Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-20
Planners Would
Doub|eAr|ington
Cen1etery's
Military Ground
Filling Rapidly by
Lost War Veterans
BY NELSON NJ. SHEPARD,

BY NELSON NJ. SHEPARD.
Immediate action on plans to
double the acreage of Arlington Ma
tional Cemetery in view of expected
war casualties was urged today by
Federal planning officials.
Col. Charles G. Mortimer, Airing
tons superintendent, said the 400
acres of the military buying ground
are being filled so rapidly by new
graves of World War veterans that
considerable extension would be re-
quired soon, even If war were not
on now.
New boundary lines which, 1t was
estimated, roughly would add about
400 acres to the reservation were
worked out and recommended late
yesterday by the Fine Arts and
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission. 1t would be possible to
acquire now, officials said, all of the
privately owned undeveloped land
adjacent to the cemetery between
the two boulevards that skirt it.
Other Government-owne land now
occupied would have to wait until
after the war.
Includes Dormitories.
Included within the new boundary
lines are the temporary Government
dormitories and the Arlington Cam
Torment, spreading out on both
sides Of the approach to Arlington
Memorial Bridge. Other lands sought
are Government owned, too. and
are In the vicinity of the new Navy
Annex.
The area included within the
proposed taking lines Is bordered
on the north by the Lee Boulevard
and by the extension Of Washing
ton Boulevard on the south, both
of which meet at the Memorial
Bridge approach. Also included are
lands between the cemetery and
Ridge road. Within these bounda-
ries were said to be certain areas
which threaten to become prob
lens unless acquired shortly, off,
Gals explained.
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant, Sd, chair
man of the Park and Planning
Commission: Col Mortimer and
Brig. Gen. John J. Kingman, rep
resentative on the commission of
the United States Engineers Office,
aiding in working out the plans.
Administration Question.
Determination of the boundary
lines involves an administration
| question, for the War Department
owns considerable portion of the
land sought. Congressional author
ization of funds also will be neces-
sary to acquire privately-owned
tracts. Some members Of the
Planning Commission expressed the
view that at any time the War De-
partment and the President are
agreeable, transfers could be ar
ranged by executive order.
Portions of Arlington Farms, for
merly the site of the Agricultural
Experimental Farms, were included
in prewar plans for the extension
OF the cemetery.
Carrying on it's studies of post
war development in the Washington
area, the two planning bodies late
yesterday also considered proposals
for the future use of Fort Washing
ton, where the Army now MAIN
tains its Adjutant Generals School.
The site of this historic fort, dating
back to 1872. Is owned by the Ma
tional Park Service and the Army
is occupying it now under lease.
Brig. Gen. Herbert C. Holdridge,
fort commandant, disclosed that the
Army is thinking seriously of MAIN
tanning a permanent school there.
That proved an unexpected obstacle
to the planning officials. Suggestions
were made that the Army retain
about half Of the area, leaving the
other half to the National Park Serv-
ice.
Continued for Study.
The planning officials brought out
that Fort Washington Is the ter
minal point on the Maryland side
for the George Washington Memo
rial Parkway and for that reason it
would be desirable for the Army to
vacate the fort after the war. 1t is
also a terminal for the Fort drive,
which links with the memorial park
way near Great Falls to encircle the
Capital City. In view of future plans
for a permanent Adjutant Generals
School at Fort Washington, the
whole question of jurisdiction was
continued for further study
| Celebrating on earlier plans to
make the Fort drive a four-traffic
lane parkway after the war, officials
suggested that it could serve as an
ideal bus route. The drive passes
through outlying areas OF the city, il
was pointed out, and might well be
used for an additional cross-town
service
Two contracts for about acres OF
land above Cabin John, Md, totaling
$4,000, were approved for postwar
extension of the George Washington
Memorial Parkway. The deal in
volved negotiations with the Mary
land Park and Planning Commission
and was worked out by Curtis Walk
er. it's land appraiser.