Evening star., 1944-03-05
Arlington Board
Maps Battle on
Cemetery Plan
County Leaders Meet
Tomorrow to Protest
Expansion Proposal

ganize opposition to the proposed
expansion Of Arlington National
Cemetery.
One hundred and eighteen acres
Of private and Federally-owned
county land would be involved.
F. Freeland Chew, board member,
condemned the proposed expansion
as well designed move to creep
in and gradually absorb u.s." He
said that the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, which
had blocked construction of hotel
en- a portion of that land, should
occupy its time with slum clear
ance in Washington rather than
moving in on the county"
Calls 1t Poor Planning"
The issue was brought before the
County Board by Thompson Short,
1880 North Meade street, property
owner in the area that would be
condemned if the Senate-approved
bill is enacted. Mr. Short, who
called the expansion "uneconomical,
unfair and poor planning" said
that if it would actually fulfill re-
quirements of the War Depart
ment he would not object, but
would release his property at a
loss. Constant fear of Government
acquisition, he said, had kept many
property owners from improving
their land.
He said the acreage involved
would not keep the cemetery GO
ing for more than a few years" and
that the same problem of en-
croachment on Arlington County
land would recur.
Thomas Edwards, representative
Of the Arlington Democratic Club,
proposed mass meeting The board
stipulated, however, thet representa-
| tives of all organizations attend
rather than full membership.
Representative Smith, Democrat,
Of Virginia, is to attend the meeting
which will be under the chairman
| ship of Edmund D. Campbell who
was named to represent the county
government along with Lawrence
! Douglas, Commonwealth Attorney,
and Frank L. Dieter, Planning Com
missioner.
Three principal objections have
been voiced to the expansion bill by
county government and civic Off
cials. They are:
That such move would culmi-
nate in annexation of the county
as part of the District.
That the county would lose an
area at the approaches 10 Arlington
Memorial Bridge that has the great
est potential value in the county
That acquisition of the land will
satisfy only temporarily the needs
for burial of war dead.
i Cemetery officials said yesterday
! that it was impossible to estimate
; the number of graves the addi-
: tional ground would accommodate.
There are now 54,474 graves in the
408 acres within current cemetery
boundaries. Officials said there
was ample" room for current and
future burials for some time to
come"
Project Rejected.
In other actions the board turned
down request by the Federal Pub
lie Housing Authority for approval
of construction of 44-unit colored
housing project at South Queen
street and Columbia pike. Board
members asked that FPHA present
its proposal through regular chan
nels by advertising rezoning of
the area.
+! A delegation from the New Arling-
ton Citizens Association asked the
board to reconsider the recent zon-
ing changes in the Nauck Hill area
which allow for construction Of
private and Federal housing for COL
ored persons.
Harold L. Schilz, spokesman for
the group, presented petition
signed by residents of property ad-
jacent to the proposed Develop
ments. He said that public utilities
and transportation would not be
able to meet large increase in
populat ton of the area.
The board indicated that no steps
would be taken to nullify the zoning
change.
Fairgrounds Asked.
A delegation from all colored civic
groups in the county asked the
board to provide three colored play
grounds in the selection of sites by
the Park and Playground Planning
Committee. Their request was re-
ferred to Mr.. Dieter, county planning
commissioner.
The board approved a $600-a-year
raise for Circuit Court judge. This
will raise the salary of the Judge Of
the newly formed 35th circuit to
$500 annually.
A bill in the Virginia Assembly
proposing $1,000 increase in the
salary of the trial justice to $1,000
annually and 5000 increase in the
salary OF the substitute justice to
$1,000 was indorsed The new bill
proposes that the substitute shall
not be allowed TO practice in trial
justice court. The board asked
State Senator Medley to strike out
provision that second substitute
be appointed.
"A CID OF SlO,974 made by the
1nter-Construction Co., Hyattsville,
Md, was approved for construction
OF $500 feet of 24-inch cast iron
water main on Little Falls road be-
tween Giebe road and North Lex
ington street.
A bid of $5,686 made. by Mcclure
& Rolfe, Inc, for construction of
sidewalks was approved. This work
will be on Washington boulevard
from Roosevelt street to Lee high
way, in Arlington Forest from Sec
ond road to Third street, Hender-
son road in front of the Kate Waller
Barrett School. and North High
land street from Washington boule-
ward to the Medical Center Build
ing.
An appropriation of S3,0l5 for
payment through the fiscal year of
firemen stationed at the new Fair
lingtcn Fire Department. recon-
mended by County Manager Frank
c. Hanrahan, was approved.
l.