Evening star., 1949-12-18
Arlington Asks
Public HEARINGS
On Arnold Line
County Board Seeks
Reasonably Safe and
Efficient Operations

The Arlington County Board
yesterday asked the Federal Gov
ernment and the State of Vir-
ginia to require the Arnold bus
line to provide reasonably safe
and efficient transportation serv-
ice."
The county, which is fighting
Arnold's application for higher
fares. asked the Interstate Com
merce Commission and the State
Corporation Commission to sched-
ule formal hearings at which an
inquiry would be made into COM
pany operations.
The board decided upon this
step in preference to the sugges-
ton of one member that an effort
be made to cancel franchises held
by the utility. the Washington,
Virginia & Maryland Coach Co.
Apartments Opposed.
At the same meeting. the board
received word that the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission remains opposed to the
construction of Arlington Towers,
a big apartment project planned
on a site near Memorial Bridge.
An official wrote the county that
there is "some feeling" on the
commission that "it would be bet
ter for all concerned if the prop
erty were developed for CONNER
cial and industrial uses, rather
than for a hotel-apartment.
The Arlington Towers project
has been subject of much dis
pute. The county government is
backing it because it would be a
source of needed revenues, among
other reasons. The park and
planning commission contends the
large buildings would mar the sky
line on the line of the Mall and
the Lincoln Memorial. and also
that the thousands of additional
residents would produce further
traffic congestion.
A. E. Demaray. vice chairman
of the commission. wrote the
County Board that while the Fed
eral agency has no official juris-
diction over the Virginia property,
it is charged by Congress with
maintaining co-ordinated plan
for the National Capital and its
environs. Mr.. Demaray said he
thought Arlington would benefit
more from commercial or indus
trial properties in the vicinity.
than from the apartments.
Motion Not Seconded.
Daniel A. Dugan was the board
member who suggested the Arnold
franchise cancellation. His mo-
ton, however. failed to get a sec.
ond. The board followed the
course proposed by Lester v. Con-
ley. its counsel in the bus fare
increase cases pending before the
ICC and the sec.
Under the approved plan, the
county will try to "reactivateo"
petitions filed in January, 1947,
to bring about formal hearings on
earlier hearings never were held
the Arnold operations. The
because several changes were
made in the Arnold management.
The board was informed Of
plans to build a Roman Catholic
high school in East Falls Church,
Arlington. j. Foster Hagan, at
torney for owners of a 16-acre
tract in the Crossman property,
made the disclosure in requesting
that viewers be appointed so parts
Of North Twenty-second and North
Somerset streets could be closed.
The board decided to delay con-
sideration of the appointments
until it receives a report from
Commemorative Attorney Den
man T. Rucker.
Elmer Newell Resigns.
| County Manager A. T. Lund-
berg announced that Elmer F..
Newell has resigned as director Of
financing, effective January Is.
Mr.. Newell, a county employe
for more than II years, was ac-
corded a vote Of commendation
for his great contribution to
county administration.
Mr.. Dugan asked that a meet
ing on reorganization of the
police department be scheduled
early next month. Announce
ment of the date Of the meeting
will be made by Mr.. Lundberg,
| The board scheduled a confer
ence Thursday to discuss the
legislative program of the Gen.
eral Assembly with State Senator
Charles r. Fenwick and Delegates
j. Maynard Magruder and George
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