Evening star., 1947-02-14
Strong Support
Is Voiced for
Arlington Bonds
Improvements Costing
Millions Backed
At Bourd Hearing

If opinions expressed at a public
hearing before the County Board
are any indication, Arlington voters
overwhelmingly favor a multimillion
dollar bond issue to finance capital
improvements. f.
This was the conclusion drawn
last night at the close of session
that lasted more than two hours.
The hearing was held by the County
Board to determine If bond issue
Is wanted.
More than 200 persons filled the
Circuit Court room as representa-
tives Of various organizations and
individual citizens told the board
how they felt about floating bonds
to pay for such things as a sewage
treatment plant, an incinerator, nu-
merous sewer projects, additions to
the Courthouse, highway projects
and other capital improvements.
Few Voice Opposition.
Only a few of those who spoke
were against issuing bonds. A num-
Der asked for more time to study
the matter; others said they did
not think the time was ripe" to
act. Many felt there should be at
least one more public hearing be-
fore the County Board petitions the
judge of the Circuit Court to set a
date for a referendum on the ques-
ton.
The County Board last December
released list of projected capital
improvements estimated to cost
more than $1O,O00,OO0. The list was
returned to County Manager Frank
c. Hanrahan with instructions to
pare it so that the estimated ex-
pense would approximate $6,000,000.
This has been done, but the County
Board has not decided which prof.
ects should be included or the exact
amount of the proposed bond issue,
it was brought out last night.
Among organizations favoring a
bond issue were the Civic Fedora
tion, the League Of Women Voters.
the Citizens Committee for School
Improvement, the Board of Directors
of the Chamber Of Commerce, the
Westover Civic Association, the
North Fairfax Drive Citizens AS
ISOLATION, the Executive Board of the
Organized Women Voters, the Fair
lington Citizens Association, the
John Marshall School PIT. A, the
Milburn Terrace Citizens Associa-
ton and the Fort Myer Heights
Citizens Association.
Market Held Unfayorable.
Ashton Jones, jr., representing
the Arlington Alexandria Real
Estate Board, favored pay-as-you-
go plan for the projects, which his
group Endorsed generally as a
worthwhile goal" Mr.. Jones said
the board felt the market for bonds
is unfavorable now.
On behalf of the Arlington Board
Of Trade, Oren r. Lewis declared
the items to be paid for should be
specified and other details given
before his group could give an
opinion. He said, however, the
Trade Board recognized the fact
that many capital improvements
are needed and cannot be paid for
out of current revenues.
A bond issue of the original
amount suggested was called for by
George C. Updegraff of the New
Ballston Citizens Association, who
declared $6,00OO00 is mot nearly
enough to give Arlington the i'm
provements it needs"
Mrs. Elizabeth B. Magruder,
county board chairman, assured
the citizens that as soon as the
board decides on the projects to be
included, the public will be notified.
before the board petitions for refer
endum. She indicated that at least
one other public hearing would be
held before the board petitions the
ro,Iy-f