Evening star., 1938-03-28
ARLINGTON DELAY
ENDANCERS FUNDS
FOR PARKWAY lob
County Board Must Assure
U. S. 1t Will Try to
Match $4,000.
STATE VOTED THAT SUM
TO HELP PROJECT
Spout Run Valley to Thrifton
Station Area Would Be
Benefited by Construction.

Arlington County faces the possible
loss of obtaining Federal funds to de-
velop a spur extension of the George
Washington Memorial Parkway up
Spout Run Valley to Thrfton Sta
ton, officials in Washington said to-
day. unless the County Board is able
to give assurance this week that it
will try to match a $4,000 authorize
ton for this purpose by the Virginia
legislature
The declaration was not intended
as threat to bring undue pressure
on the County Board. a National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion statement said. but was intended
to dispell any illusion that the offer
Of Federal assistance Is permanent.
There is very serious question in
the mind of the Federal Budget Blu
reau as to how long the 100000 in
Government funds allocated for this
development can be held without any
commitment from the Arlington
County Board" officials said.
The county can put up S25, 900 this
year and another $4,000 next year
to benefit from the 100000 that will
be matched by the Federal Govern
ment under the Capper- -Cramton Act
to acquire title to the land. AS soon
AS the County Board makes provisions
to match the State fund, approxi-
mstely 100000 additional will be di-
tod ou
ernment to spend on the needed i'm
provements But this offer cannot
hold good indefinitely without as
surances from the County Board that
it will do its part at this time
$4,000 Voted Previously.
Arlington County previously appro-
priated $25000 as its share in de-
veloping the Memorial Parkway to
pass under Key Bridge and lead into
Rosslyn, a project now nearly COM
pleted.
The Budget Committee of the Leg
islature, it was said, approved the
&50000 this year when it was assured
that negotiations were being con-
Quoted with the County Board to vote
. similar amount.
Officials here and civic leaders in
Arlington County explained the i'm
possibility of action before another
year unless a commitment is made
this week by the County Board, due to
the date set for the closing of the
budget.
Furthermore. the Federal park OFF,
cials sought to clear up an evident
misunderstanding of the situation with
respect to Federal funds that has
gained wide circulation in the county.
There can be no hope whatever of a
cent of Federal expenditure, they said,
unless the county and the State Legis-
-rlatu make the payment of 100000
to match an equal amount from the
Government The Legislature made its
allotment of $50 900 conditioned on the
appropriation of like amount by the
County Board and cannot release the
fund until the county matches it.
That is, it can put up $25,0 900 this year
to start the development, deferring the
remainder until another year.
Advantages Cited.
The proposed extension up Spout
Run valley. officials emphasized, is
not essential to plans for completing
the Memorial Parkway up the Poto-
mac to Great Falls. The idea was
advanced entirely in cooperation
with county officials and civic groups
who saw the advantages of obtaining
. large Federal expenditure for the
development Of q greatly needed rec
reational area
There is no obligation on the part
Of the Federal Government to go
ahead with these plans if the county
does not desire to take advantage of
It's offer. The Federal Budget Bureau.
it was said, will not be satisfied to
let the funds already earmarked for
the development to remain idle in
definitely, it was said, while Airing
ton County makes up its mind.
There are purposes for which it
could be expended just as readily,
of1cials said, in Montgomery or Prince
Georges County. in Maryland
One parcel of the land on the Vir-
einia side is already tied down, Off
cials explained, and they are nat
urally hopeful that the County Board
will act favorably in the matter this
week before it is too late to do any,
thing more until the next fiscal year.
Purchase of Canal.
/. The planned purchase of the old
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal along it's
entire l86-mile length from Washing
ton to Cumberland. Md, means an
eventual development OF recreational
facilities that would be partly offset
by the creation of the Spout Run
parkway on the Virginia side. The
canal route for about % miles above
Washington is to be made fit for
canoeing and boating and it is so
accessible to Virginia that many Ar
lington County residents will be able
to take advantage of the facilities.
Christopher B. Garnett, chairman
of the Arlington County Planning
Commission, pointed to the acquisition
> OF the old scenic canal as an example
Of recreational advantages which are
needed in the growing Virginia COM
nunity. Such advantages to Mary
land from the canal, he pointed out,
could come only through the Federal
Government.
Aside from the convenience of Vir-
ginia commuters to Washington by
linking Spout Valley to certain heavily
travelled highways, civic-minded people
In the county are looking forward to
the day when suitable land for rec
reational purposes will be exceedingly
hard to find. Arlington County is
the fastest-growing section of the
| Warrington metropolitan area.