Evening star., 1951-09-20
SIG Million Plan
For Arlington
Is Presented
6-Yeor Improvement
Proposal Outlined
To 200 at Meeting

ment plan, in preparation for tw
years, was revealed last night t
more than 200 people at meet
ing at Stratford Junior Higl
School.
Details of the plan, estimates
to cost $16,559,200, will be pre-
sented to the County Board with
in few weeks.
Principal proposed expendi
lures are: Sewage disposal, abou
$4.3 million; highways and streets
81 million; storm sewers, SO mil
lion; recreation, 50 million; water
1890, 900. and administrative build
tngs and facilities, $4,000.
Other recommended improve
ments are for fire fighting, $500,
900; libraries. $518,000; police
$250,000; health. $219, 900. and in
spectionS, planning, surveys ant
welfare, $4,000.
SIS Million Available.
OF the $16.5 million which
would be required if the program
were adopted, $7.6 million is avail.
able or anticipated.
Bertram Gross, a member Of
the county planning commission
said the estimate of funds avail.
able and anticipated is ultra
conservative. He said recon-.
mendations on how to raise the
additional funds should come
from the County Boards advisory
committee on finance.
Out of the commissions recon-
mendations, Mr.. Gross predicted
will come a total program fol
improvement of Arlington, includ.
ing schools.
Joint development of utilities
and other facilities with nearby
Jurisdictions will be attempted, he
said. Among the plans to be dis
cussed with Fairfax County. Alex
andria and Falls Church are
sewage disposal, water supply anc
establishment of a firearms range
for police.
Plan Brings Praise.
Max S. Wehrly, chairman o.
the County Planning Commission
thanked county department heads
the planning staff and the Citi.
zens' Advisory Committee fol
their work in preparation of the
plan.
Raymond E. Long, head of the
State Division of Planning ano
Economic Development, praised
the county for its aggressive
approach to long-range. problems
The commissions report said
the program is an attempt to
catch up with facilities that could
not be installed during the war
years and during the period of
rapid growth. Between 1910 and
1850, the county's population rose
about $50 per cent,
The program represents what
the county needs and can reason
ably afford, Mr.. Wehrly said, anc
is not list of what everybody
wants. Recommendations of de-
partment heads were trimmed
considerably, he said.
In the first two years of tht
program. emphasis would bt
placed on acquiring land while i
is still available, Mr.. Wehrly said
Outline of Plan.
Mr.. Gross outlined the princi
pal proposals for the entire six
year program as follows:
Development of George Masor
drive as an alternate to Gleb'
road, completion of Walter ReeC
drive from LeeSburg pike to Co.
lumbia pike and extension O
Yorktown boulevard from Eas
Falls Church to Military road.
About 1875 major storm sewe
installations would be made "t'
eliminate all the real threats tt
life, health and property, but no
all the nuisances." Nearly hal
of this work would be done in thu
first two years.
The sewage treatment plant
already contracted for, would b.
completed and improved.
approximately Is neighborhooe
parks and Fairgrounds would bt
acquired to bring the total rec
reation land in the county to 55(
acres.
Two Big Reservoirs.
Two x-million-gallon water
reservoirs would be built. one ir
the second year and one in the
third, to give the county one-day
reserve plus an additional 10-houl
reserve for fire-flghting.
A separate building for county
courts would be built in the thirc
year. Parking space would be ac-
quired near the courthouse.
Four new fire stations would bt
built at Rosslyn, Fort Bernard
Westover and Rock Spring roae
and a training tower and thret
ladder companies would be added
Branch Libraries would be bull
at Westover and on Columbia pike
the latter a replacement, and il
the sixth year the first unit Of ,
central library would be built.
The Police Department woult
get a firearms range in the frs
year. preferably in conjunction
with other nearby jurisdictions
A headquarters basement woult
be built in the second year and (
complete headquarters in the sixtl
year
The health program calls for
crippled children's clinic to b
built at Arlington Hospital in tn
first year, and clinics to be bull
for Rosslyn Clarendon Ballstol
and Virginia Highlands-Auror
Hills.