Evening star., 1949-11-27
Fairfax Stages
Mock Battle
Against Snow
33 PIows Checked
On Trial Runs at
Highway Centers

Highway officials In Virginia are
satisfied with preparations for
winter weather problems after
witnessing mock battle" against
an imaginary snow storm, staged
by personnel under the Fairfax
resident engineer.
At four highway equipment cen
tiers in Fairfax. County, SO snow
plows attached to trucks recently
were checked in a series of trial
runs" to determine their operating
condition. Motor Patrol graders
and bulldozers used in deep drifts
also were checked. The equip
ment is used on roads in Arlington
and Fairfax.
Engineers tested the readiness OF
contractors who will be called to
assist State forces in removing
heavy snow. Also inspected were
nearly five miles of snow fences
and strategically-placed piles OF
sand mixed with calcium chloride.
Daily Check Made.
Each afternoon, j. A. Phillips.
resident highway engineer, tele-
phones the National Airport
weather bureau to learn whether
snow is forecast during the night.
When snow is expected Mr..
Phillips will inform his assistant
resident engineer, Frank Howard,
woh will make final preparations
for a night storm. MIR. Howard
will warn former Of the road
crews and will inform guards at
the county's two prisoner camps
of the forecast. Most snow re-
moval work, including some truck
driving, is done by State priso-
ners.
In the trial runs, foremen were
tested on their knowledge Of the
departments priority list" for
snow removal. Crews will work on
primary roads until they can see
bare pavements. When snow
reaches a depth of one inch on
primary roads. the crew will go
to work. On secondary roads,
depths of less than four inches
are not removed because the
roads are passable, according to
the department. and snow plows
sometimes damage inferior sur
faces.
152 Primary Road Miles.
The Fairfax highway Office is
responsible for clearing 152 miles
OF primary roads in the county
and 632 miles Of secondary. It
has jurisdiction over 35 miles of
primary roads in Arlington.
Falls Church and Alexandria
have their own snow fighting
equipment, but the towns of vi
emma, Ftairfax and Herndon have
agreements with the State pro-
viding for State removal of snow
within their boundaries.
For the new Shirley highway
three large snow plow trucks and
10000 feet of snow fence have
been ordered.
Erection of snow fences in the
county will cost approximately
$4,000. The fences were not
needed last year, Mr.. Howard said,
but he pointed out that in one
heavy snow the fences save far
more than they cost.
Cost Low Last Winter.
Last winter was mild; the Fair
fax Office spent only $10.649 for
snow removal. In the bitter win
ter of 1947-48, however, $31 ,457
was spent and damage to the
highways was so great that main
tenapce funds borrowed" for re-
pairs are still being repaid.
This year. Mr.. Howard reports,
roads are in better condition than
ever to withstand severe weather.
With good equipment, and re-
serves available for an emergency,
he expects Inconvenience to mo-
torists will be at a minimum.
This year, for the first time,
highway forces will meet icy con-
ditions with agricultural lime
spreaders which will be rented