Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-25
SEWER PROBLEMS
PUT UP TO PEOPLE.
Question of Making Arlington
County One Sanitary Dis.
trict Passed to Voters.
BY LESTER N. INSKEEP,
Stan Correspondent of The Star.

ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT
HOUSE, Va, July 25.-Deciding to
put the matter up to the people. since
1t is they who must be satisfied" Judge
Howard w. Smith, In Circuit Court,
yesterday, approved q petition to con-
slider the entire county as one unit
In the matter Of sewer construction
and instructed Commonwealth's Attor-
ney william C. Cloth to prepare the
order for his signature.
Judge Smiths decision brings to an
end the question of sanitary district
boundaries, one that has been before
him in various forms for more than a
year and that has presented many per-
picking angles as to finance and ensi-
neering questions.
Original Petition.
The original petition, which was pre-
sented by Hugh Reid, member Of the
House of Delegates, was that the coun-
ty be divided into separate sanitary dis
trictS, beginning with districts Nos.
and 2, which would take in the thickiJ
populated sections Of Cherrydale, Clar-
endon, Ballston, Ashton Heights, Lyon
Park, Lyon Village and q number Of
other communities.
Of bond issue to finance the laying of
the sewer mains would have been put
before the citizens Of each district for
their vote as to its passage, the work
to have been done In the district re.
ceiving a favorable vote and to have
been left undone If there were . district
in which the vote was unfavorable.
Difficulties were encountered, how
ever. when the residents of Ashton
Heights and Lyon Park petitioned the
court to be included in district No. /,
in which 1t was planned to make the
first installation.
Because the first and second districts
were separated by q natural drainage
division it was found almost impossible
to act favorably on this petition.
1t was after hearing arguments on
this latter petition that Judge Smith
expressed himself as favorable to the
inclusion of the entire county in one
district, refusing to make decision
until both plans had been submitted to
him.
The petition accepted yesterday was
prepared by Cloth and State Senator
Frank L. Ball. 1t was opposed by Reid,
who said that although he had no wish
to stand IN the way of the best plan
not persuaded that the citizens not
Immediately served would cast their
votes for taxation that would benefit
only those in the favored territories.
Reid was the only person present who
voiced opposition TO the single unit
plan. County Directing Engineer c. l..
Kinnier and Sanitary Engineer Thomas
N. DeLashmutt both stating that there
would be no additional cost under the
single unit plan and that it would prove
more satisfactory.
Charles T. Jesse. Edgar w. Humphrey.
Hugh c. McGrath and Lawrence
Douglas. local attorneys, all spoke In
favor Of It,
Value Offsets Taxes.
In making his decision, Judge Smith |
said that he thought the increase in the |
value of all property in the county |
would more than offset the extra taxes |
that would be paid by those not receiv- !
ing immediate benefits. If the single |
unit plan should be defeated at the |
polls. he said, 1t will still be possible to |
establish the separate districts, having |
the question voted upon separately in
each
Kinnier said that he was not at this !
time prepared to say what the cost of |
the construction Of the mains will be. |
but that he will have the figures that |
he now has verified by the county con- !
sultant and make them public in time |
for study by the citizens by the time |
Judge Smith shall have set a time for |
an election on the question.
The bond issue will be used only for |
the construction of the mains, the |
laterals to be financed through a front |
was done In the water installation. The
bonds are to be issued only as the |
money for construction is needed Only |
about one-third of the tntire area of |
the county would receive immediate
consideration. Kinnier said.