Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-03
ALEXANDRIA WINS
ANNEXATION FIGHT
City Gets 1,500-Acre Slice
of Arlington by Court
Decision.
BY LESTER N. INSKEEP,
STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

ARLINGTON COUNTY COURT
HOUSE, May 3.-The City of Alexan-
dria was today awarded the entire
section of Arlington County, for which
they sued in December, 1927, and over
which legal battle has been raging
ever since. The decision granting the
territory to Alexandria was rendered by
special tribunal consisting of judges
Don F. HalSey of Lynchburg; c. w.
HudginS of Chase City and Frederick
Coleman of Fredericksburg.
Practically the entire membership of
the Arlington County Bar Association
and all OF the county officials were
present in the courtroom when the de-
clslon was handed down. 1t was re-
celVed as a distinct shock, it having
been the consensus of opinion that if
any OF the territory was awarded to
Alexandria it would be but a small part.
Following the announcement the
judges announced that they will re-
convene tomorrow morning at 8
O'Clock to sign the order and will re-
turn to Arlington County on June IL
10 settle all questions relating to valu-
alton.
Exception Is Noted.
John S. Barbour, chief counsel for
Arlington County, noted an exception
to the ruling, but will be unable to file
an appeal until after the June II ses-
sion, when the action becomes law.
Included in the section awarded to
Alexandria is one of the biggest single
sources of tax revenue that the coun-
ty has had. That is the Potomac
Yards of the r. F. and P. Railroad
which, with no expense to the county
In road building or lighting, pays into
the county treasury. between $4,000
and 100000 annually in taxes. This
entire revenue will, under the new ar
rangement. be diverted to Alexandria.
In the territory also is the town of
Potomac, the only incorporated town
in the county, with the exception of
that part of Falls Church which lies
within Arlington County.
The territory comprises some $500
acres as what is described by officials
to be one of the richest sections in
Arlington, the smallest county in the
United States.
Has Political Bearing.
The new line reaches as far north as
Four Mile Run and from the river to
the Fairfax County line.
Unless the decision of the judges is
reversed by higher court today's &C
ton will have a distinct bearing upon
the future government and politics of
the county, since, living in this section
are Edward Duncan, chairman of the
Board of County Supervisors; William
H. Duncan, clerk of the court; r. E.
Remington, deputy clerk of the court:
/ Bryan Gordon, associate trial justice;
j. H. Kremer, overseer of the poor;
Deputy Sheriff Archie Richards and
County Policemen Raymond Cobean and
Hugh c. Jones.
Bitter Fight Expected.
1t is expected that the decision will
be bitterly fought through the Court
of Appeals of Virginia and may even
be taken to the United States Supreme
| Court If necessary. The expense of the
county, while a heavy drain on the
treasury, will not be nearly so great as
the revenue to be lost by having the
| territory taken over by Alexandria
Both Arl ngton County and Alexandria
have already expended large sums in
| the employment of special counsel and
preparation of data over the period
| since the case was first opened.
AS to what bearing the loss of the
| territory will have on the taxes of the
| residents of Arlington County was a
matter of conjecture today at the court
house. Whereas the county will not
have the expense of the upkeep of the
effected territory. they must lose so
much more in the matter of revenue
that an increase in the present tax
rate for the balance of the county will
probably be necessary, in the opinion of
those having made study OF the case,