Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-18
BALL BILL TO AID
MT. VERNON ROAD
Measure introduced in As
sembIy to Speed Condemna-
ton for Boulevard.
BY LESTER N. INSKEEP,
Stan Correspondent Of The Star.

RICHMOND, Va. February l8.-First
public knowledge that the Federal Gov
ernment's plans to have the Mount
Vernon Boulevard project completed in
time Tor the bi-centennial celebration
in 1882 are endangered, is contained in
Dill presented in the State Senate by
Senator Frank L. Ball of Arlington.
The purpose of the bill is to aid the
Bureau of Public Roads, United States
Department of Agriculture, in the con-
domination OF sufficient land to carry
out the construction of a new Federal
highway from Washington to Mount
Vernon, birthplace of George Washing
ton, in time for the bi-centennial cele-
bration of that patriots birth, in 1882.
COnfers States Rights.
The measure confers upon the United
States Government the same rights
now enjoyed by the Virginia State
highway commission in connection with
the condemnation of land, but for that
one project alone.
At the present time there Is a law
which permits the State highway COM
mission, in cases where there is a
controversy as to the amount OF dam
ages, to take the desired land and fight
the price out in court at some future
date. Under the old law, however,
which is still applicable to all but the
State bodybuilding body, any con-
troversy of this nature must be settled
in the courts before possession Is taken
of the land in question.
OfficialS of the Bureau Of Public
Roads, it is said, have struck "snag
in that they have been unable to reach
an agreement with several owners OF
land, through which the new highway
must pass. Since court action in any
one of the cases night mean a delay OF
a year or more the Federal body would
be unable to complete the highway
within the time limit. 1t was said.
Confronted with this situation, the
Federal body appealed TO Northern Vir-
ginia legislators, who are in attendance
at the regular session of the General
Assembly here and the measure was In
troduced, barely in time to be within the
time limit set for the introduction OF
general legislation. SO late was 1t, as 0
matter of fact, that only Senator Ban
could get the measure in, Delegate j.
Fred Birrell of Alexandria, TO whom an
appeal was also made, being unable to
introduce the measure in the House.
Birren stated today, however. that he
will support the bill when and II 1t Is
passed by the Senate and sent to the
House for final action.
Spending 100000 on Roads.
Members have been informed that the
Federal Government Is spending in the
neighborhood of $1,000, 900 for the con-
struction of the boulevard and more
than $4,000, 900 on the new Arlington
Memorial Bridge between the District OF
Columbia and Virginia and 1t is believed
that the desired condemnation author
ity will be conferred upon the Federal
officials desiring 1t.
Senator Ball already has evidenced
his support Of the development plans OF
the National Capital PARK and Planning
Commission, under whose plans the
bridge and boulevard are being con-
structed, by the introduction of one bill
to appropriate 500, 900 toward the de-
velopment OF a parkway in connection
with the boulevard construction and an
other to form joint park and planning
body for Northern Virginia TO cooperate
with the Federal body In the conSum-
nation of Its plans. Committee action
on these measures is expected this week.