Evening star., 1947-01-25
Arlington Board
Acts Monday on
|GasoIineDri||inq
Results Of Tests Of ,
Suspected Storage
Tunks Awaited
Pictures on Page A-3.)

tfICtuTeS OH FuyS A-o./
Arlington County Manager
Frank c. Hanrahan said today
that a decision would be made
Monday regarding drilling in the
gasoline-soaked area near Fifth
and North Pollard streets, pro-
viding tests of suspected storage
tanks do not reveal the source
of the gasoline over the week
end.
Mr.. Hanrahan's statement fol-
lowed a conference with county
board members, during which he
made report on the two-week In
vestigation into the mysterious seep-
age. He said Maj. ]. F. Mckay Of
the Army Engineers at Fort Belvoir
was scheduled to call him Monday.
A Typographical map is now being
prepared for use by the Army Of
f1cer, who is an expert in oil and
gasoline matters.
Mr.. Hanrahan yesterday advised
residents to move from the area.
Residents Stay in Homes.
The majority of the residents in
the area remained in their homes
today despite the county managers
advice.
Twenty-Five families were warned
late yesterday against the danger
which may exist by reason
of the present gasoline leakage and
gasoline fumes" The warning was
in a letter delivered to each home
personally by County Fire Chief A.
C. Scheffel.
Developments today in the situ-
alton, which first came to public
attention two weeks ago when resi-
dents complained of gasoline in un-
used wells, included a special con-
ference of a committee of residents
with Mr.. Hanrahan scheduled for
this afternoon.
Seek Extent of Area.
Mr.. Hanrahan said it was hoped
the Army engineer will be able to
determine the direction of the flow
of the seepage and the extent of the
underground area covered by the
gas, the county manager said.
Two families already have moved
from the area and several others
said they would follow if they could
find places to 60.
More than $500 gallons of gasoline
have been taken from three wells by
the county in the past two weeks.
Tests by the Bureau of Standards, oil
companies and the county have
failed to determine the source OF the
seepage. There are II underground
gasoline storage tanks in the area,
including a 17,000-gallon tank OF
the Washington, Virginia & Mary
land Coach Co.
The two families who have moved
to homes of relatives are those OF
R. E. Gladmon, 522 North Pollard
street, and William G. Rucker, 1910
North Fifth road. The former
moved shortly after the county be-
gan to remove gasoline from well
under their rear porch. The Ruck-
er's moved last night.
Precaution Urged.
Residents who remained in the
area, which is only block north
Of Buckingham Community, were
asked in Mr.. Hanrahan's letter to
exercise every precaution against
unnecessary fires on your premises,
especially fires in your yards" The
letter also asked that children be
kept away from areas where gaso-
line or gasoline fumes are present.
The notification pointed out that
the county has no legal authority
to require any person to move. 1t
added that 1--WE do not know that
there is immediate danger of ex-
plosion.'
Mrs. C. L. Blundell, 518 North Pol
lard street (next door to the Glad
mon's) said her family would stay
right here unless we really have to
get out. We don't have anyone we
can move in with" The Blundells
have two children.
Fumes Noticed for Two Years.
| Mrs. Duncan Mitchell, 514 North
Pollard street, declared:
We've had fumes for over two
years. I don't believe they're any
worse now than they have been be-
fore. We don't have anyone we
could move in with, anyway"
Telephone company officials,
whose new garage is across Fifth
road from the Gladmon home, said
the company did not contemplate
closing down its activities there.
Mrs. A. r. Thompson, 531 North
Pollard street. in whose well gaso-
line has been found, although not
in the quantities of the Gladmon
well, said she would move If she
could find a place. Mrs. A. w.
Money, 544 North Pollard street,
echoed Mrs. Thompson's sentiments.