Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-29
ANNEXATION PLAN
SEEN AS PARK AID
Maj. Cary Brown Holds Rec
lamation of Hunting Creek
Flats Possible.
snecial Dispatch to The Star.

special Dispatch to The Star.
ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT
HOUSE. Va, January 29.-Reclaiming
of the Hunting Greek Flats would pro-
ideal site for large public park along
the proposed Mount Vernon boulevard,
Mai. Cary Brown of Washington told
the court this morning when presented
by council for Arlington County as a
witness in the annexation suit brought
against the county by Alexandria.
Mai Brown. VINO is a member of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, when asked on crosS-ex-
animation by Albert v. Bryan of the
counsel for Alexandria if it would not
cost so cents per foot to reclaim the
land, testified that 1t would not cost
more than 10 cents a cubic yard, or
approximately $1,000 an acre to fill in
the lowlands along the creek.
In the direct examination conducted
by Commonwealth Attorney William c.
Cloth of Arlington County. Maj Brown
said that the territory recently acquired
from Fairfax County by annexation
agreement offers Alexandria a large
area of land suitable for the construc-
ton of high class homes. He asserted
that opening of streets adjacent to
tracks Of the Richmond, Fredericksburg
g. Potomac Railroad in Alexandria
would unquestionably aid in develop
ment of the city's land.
Say Few Favor Change.
Webster c. Davis, resident of Jeffer-
son magisterial district for % years.
said that 81 per cent of the citizens of
that district are opposed to annexation
by Alexandria.
David D. Smith. an Arlington County
contractor, who resides on Glebe road
in the territory sought by the city, as
serted that very small percentage of
people in his section favor annexation
He said that he has constructed APP
proXlmately so homes in the county
during the past year, and that the
greater majority of the occupants have
moved in from Washington. About 10
formerly lived in Alexandria, he said.
Mayor Walter B. Fulton of the town
of Potomac testified that Potomac has
all modern facilities, including well or
ganized fire and police departments,
two schools, churches of practically
every denomination and an ample num-
Der of stores.
Direct examination of Harry K.
Green, Arlington County commissioner
OF revenue, was postponed this morning
to allow Maj Brown, Mayor Fulton.
Davis and Smith to testify. Direct ex-
animation of Commissioner Green prob
ably will be continued this afternoon
or at the morning session tomorrow.
Fears Retardation.
On the stand yesterday afternoon
Green told the court that annexation
would retard the growth of both the
city OF Alexandria and Arlington County
in that the higher tax rate which would
result would be SO increased that it
would keep industries and home seekers
from both places. Arlington County
would have to increase it's tax rate from
$3.50 to $40 on the 500 assessment to
compensate for the loss Of SITE, 884.52,'
he said.
The assessed valuations in land and
personal property have increased in the
county from $1,000, 100 in 1916 to $2l,-
704,78 in 1928. Over the same period
Alexandria has increased from $685.
936 to $11.195, 602 in 1928. During the
l2-year period Alexandria increased
S5,275, 666, or SO per cent, while the
county increased $13,898,598, or 178
per cent.
The county commissioner also told
the court that in Alexandria there is an
additional automobile tax of 20 cents
per hundred pounds in addition to the
State tax, and an additional so cents
for poll tax
Green testified that Arlington County
ranks fourth out of 100 counties in the
State in capital assessments, while
Alexandria ranks sixteenth out of the
&c cities.
Two Residents Testify.
Counsel for the county presented two
witnesses at the afternoon session yes
terday in an attempt to show that resi-
dents in the area proposed to be an
nexed, as a whole, are opposed to
annexation. They were Ralph z. Rem
ington, deputy clerk of the Circuit
Court for Arlington County and a resi-
dent of the area Alexandria hopes to
II. obtain, and Bryan z. Gordon, a resi-
dent Of Mount Ida and an attorney
at-law.
Remington told the court that only
two of the people of his neighborhood
that he has conversed with regarding
annexation have spoken with favor of
going into Alexandria. He said that
practically all of the county streets and
roads in the area sought are modern
and hard surfaced and that the street
lighting system supplied by the county
Is good.
vi CToSS-examInatlon py Albert v.
Bryan of the counsel for Alexandria,
Remington said his mail comes to him
through the Alexandria post Office and
that all express, kilograms and tele-
phone calls are handled in Alexandria.
Gordon stated that sentiment in the
Mount Ida community and the town
Of Potomac, as whole, is strongly
against annexation.
On croSs-examination Gordon ad-
mitted that many of the roads and
streets in the territory proposed to be
annexed had been improved since the
annexation suit was instituted by the
city.