Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-06
LuCian H. Greenhouse, Part
Owner of Land, Explains
Waterfront Need.
ANSWERS TO OPINION
INVITATIONS RECEIVED
Highway Plans Given by Col. Grant
Among Chief Objections to
Permit Petition.

While the Office of Maj. Brehon B.
Somervell, district engineer for the War
Department for the Washington area,
said today that he was receiving num-
erous letters of opposition to granting
permit for a wharf to the Sun Oil
Co. of Philadelphia, on the Potomac
River near Rosslyn, Va, Lucien H.
Greenhouse, manager of the Lee High
way service station and part owner of
the land which the oil firm seeks for
its tanks, explained his reason why the
permit should be granted and construc-
ton allowed to go forward.
The United States engineers Office
here, headed by Maj. Somervell, is
wharfage and other permits which
might have bearing on navigation.
Upon receipt few days ago of an
application from the Sun Oil Co. for a
permit, Ito construct q wharf located
about 400 yards above the Francis Scott
Key Bridge in the Potomac River ex-
tending EOS feet outside of the high
water shore line," Maj. Somervell's
ofhce wrote to interested Government
departments and agencies and persons
affected.
Highway Plans Mentioned.
Lieut.. Col. U. S. Grant, Sd, director
OF public buildings and public parks. an
executive officer of the National Cap
ltal Park and Planning Commission, in
opposing the granting of the permit
pointed out that the Federal Govern
ment has tentative plans for a mar
ginaI highway on the Virginia bank of
the potomac River at that point, reach
ing up to Chain Bridge and ultimately
to Great Falls, Va. This project is part
OF the Potomac Palisades DEVELOPMENT.
which is under consideration by the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning Com
mission
In his letter to interested parties to
poll sentiment on the application for
the permit to construct the wharf, Mai,
Somervell pointed out that sit is par
t1cularly desired to see If any obiec-
lions exist as to the navigation" This
IN accordance with the rivers and
harbors law.
MAJ. Somervell said that present con-
oitions indicate that it win not be
necessary to hold a hearing on the
sun OIL application. as part of it has
been given widespread publicity and
aired pro and con. He made it clear,
advisable. 1s
The answer to Mai. Somervell,s in
vltauon Tor opinions on the application
are stlll coming in. The Department
OF Justice, which handles land matters
mas yet to be heard from.
Fart OF the land is being planned by
Cne FEDERAL Government, United States
ofnclals said, basing their contention on
the decision In the Morris case. based
on the 1871 shore line of the Potomac
existing fhn
when Arlington County was coded back
to that State.
The Federal Government is now law
ing claim to the accretion during the
years that have elapsed since 1891, it
having been decided that the old Mary
land line out Of which the District of
Columbia was carved extended over to
the virginia side of the Potomac River.
engineers point out that the present
shore line of the Potomac River near
Rosslyn is further out toward mid
stream than 1t was in 1891, due to ac-
cretlon, the explanation being nut for.
Waro tnat decaying vegetation gradual
~ assists In building out the shore line.
Facilities Are Sought.
In this disputed area the Sun Oil Co.
seeks to obtain wharfage facilities
while the Federal Government has its
eye on the property as potential park
land, forming the basis for the river
Sloe driveway along the Virginia shore.
up toward Great Falls.
Mr.: Greathouse today said that his
nrm has been operating a business on
small scale during the past seven
years such as the Sun OIL co. proposes
70 conduct on a large scale. with the
ADDED feature of waterfront facilities
Mr.. Greathouse explained that there
Is general saving of cent a gallon
on petroleum products by having water
transportation facilities as compared
with shipping them in tank cars by
railroad lines.
The ground the Sun Oil Co. seeks to
build on, Mr.. Greathouse explained, is
the only waterfront DEVELOPMENT in
Arlington. County that is suitable for
this particular purpose.
He has spoken to a large number of
business people, Mr.. Greathouse said,
and his opinion is that the majority are
In favor of letting the Sun Oil Co. come
in. This is further evidenced, he said,
by banks and industrial interests.
While a title to the property has not
finally passed to the Sun Oil Co. Mr..
Greathouse preferred not to disclose
the present status of the proceedings.