Evening star., 1951-07-20
inFigh1
Still Uncertain
Project Protested
At Hearing Before
Legislative Group


ington airport at Burke, Va.
were pressed by opponents of the
project today, but without pros
pect of immediate help from a
State committee investigating the
matter.
A seven-man subcommittee d
the Virginia Advisory Legislative
Council heard a full day of argu-
ment on the project yesterday
and opponents plan to present
more material in writing to the
group within a few days.
They hope the group will pre-
vail on the Virginia Assembly 10
intervene in the controversy
Meanwhile. spokesmen disclosed
an attempt also will be made to
get Congress to change its mind
But State Senator j. D. Hagood,
committee chairman, said after
yesterdays hearing that his group
cannot meet again until August
II, in Richmond. Meanwhile, Fed
eral appraisers and surveyors
plus bulldozerS-already are at
work in the 4,500-acre Fairfax
County area in preparation for
land condemnation and purchase.
Three Witnesses Back Plan.
All but three of the II wit
nesses who appeared before the
committee yesterday indicated
strong disapproval of the Con-
gress-authorized plan to convert
Burke to a major air terminal.
Two of the three proponents
were officials of the Civil Aero
nautics Administration, in charge
of the project and responsible
for selection of the site.
They said the Burke location
is the best of six areas in the
county that were studied intens-
lively before the choice was made.
The lone resident who spoke in
favor of the plan, Lehman H.
Young of Fairfax, predicted
county property values will rise.
But none of more than 60 others
who crowded into the Fairfax
Courthouse responded when
Chairman Hagood asked If any
other proponents wished to speak.
Bitterest opposition centered on
the question of payment for the
condemned land. Mason Hirst,
veteran Fairfax real estate man,
referring to Government esti-
mate of an average payment of
5000 an acre, asserted:
"It looks like Well be held up
in broad daylight and robbed"
Some at S1,5OO an Acre.
Declaring that some property
has sold recently for as high as
$1,000 an acre, he added:
"The worst acre of land in
Fairfax is worth more than 5000
an acre."
Mr.. Hirst blamed people from
Washington who don't know COW
from bull'' for the valuation eSti-
mate. Herbert H. Howell, airport
project director, told the hearing
no figure has been definitely de-
termined yet, however.
Herbert F. Schumann, chairman
Of the County Planning Commits.
sion, testified the airport will de.
preciate property values, damage
tremendous residential poten.
tiality" and cause serious deple.
ton in the land tax rolls.
With 1,100 more acres he sale
he understands the Government
wants to add to Fort Belvoir, the
airport would bring Federally con-
trolled, non-taxed land in the
county to 22,400 acres, he said
thus reducing the base on which
the county could float public bono
issues and causing higher ia,
rates.
E. C. Sheads, member of the
County Board of Supervisors
which is opposing the project, saic
it has come "just at the tim.
property has gotten ripe" as 6
suburban residential area fol
Washington.
Mr.. Sheads also drew from Mr.
Howell an admission that OF
CAA's first approach to the com
missioners on the question, the
Government officials had been in.
formed minimum land values ii
the county ranged from $400 tt
$700 an acre. as compared with
the 5000 figure mentioned tenta.
lively by the agency.
County Circuit Judge Paul E
Brown, branding the project 9Th,
most nebulous that has ever beer
put over on the county" charged
that the City of Washington i
invading" the county under tn,
guise of the Federal Government.
Charles F. O'Neall, Washington
attorney acting for the Airpor
Relocation Committee formed b,
Burke citizens, charged tina
washington doesn't have a righ
to come into Virginia and con
demn land"
Expansion Plan Denied.
He also predicted that the. air,
ports cost. now authorized at 81.
million, would be "extravagantly
higher and he pa1eed out chart
suggesting that an additional are,
adjacent to the present planned
site might be acquired later. Fred
erick B. Lee, deputy CAA admin
istrator, denied any plan for late
expansion, however.
Harold K. Howe, Burke land
owner, argued that FRIENDSHIP
Airport near Baltimore should b
used in place of a new airport
and Hills Lory. who lives nea
the site. declared the airport ii
not wanted in the State of Wiz
ginia."
Mr.. O'Neall told reporters a
effort will be made to have
rider attached to an appropriate
measure in Congress. rescindin