Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-16
AGREE ON FUND
FOR LEESBURG PIKE
Officials at Richmond Confer
ence Adopt Fairfax
Proposition.

FAIRFAX, Va, August 16.-Victory
yesterday crowned the efforts OF George
Harrison of Herndon. chairman OF tile
highways committee of the Fairfax
County Chamber of Commerce, who
has been working for two months to
effect a compromise agreement between
the Virginia State Highway Commits
Supervisors and Col. Robert N. Harper
of Loudoun County and Washington.
Uncle George" said last night on his
return to Fairfax County from Rich
mond that the compromise effected
yesterday in the Office of H. G. Shirley,
chairman of the Virginia State High
way Commission, was one that would
work to the advantage Of all Northern
Virginia.
Under the terms of yesterdays agree
ment, the State Highway Commission
has reduced its claim for compensation
from $1,000 to $4,000, and Col. Harper
has agreed to give The commission
check for this amount as soon as the
commission requests, with the under
standing that the Loudoun County SUI
pervisors will at some future time
refund TO him a po~i'. of this money,
when funds are available. =,
The agreement 4. eG'Ilt OF IN"
effort initiated several months ago by
:
Chamber of Commerce to have the
State Highway Commission ln'
take into the State system and improve
all OF the highway from The Al-A.:s.oll
Memorial Bridge to Mount Weather
in order that the location selected as
Summer home for the Nations PreSi-
dents might be readily available in all
weather. All but 81 miles of this high
way is in the State SyStemt Money
previously allocated by the commission
for expenditure on the LeeSburg Pike
will hard surface all but 81 miles OF
this road, near Leesburg. When this
money is spent, it will mean elimination
of the tollgate now operated near
Leesburg, as under State law no toll
gate can be maintained on less than S
miles of road.
When the committee from the Fair
fax, Arlington and Loudoun Chambers
of Commerce interviewed the commits
sion several months ago they found
that deadlock existed between the
State Highway Commission. Col. Harper
and the Loudoun County supervisors,
which had held up several years the
expenditure of the $4,000 appropriated
by the commission for improvement
Of the pike In Loudoun County.
Twenty years ago Col. Harper pur-
chased from the Loudoun County SUI
pervisors a portion of the old right-of-
way of this road, deciding a new right
of-way. which skirted his property, and
building thereon at his own expense a
road costing $4,000. Now the State
Highway Commission claims that 1t will
cost them over $4,000 to hard surface
this right-of-way, as compared with
only $4,000 over the original right-of-
way, which they also contend is the
more desirable route. Col. Harper has
objected to the return Of the
old right-of-way. which would pass
within 60 feet of his present home. The
chairman of the Highway Commission.
H. G. Shirley, offered to compromise
the matter some time ago by splitting
the $4,000 difference in the cost of the
two routes IL either Col Harper or the
Loudoun County board would pay
$1,000. This offer went for months
without serious consideration. When
Mr.. Harrison and his committee learned
the status of affairs and reported to the
Fairfax County chamber, they were
continued a committee to try and
effect a compromise agreement in the
interest of the people of Fairfax, Ar
lington and Loudoun Counties and AL
exandria City.
Yesterdays conference was attended
by Supervisors Sam Coleman, H. G.
Rogers and M. H. Whitmore, chairman
of the Loudoun County board of super
visors; all the members of the State
Highway Commission, Col. Harper, Mr..
Harrison and about a dozen citizens OF
Loudoun County. After listening to the
arguments of Col. Harper and MIR. Har-
riSon's proposition for a compromise
settlement of 5000. the board recessed
to consider the question. later calling in
Col. Harper and Mr.. Harrison to am
nounce their approval and to thank Mr..
Harrison for his Efforts in solving this
problem, which has retarded the i'm
provement. of the Leesburg pike for
three years.