Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-08
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
FAIRFAX, Va, September Fair
fax County has just completed its first
year of operation under the law passed
by the last State Legislature abolishing
the old district road boards and vesting
control of all county and district high
ways In the Board Of Supervisors and
the COUNTY engineer.
A summary of the results Of the past
years work, prepared by County Engi-
neer F.. N. Larkin, shows that under this
new system Fairfax County may justly
claim leadership, not only In Virginia,
but throughout all rural counties in the
United States H. G. Shirley. chairman
of the Virginia State Highway Commits
sion. and Wade MasSie, representative
on that commission from Northern VIZ
ginia have on more than one occasion
complimented Fairfax County's officials
on the progressive policy and eficient
conduct of the highway department and
have stated that Fairfax County Is held
up by them as a model on which the
other counties of Virginia are advised to
pattern themselves.
Summary Of improvements.
Situated almost entirely within the
20-mile radius from the White House
designated by the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission as the metro
politan area of Greater Washington,
Fairfax County's AIT square miles are
rapidly being covered with q network OF
excellent highways. The development
within the past 10 years has been enor-
nous. In 1918 there was not single
mile of modern improved highway in
the county. Today there are 312 miles
of concrete, macadam, asphalt, gravel
and surface-treated gravel roads, In ad-
dition to the improved mileage in the
five incorporated towns of the county.
OF this 3l2 miles the county engineer
has supervision over 126 miles In the
county system and 80 miles III the dis
trict system. The IL miles from Lang
ley to Dranesville were built by the
Washington, Great Falls and DraneSvllle
Co. and are operated by the company
as a toll road. The remaining 81 miles
are a part of the State highway system
and include the Little River pike from
Alexandria to The Loudoun County line;
the Lee Highway from Falls Church to
Bull Run; the Chain Bridge Highway,
the Richmond Highway, and the Lees
burgh pike from TySon's Corners to the
Loudoun County line.
Roads Surfaced Within Year.
During the past year the county engi-
neer has surfaced As miles Of road with
gravel, stone and other material. These
include the 4-mile road from Center
vile to Chantilly, IN Centerville district.
In Dranesville district the two miles
from Colvin Run to Forestville were
grayeled. In Falls Church district 2
miles were built on the Gallows road;
- mile on Prosperity avenue; l mile
each on the WOODBURY. and Sleepy Hol-
low roads. y mile on the Graham road
and 2 miles on the Edsan road. The
miles from Alexandria to Falls Church
on the Leesburg pike and the 3h miles
from Seminary to Baileys Cross Roads
have been surface treated. In Lee dis
trict the "a mile from Burke 70 Belle
Aire school house, the miles from
Accotink Run to SuydenStricker on
route No. IA, miles on the Sideburn
road, and mile on the Braddock road
have all been graveled. In Mount YER
non district n mile was graveled on No.
IA at Springfield, miles surface-treated
on both the Telegraph and Franconia
roads. In Providence district az miles
were graveled, from Falls Church to
Mclean; y mile on route No. Fl, from
Byrne's to Chesterbrook, was surface
treated: l mile from CheSterbrOok TO
the Arlington County line resurfaced; 2
miles graveled on the Dunn Loring-
Merrifield road: miles on the Browns
Mill road; IL miles on the Lewinsville-
Falls Church road; "a mile each on the
Lewinsville-Ash Grove road, the Leigh
Mill road, Balls Hill road and the
Nickell-Fair Ground road. Last year
every bridge in the county was scraped
and given two coats of paint. During
the previous year 10 new bridges We're
built by force account and i've. others
rebuilt at a cost of $4,000, with an
estimated saving Of $4,000 over contract
price.
All of the main highways in Fairfax
County are now improved and most OF
them are hard surfaced, and is to ID
foot gravel is being used for most Of
the county and district road construc-
ton. IF the road Is subject to heavy
trafic, a top surface of hot tar and
rock is applied the second year. In adj
dition, practically every dirt road in the
county has been graded, drained and
worked. and all are In better condition
fha,, fI,ox, quar- hax,a hAQY1 IN the mast