Evening star., 1938-09-10
H|GHWAYPR0JECT
DO0MS TREES AS
COUNCIL ACCEPTS
Falls Church Officials Vote
Without Dissent After
Petition by 600.
MOVE FOR ALTERNATE
PROPOSALS REJECTED
Maj. Gen. Lane Leads Opposition
Contending State Could Make
Exception.
By q Stan Correspondent Of The Star.

GACCpGAOns
BY Stan Correspondent Of The Star.
FALLS CHURCH, Va. Sept. 10
Confronted by only minor opposition,
the Falls Church Town Council last
night voted without dissenting voice
TO accept the State Highway Commis-
sion's plans for a 40-foot paved high
way, 1000 feet long, on West Broad
street from the Lee highway to the
corporate limit.
This action, taken at public meet
ing in Madison School auditorium,
doomed goodly portion of the aged
and spreading maple trees that line
West Broad on State Highway No. z,
which runs through Falls Church
from Leesburg to Alexandria. The
Council based its course on a petition
signed by 600 citizens favoring the
roadway.
Mayor Leonard P. Daniel climaxed
two hours of discussion by putting
the question to viva voce vote.
There was chorus Of "ayes" and not
a single no" but it was noted that
not all of the six voices of the coun-
cilmen had joined in the chorus. The
full Council was present. including
Brig. Gen. B. H. Keyser, U. S. M. c.,
retired; Paul Ferris. R. E. Ankers,
Thomas F. Probey, Clarence Shotwell
and ]. G. Smith.
The Councils vote settled at least
temporarily question that has
stirred local citizens to controversy
for the last few months. On August
%, the Council voted to accept the
Highway Commissions proposal, but
In the face of wave of opposition
and the question of its original action
being taken in recessed meeting,
rescinded the vote on September and
then called last nights session to
allow a full hearing for opposition.
Capt. Bethune Presents Petition.
Capt. John F. Bethune presented
the large petition of citizens favoring
the 40-foot State highway through
the town, thus necessitating elimina-
ton of such shade trees as necessary.
With Federal aid, the State plans to
spend $4,000 on the project
Only a small number are opposed" "
Capt. Bethune said '"They would like
to preserve our trees. The road, how
ever, will not be built unless it Is 40
feet wide. We have conferred at
Pinhrnnnd nyifh T41
chairman Of the State Highway Com
mission, and he told us the 40-foot
requirement for all State roads
through towns could not be modified
The commission has agreed to plant
new trees on each side OF the street
where old trees are removed. All trees
IN good condition will be preserved as
far as possible"
Mayor Daniel read petition bear
Ing so signatures asking that the
commission consider alternative pro-
posals" for bypass around the CEN
ter OF Falls Church, leading to the Lee
highway on the east or to the Lee
highway and Lee boulevard on the
west, or else to reduce the West Broad
street roadway to 36 feet to save the
trees.
Gen. Lane Argues for Exception.
Maj. Gen. Rufus Lane, U. S. M. C..
retired, was the chief opposition
spokesman, terming the 40-foot road
way "a very cruel proposition" and
declaring "the rules are subject te
exception" and In this case should be
changed.
The trees, he declared, ARE one OF
our greatest assets. They represent
the character of the town. And q
town without character is no place
where people want to live Shall We
sacrifice character to have $4,000 ex.
pended here or assert our character
He contended 40-foot road woulo
increase the traffic hazard and con.
eluded Falls Church was better
place to live in" l8 years ago wher
he first settled there than it is now
To Gen. Lanes statement he knew
nothing of the petition favorine the
project, Capt. Bethune replied tina,
the general lives outside the cor.
porate limits and therefore was moi
asked to sign it,
Gen. Lane cited the fact his owr
property is on the corporate line
however, and that he always has con.
sidered himself a Falls Church resi-
dent.
Petition Is Held Referendum
H. P. Worthington proposed a pub
lie referendum on the question of &C.
ceptlng the Highway Commission plar
or proposing to the commission tina
1t build bypass. Mayor Daniel ant
Councilman Probey contended, i,
reply, that the petition of 600 name
was sufficient referendum and ther,
was no legal provision for such a spe
cial plebiscite. The Mayor, further
Ing his policy Of hearing both sides
read into the record letter from
II. P. Sheldon protesting removal O
the big maple trees on West Broad
TO be replaced by young elms ant
pin oaks"
Gen. Keyser expressed agreemen
with Mr.. Worthington but said he wa
now convinced the majority of citi
Eens favored the hard-surface roa,
through the center of the town.
The Council voted down MIR. Ferris
proposed amendment to recognize tn
right Of the State Highway Commis
sion to reopen the question for sucl
desirable alternatives" as might b
found, such as a bypass, should tn
Federal Bureau Of Public Roads rejec
the commissions plans for tn
highway.
Capt. J. NJ Gait, town clerk an,
treasurer, acted as secretary for tn
meeting, which attracted an audienc
of citizens that hardly filled half tn
auditorium.