Evening star., 1935-10-13
ARLINGTON FUND
TRANSFER ASKED
County Leader Says Road
Cash Should Go to
School.
By a stat1 Correspondent of The Star.

SOttOVts
By q stan Correspondent Of The Star.
CLARENDON, Va, october Ia
Faced with equally irsistent demands
for action looking toward completion
Of the Lee Boulevard and for a school
construction program to relieve con-
eestion in the Westinghouse High
School the Arlington County Board
because of lack of sufficient funds
for both projects may be confronted
with the dilemma Of choosing between
the two
The matter was brought to an issue
today by Arthur Orr. president Of the
Arlington County Civic Federation,
who requested the county board to
transfer to the school fund the sum
of $4,000, which it has set aside as
the county's share for completion of
the boulevard link to the Nations
Capital.
In letter calling attention to "over-
crowding" in the schools, Mr.. Orr
maintains the "unwisdom Of appro-
priating county funds for any State
highway project" and declares that
the proposed transfer Of funds will
not endanger the highway project,
since the State will complete 1t in
any event.
The letter also calls attention to
the lower salaries of Arlington County
teachers as compared with those re-
ceived by teachers in Montgomery
County, Md. The latter county. ac-
cording to Orr, pays its elementary
teachers an average salary of s1,366
while the Arlington County average
is only ss71."
High school teachers in Montgom-
cry County receive an average salary
Of $1,612," he states, while In Ar
Ington County the average is $l,254."
State Obligation Cited.
In justification Of his proposal, Orr
points out that under the law it is
the obligation of the State to build
and maintain State highways. The
State highway fund is made up of re-
ceipts from gasoline taxes and auto
mobile license fees. Arlington County
probably makes a larger per capita
contribution to the State highway
fund than any other county.
Three years ago Arlington County
thus relieving the State Of any obliga-
ton toward our county road system.
Ours is the only county in the State
whose roads are not entirely State
responsibility. It Is not appropriate
under the circumstances for Arlington
County to contribute from its local
funds for construction Of q State
highway.
May I respectfully suggest" the
letter concludes, "the wisdom of an
immediate transfer to the school fund
of the $4,000 you contemplate giving
to the State. or, II that be moi. pos
sible under the law. that you refrain
from appropriating 1t to the State
and that you let it lie in the treasury
unexpended, where it can be allocated
to the school funds in the next years
budget"
Condemnation Action Asked.
Both the Alexandria Arlington
Fairfax Real Estate Board and the
Arlington County Chamber Of Com
merce recently adopted resolutions
urging the county board to institute
condemnation proceedings against
property owners who are said to have
asked exorbitant prices for land
sought as a right Of way for the
boulevard, from its northern terminus
in Lyon Park to the Arlington Me-
mortal Bridge.
The $4,000 set aside by the county
board, together with 100000 allo-
Gated by the State, was to be used
for purchase Of this right Of way.
The county chamber Of commerce
at its last meeting also instructed its
Schools Committee to meet with
Supt. Of Schools Fletcher Kemp for
the purpose Of discussing and CO.
operating with him in a school ex-
pansion program.
p. w. A. application for 5000 600,
to be used In construction Of a Junior
high school and an elementary school
has not yet been acted upon by the
Federal agency, and those interested
in the project are said to be doubtful
Of its approval at this late GATE.
Supt Kemp has already declared
that If the Federal grant Is not forth
coming the proposed construction will
have to be financed by other means.