Evening star., 1951-10-26
Lynch Urges
Probe Of Burke
Airport Plans
Foirfox Delegate Hit!
Y 6. O. P. Charges of
Profit on Lund Deul
A congressional investigation of

bOtV VII &0t0 SSoN
A congressional investigation of
circumstances leading to the Sc
lection of the Burke Airport site
was invited today by Edwin
Lynch, Fairfax County delegate to
the Virginia General Assembly
The Democratic State legislator
made the statement in response
to a radio address by his Re-
publican opponent, Douglas A.
Clark, which Mr.. Lynch said was
shot through with lies"
Mr.. Clark declared over Station
WEAM last night that Mr.. Lynch
and his father-in-law, Martin T.
Webb, stand to make an estimated
$500.000 profit from the sale of
their land to the Federal Govern
ment for the airport. He asked
for a congressional investigation.
Would Welcome Probe. +
II would welcome a congress
sional investigation of the air.
port" Mr.. Lynch said, because
have been strongly opposed to it's
location at Burke from the very
outset.
"In fact, I have been trying to
find out why it was located there
myself. There are a lot of things
about the decision which I do not
yet understand"
This land was bought by Lynch
and his father-in-law so early in
the history of the airport proposal
that they were easily able to
swing one of the most remarkable
real estate bargains in the history
of Fairfax County," MIR. Clarke
said.
Land Bought in 1923.
He added that they had pur-
chased the land at from $11 to
$50 an acre and would sell at an
estimated average of $500 an acre.
Mr.. Lynch said Mr.. Webb had
acquired about 500 acres in 1923.
II challenge any one to show
how a man could have known, %
years ago. that an airport was
going to be located at Burke. It's
just all too ridiculous and is a
typical example of the Republican
Party campaign of character
assassination"
According to Mr.. Clark, a total
of LILO acres was purchased by
Mr.. Lynch and Mr.. Webb. The
Republican contended that more
than 800 acres were acquired be-
tween April. 1947. and March.
1948.
Mr.. Clarke further charged that
after the land purchase Mr.. Lynch
and Mr.. Webb knew the Govern
ment would acquire their holdings
and that Mr.. Lynch had spon-
sored a resolution ir the House of
Delegates directing the Virginia
Advisory Legislative Council to|
make a study of the feasibility of
establishing an airport in Fairfax
County as an alternate field for
Washington National Airport.
Refers to Records.
Mr.. Lynch said he did sponsor
the resolution. and added
"The records of the subcommit-
tee of the legislative council, which
are public and were available toI
my opponent, will show my con-
Germ regarding the proposed loca-
ton of the airport at Burke.
The Burke area is hilly and
rocky and will cost the Govern
ment needless money. On this one
point I can agree with my oppo-
nent. The record shows that has
been my position.
THE claim that the Govern
ment will pay an average of $500
an acre for my land is preproster-
Gus. The tentative appraisal for
unoccupied acreage is about $100I
an acre. 1t is true. some of my
1dllu Ildo UCCIl ClcdICo dl1O WdD
preparing to build on the farm
next year and live there.
No Ulterior Motives.
But if I had any Interior mo-
tives in purchasing the land. why
should I court another investiga-
tion by another legislative COM
misSion-the Virginia Advisory
Legislative Council?"
The Republican claimed Mr.
Lynch and Mr.. Webb would make
"a handsome profit of half mil
lion for allegiance to the Fair
Deal"
Mr.. Lynch is identified with the
liberal wing of the Democratic
Party and supported the cam
paign of Francis Pickens Miller
against Gov. Battle in the States
last gubernatorial primary.
Mr.. Clark told his radio audi
ence he was opposed to any air.
port in Fairfax County because
it meant loss of tax revenue,
would depreciate land within a
Smile radius, and subject people
of the area to danger.