Evening star., 1949-10-13
Virginiia0facia|s
Blame j. ). for
Schoo|Crowdinq
Federal Worker Influx
And Tox-Free Projects
In Nearby Area Cited

NSN
School officials of nearby Vir.
ginia told a House Education sub.
committee today that their schoo
facilities are swamped by the
wartime and postwar influx o.
Federal workers. and called or
the Federal Government to come
to their aid.
w. T. Woodson. Fairfax County
superintendent, told the House
group he thought the Govern.
ment should provide rs per cent
of the cost of needed school build
ings in that county.
He said the necessary schools
should be built by the county au-
thorities with the Federal aid
and that ownership of the build
ings thereafter should be vested
in the county.
Essentially Residential Area.
Mr.. Woodson did not say how
much new school construction is
needed, but dwelt at length on
the jam in existing Fairfax
schools, many of which are op-
Grating on a double shift basis.
Fairfax County is essentially
a residential area" Mr.. Woodsor
said. TT is almost devoid of in
dustries to provide jobs for its
people or taxes to help support
its local government. The Federal
Censuses indicate clearly there
was little increase in its popula-
ton until agencies of the Federal
Government were much enlarged
The resulting rapid increase in
population and the overburdening
of its schools can be attributed
only to the activities of the Federal
Government. The impact OF
this rapid population increase
cannot be absorbed and needed
school facilities provided in the
near future without outside finan-
cial assistance. The children are
here now and cannot wait for
facilities to be provided"
Representative Werdel, Repub-
lican, of California, questioned
Mr.. Woodson closely about prop
erty valuation for tax purposes in
Fairfax, indicating he felt the
values were fixed too low.
THE change in our popula-
ton in recent years has created
problems everywhere" Mr.. Wer-
del said, adding that 10000 per-
sons per month are coming into
California.
Wants More in q. s. Funds.
r. c. Williams, Alexandria su-
perintendent. said in his state
ment that the two principal OBJ
stacles to a solution of the school
crowdfng problem in Alexandria
are:
1. The fact that the Federal
Government owns some $685.
900 worth of property in Alex
andria. This Federal property is
tax exempt. At normal rates it
would produce 100000 for the
city in taxes.
2. The fact that eight Federal
housing developments have been
established in Alexandria within
the last eight years. containing a
present total of 1850 children,
or SIS classrooms full of children
at 80 pupils per room. The Gov
ernment pays sums in lieu of taxes
on these developments. but the
sums are not sufficient to cover
the cost of educating all the chill
dren housed in the developments,
or anything like it.
Schmitt Cites Losses.
Mr.. Williams said he thought
it should be considered whether
the Federal Government should
not pay sums in lieu of taxes on
all its property in the city, equal
to what would be received if this
property were privately owned.
The official said, however, that
communities should not receive
Federal aid simply because Fed
eral workers have moved in. even
in large numbers.
Local communities should take
care of their own affairs as long
as they are able to do So" Mr.
Williams said, adding that Alex
andria has borrowed close to the
legal limit for future construction
to take care of the current over
crowding.
Irwin Schmitt, Falls Church su-
perintendent, raised a point which
also had been discussed by Mr.
Williams. He said he thought the
Federal Government should reim-
burse his community for revenues
it loses as a result of the fact that
military and naval personnel are
exempted from payment of per-
sonal property and other loca,
taxes.
Rapid Population Growth.
Speaking for Arlington, Supt. w
A. Early pointed out the popula.
ton of that county has grown
from $4,000 in 1920 to an esti.
mated 100000 for 1850. In the
same period. the number of schoo
children has increased more thar
seven times to about $4,000, a sit.
uation which will be aggravated
In the future by the fact that 6
1948 population count showed
more than three times as many
children under six years old as ir
the IL to II age group.
This growth in total schoo
population is almost wholly dut
to the expanding Government
activities in Arlington" Mr.. Early
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