Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-03-25
BY J. v. Homer

dispersal proposals are not
popular in the communities they
would affect.
Many people in the area around
Washington believe the Federal
Government already owns too
much of their landau amount
estimated at more than 10000
acres in the area shown in the
map accompanying this article.
Consequently, they don't want the
United States buying sup other
tracts on which to put new Gov
eminent buildings.
Beyond this-and ofInuch more
concern-the taxpayers wonder
how they can survive the eco
nomic impact Of dispersal.
Metropolitan area counties are
up to their necks In financial
problems. BY fate of geography
they are struggling with burdens
that stagger the imagination of
some of their most thoughtful
leaders. Their proximity to the
Capital presents difficulties that
few. if any, other parts of the
country encounter.
Plans Are Nebulous.
The need for more and better
schools is widespread. The need
for more and better roads, for ex-
panded programs of health and
safety are almost universal. But
in Northern Virginia and nearby
Maryland these programs for the
public welfare appear proportion
ately greater than elsewhere,
principally because they provide
the bedrooms for an ever-grow-
ing Federal Government.
Dispersal plans are nebulous.
Both the Senate and House are
considering bills which would au-
thorize the removal of certain Of
fees from the District. The OBJ
jective is two-fold: planners be-
lieve Washington has about
reached the saturation point for
workers and traffic, and they be-
lieve safety would be enhanced by
a transfer if an enemy should at
tack the Capital.
A distinction is made between
the terms dispersal" and "decen-
tralization" of Government Offices.
Dispersal Zone Defined.
Dispersal concerns the shift of
offices and personnel from down.
town Washington to the Maryland
and Virginia countryside. Pres
emily, the planners are thinking
of transfers to points about 20
miles out. Such a zone would run
close to Gaithersburg and Olney
in Montgomery County. 1t would
pass near BeltSville in Prince
Georges. On the Virginia side of
the Potomac it would include
Woodbridge, on Route l. and curve
around beyond Fairfax Court
house.
Decentralization does not affect
the nearby area. It pertains to
the transfer of Offices from WASH
ington to distant cities-St. Louis,
or Denver. or Peoria, Ill.
Most legislators are thinking
now in terms of building on six
sites in the dispersal zone. Each
building would accommodate 49,
900 employees.
Since Congress has not acted on
the dispersal bills. no sites have
been selected. Nevertheless, spec
ulation is rife about the posi-
bilities.
Loss of Revenue Feared.
Local officials in the disperal
zone counties are worried about
the long-range effects of any pro-
gram adopted.
Assume, for example. that a
site is selected near Gaithersburg
The minute the Government buys
"a piece of property, that tract is
exempt from taxation by Mary
land or Montgomery County. This
loss of revenue is only the first
adverse effect locally.
"A new building would spur de-
velopment of real estate in the
community" one citizen observed.
ut is true this would increase
property values in the vicinity and
the county would gain something