Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-05
Alexandria's Victory,

Alexandria has won the right to ex-
tend It's boundaries into the adjoining
counties Of Arlington and Fairfax anc
to assume jurisdiction over fifteen hun
dred acres, tax revenue from which has
previously gone into the treasures OF
these two counties. Arlington County
which loses through the decision the
greater part Of the territory involved
including the revenue producing Po-
tonac freight yards. is hardest hit. One
immediate effect of the decision, pro-
vided It is upheld by the courts to
which an appeal may be carried, will be
that about ninety thousand dollars in
taxes from the freight yards, which, in
turn, required little from the county in
the way Of improvement, will now be
lost to the county and gained by the
municipality. Naturally, there is keen
disappointment felt in Arlington County
and great rejoicing in the city OF Alex
andria.
AS the matter was studied by a spe-
cially appointed court. which under Vir-
ginia laws sits on the appeal of a city
to extend its boundaries into adjoining
counties, disinterested parties are left
without ground either to praise or con-
denim the courts decision. Alexandria s
contention was that. county boundary
f. lines left it no room for further expan-
sion. With Fairfax only passively in
terested, Arlington fought the case
strenuously. contending that the county
was becoming thickly populated and
already beginning to assume some of
the physical characteristics of a city.
The county sought to show that Alex
4. andria's fight was aimed more at OBJ
4. tanning the railroad yards than to ex-
pand. How. it was asked, could the city
expand into the railroad yards?
The decision probably will be ap-
pealed, but precedent favors Alexandria.
Arlington County taxpayers are now
wondering whether they will be called
upon, through an increased county tax
rate, to make up the deficit incurred
through loss Of the freight yard tax
revenue, which formerly has been ap-
portioned, equally to the three districts
Of Arlington, jefferson and Washing
-, ton Some revenue will probably accrue
to the county as indemnity for the, loss
of improvements put in the disputed
territory at the county's expense.
!, But the interesting problem now re-
lates to the, future Of Arlington County,
the smallest county, by the way, in the
United States. A few years ago the
county sought an enabling act from the
State Legislature authorizing the voters
in the county to decide upon the ques-
ton Of incorporation as a municipality
The enabling act was defeated. Alex
andria fought it hard. Will the attempt
now be repeated? Incorporated. the
county would have the benefits Of
: more firmly knit system Of government
than the existing loose and somewhat
archaic form Of county administration.
Likewise, there would probably be more
expense and higher taxes. But higher
taxes are apparently in prospect no
matter what the county does.
Regardless of where ones sympathies
may lie, the decision in this case merely
reflects the march of progress. County
4. lines and county governments every
where are rapidly losing their sig
nihcance. Washington can wish for its
neighbor, Alexandria, success and pros
perity in. its new and larger field of OPP
portunity; for Arlington County there
is the hope that what may seem now
as a setback will eventually prove a
blessing in disguise, and, united in a
common effort, the people Of the county
will quicken their progress through
friendly, but keen, competition with the
new City Of Alexandria.