Evening star., 1952-02-29
|rate Employees
Protest Tieup
AtAr|ingtonH Hall
County Board Action
To Aid Homeowners
Brings Traffic Jam

Brings Traffic Jam
Virtual closing Of one Of three
to the Arlington Hall
Military Reservation this morning
caused q storm OF protest by more
than 200 military and civilian
personnel, who appeared before
Arlington officials.
A giant-sized trafiic Jam re.
suited between 7:30 and 8 am.
aS more than 800 motorists were
burned away from the entrance ct
South Fourth street and George
Mason drive. Trafiic was backed
up on Columbia pike from Quincy
street to Bailey's Crossroads, 0
distance Of several miles.
Workers complained that clos.
Ing OF the two streets leading to
the gate was a complete surprise
TO them this morning.
Last night the Arlington County
Board voted TO make both Fourth
street and George Mason drive one
way leading out OF tho gate In the
morning and reverse the pros
eedure In the evening. This cline
mates traffic entering the feserva.
ton In the morning or leaving In
the evening by this gate,
Called Last Resort.
The ehe.way wfeng-Way policy
was suggested Saturday by Cone
menwealth's Attorney William J.
Hassan as q last resort after the
board had discussed q variety Of
methods to close tho George Ma
son drive gate. He said II is o
legal method,
The board acted last night after
more than 30 residents complained
of the heavy tfattic on narrow
streets In the area since the gate
was opened last October. Resi-.
dents also complained of lack Of
enforcement of one-hour parking
restrictions on their streets which
result in all-day parking by per.
sonnel employed at the installa.
ton.
This morning an estimated 226
persons overfloWed the Office Of
County Manager A. T. Lundberg
to demand an explanation of the
action. Many Of
them said they were county resi-
dents and contended that they
pay taxes for use of the streets,
but are being denied their rights.
Protest Manner.
One Of the group. Robert E.
Gordon of Franconia, Fairfax
County, said most of the indig-
nation results from the manner
in which this thing was DONE"
He explained that county ON
cials previously announced that
South Fourth and Sixth streets
would be made one-way streets,
but that entrance would still be
possible via George Mason drive.
Mr.. Lundberg told the group
he was required to carry out the
policy set by the County Board
last night. But he said the
board will meet at 8:15 pm. Mon
day and receive a delegation from
the group at that time.
The protestants held a short
meeting on the courthouse steps
after leaving Mr.. Lundberg's office
and the names Of board members
who participated in last nights
meeting were read. Kenneth Z.
Rhodes, 834 South Frederick
street. an electrical engineer on
the reservation. read the resolp-,
ton adopted by the board In
closing the two streets. II was
met with boos and cat calls.
Jam Boulevard Gate.
Lynn Cochran, 1880 North Ia.
koma street, Arlington. said clos
Ing Of the entrance will throw q
heavier burden on the Lee boule.
ward entrance. which already 10
o source OF trafi1c trouble for
Washington bound rush hour
commuters. He said an even big.
ger problem will result aS the di.
verted motorists begin TO use the
South Quincy street gate which
opens onto heavily Travelled Co
lumbia pike.
Mr.. Rhodes said many OF the
workers were late for their Jobs
because Of the confusion.
All OF those who appeared At
the court house, he said, took
time of from their Jobs although
military authorities In charge Of
the reservation urged them not
TO do 30.
sought Legal Way.
Al the board meeting Saturday,
Robert W. Cox said
that the board wanted the gate
elesed promptly In a legal way,
Republican Beard Member Rebs
sft A, Peek intefjeeted, "Withs
out subterfugs II possible"
MI Cox replied, "If possible,
but | DO not want to make a big
teHde about the fact that we
might have TO resort to subtePs
fuge,"
Daniel A. Dugan Joined tho din.
sussieR to say that "the com.
nandaRt has dragged his feet for
, long time and we can fight sub
Lerfuge with subterfuge II
The Army wanted to raise a ruekus
over this they would throw up Q
souple of machine guns"
Meanwhile, Mr., Cox, Mr.. Dugan
md Democrat Alfred q, Frishie
discussed whether they could close
he road into the gate by digging
or q long-lost sewer line, looking
'or a water leak or constructing
mother 10 feet of George Mason
lrive, which ends at that point.
md making a slow job of 1t.