Evening star., 1940-01-10
Park Project
Delay Denied
By Hanrahan
At Loss to Explain
Statement Thut U. S
May Withhold Funds

Reports that Arlington County,
Va, Is holding up agreement with
the Federal Government for COM
pleting Unit 2 of the George WASH
ington Memorial Parkway were en-
phatically denied today by County
Manager Frank C. Hanrahan.
The county manager declared he
is "at loss" to explain recent state
ments that Federal officials threaten
to withhold funds to complete the
parkway unit.
IT can say emphatically," he de-
clared, that we have lived up to
the letter and spirit of the agree
ment we had with the Park and
Planning Commission relative to
obtaining rights of way and funds
for our share in the project. In a
conferece with Federal engineers and
official of the Park and Planning
Commission shortly before Christ
mas, our position was made entirely
clear and apparently was understood
completely by all
Mr.. Hanrahan said he believed it
unfortunate" that unfavorable pub
licity arose at this time, when actual
signing of the agreement is virtually
completed. He referred to the coun-
tvs efforts to obtain final donations
of land from property owners within
the proposed parkway development.
The county has obtained dona-
tions from all but two property
owners-one of whom is now in
Hawaii and is expected to be heard
from this week, and second who is
out of town, but who has been
reached for his opinion.
Commonwealth Attorney Law
renee w. Douglas now has an ap-
proved legal agreement ready for
signature of the parties involved as
soon as the last two properties are
obtained.
II would resent any pressure,
brought in the form of publicity, to
try to make me rush a completion
of an agreement when Arlington
County's interests are involved" Mr..
Hanrahan said
He explained that when Unit 2
of the parkway was first proposed,
the cost to the county would have
been $4,000, but he has lately COM
pleted arrangements whereby it will
now cost county taxpayers about
$40,
The reduction of the original $50
600 to $45, 900 was reached when he
urged a reappraisal of the land
involved; he worked out plan for
the Federal Government to accept
the land donations as credit on AL
rington's payment, which accounted
for about So, 900 from private sources,
and he succeeded in obtaining a
Federal credit of SIS, 900 on county,
owned tract near Rosslyn which was
originally appraised by Federal OFF,
cials for $1,000.
The largest delay was incurred in
negotiations for connecting link
between the parkway and Rosslyn
plaza, the county manager said.
The Federal Government recently
agreed to the county's demand for
the connecting link and expressed
willingness to construct temporary
road, which will be made permanent
if its use shows the need for its
existence. Chairman Frederic Del
ano of the Park and Planning Com
mission recently commended Mr.
Hanrahan for the latter's insistence
that the Rosslyn link be included in
the plans.
Unit 2, when completed, will ex-
tend from Key Bridge up the Poto-
mac River to Spout Run and thence
up Spout Run Valley to the vicinity
of Thrifton Station near Lee high
way. The unit is one Of several
planned to connect the parkway
eventually from Mount Vernon to
Great Falls in one continuous shore
line drive.