 81 State construction. but the
right branch still II narrow toll road
with IA toll gate halfway 10 the Falls
'fhs road was purchased In 1921 BY
the Washington. Great Falls 81 Dranea-
Vile Highway Co. composed OF public
spirited citizens of Virginia and Wash.
Ingt0n, who desired To improve the TOAD
and develop the territory along the
upper Potomac gorge. Robert N
Harper local banker and native Vif'
3in'sn II president ~ the company
ana Douglass MaeIali local attorney
| w Virginia WI
the Virginia Park Commission Is vice
| president.
The company laid maeadam sur
face 1Vet thr old roadbed aud inkti,
tted b toll III "a cents per aulnmo'
bile for the round trip 10 Great Pals
According Ia MI Maekail The company
ma lot considerable amount 0l
INNley Ia lis efforts Ia maintain ths
road and II IL willing nov Shoi 0nis
10 sAerlfee any prom, but totssums q