Evening star., 1951-02-09
S19O Million
Dispersal Plans
Study
Testimony Weighed
As Hearings Close
On Defense Project

The House Public Works sub
committee considering the Gov
|ernment's dispersal program for
defense today was studying the
testimony given in hearings on
the $3.50 million project.
The subcommittee headed by
Representative Trimble, Demo-
crat. of Arkansas, completed the
taking of testimony yesterday
AS this approached a close there
were these developments:
/. w. E. Reynolds, Public
Buildings Commissioner, testified
that, on the basis of advice from
various Government agencies, he
expects there will be an additional
10000 Federal employees in the
Washington area in the next 18
months. Since the mid-January
employment total was $4,000,
employment by mid-1952 should
be 235.000. This compares with
a peak employment of 267, 900
during World War II.
Urges Nearby Acreage Use.
2. Representative Smith, DEM
ocrat. of Virginia, urged that the
Government take acreage it owns
now in adjacent Virginia and
Maryland areas as sites for the
dispersed buildings. In Virginia,
he suggested. these sites might be
carved from the 15.000-acre
Prince William Forest Park, the
50.000-acre Marine base at Guam
tico. 11,000-acre Fort Belvoir, or
from the Manassas Battlefield Ma
tional Park.
3. The Northern Virginia Re-
gional Planning and Economic De-
velopment Commission indorsed
the proposal to give the National
Capitol Park and Planning Com
mission a voice in the dispersal
plans and to make it the means
by which local planning organiza-
tions in the area will be consulted.
The Northern Virginia commits
sion estimated that the cost of un-
dertaking planning studies in the
Jurisdictions covered by the COM
mission would amout to $3.50, 900.
The subcommittee has been urged
to include in the legislation pro-
vision for planning funds for the
National Capitol commission and
the planning organizations in the
area affected.
Temp6raries Cost Double.
Mr.. Reynolds testified. under
questioning by Representative
Davis, Democrat. of Tennessee
that the 20 temporary buildings
built during World War II cost
$24 4,035, SGT. He added that the
cost would be double that figure. II
such buildings were put up today.
But, he continued, it would be a
tragic mistake" to build such
structures now.
Mr.. Reynolds had testified
earlier that the temporaries have
stood longer than intended. that
maintenance costs are great and
that the Government has no
capital asset in them.
He also disclosed that the Gov
ernment is negotiating for two
apartment houses in addition to
the negotiations for the State
House and Boston House apart
ments which are nearing COM
pletion.
Planning Problem Stressed.
Representative Smith urged that
the subcommittee give serious
consideration to the proposal to
assure cooperation with the local
planning organizations.
c. L. Kinnier, planning en-
gineer for Arlington stressed that
the problem there is to keep the
country from being strangled by
highways leading to the outlying
buildings. 1t is not expected that
that any of the structures will be
erected in Arlington because 1t is
too close to the Capital.
The Northern Virginia Com
MISSIONS statement was signed
by John w. Brookfield, chairman
and presented to the subcommittee
by James j. Corbalis, ir., sanitary
engineer of Fairfax County.