Evening star., 1953-12-16
Strong Backing
For Jones Point
Voiced
Support for Site
Is Overwhelming at
Council Hearing
By Mary Lou Werner

1t looked like the Alexandria
City Council would stand by its
support of Jones Point Bridge
today after a public hearing
which evoked overwhelming sem
timent in favor of the span.
The council conducted the
hearing last night to see if it
should reconsider its position in
favor of the bridge.
| When the three-hour hearing
ended, some 80 persons had
spoken-only three of them posi-
lively against locating a bridge
at Jones Point.
Members of city council said
they probably would take a new
vote on the Jones Point Bridge
plan next Tuesday Just to keep
the record straight.
Variety of Reasons.
The interests of those who
spoke for the Jones Point Bridge
were as varied as the reasons
they gave.
| Representative Broyhill, Re-
publican, of Virginia told the
council he believed Congress was
ready to approve the Jones Point
! site for one bridge. and another
! site at E street.
He said the recent highway
survey of Wilbur Smith & Assoc
ciates had added considerable
confusion" to the bridge problem
and urged the council not 10
confuse any part of the Smith
report with the Jones Point plan.
The Smith report recommends
Potomac River bridge.
/ Max Wehrly. vice chairman OF
the Northern Virginia Reglonai
Planning and Economic Develop
ment Commission, said the Jones
Point Bridge would remove
through truck traffic from the
heart of Arlington County ana
Alexandria.
John A. Remon. vice chairman
of the National Capital Planning
Commission, declared that a
bridge at Jones Point was essen-
tial to the outer circle belt free
way around the District.
Highway Engineer Backing.
w Frank Smith. engineer for
the Virginia State Highway De-
partment, said he believed Jones
Point was the logical location
for a bridge at the present time.
Everett Weitzell, chairman OF
the Alexandria Planning Com
mission, announced that his
body again had reaffirrned its
support of the Jones Point
Bridge at a meeting Monday
night.
Roger Wheeler of 109 North
Early street said the Jones Point
Bridge would take a lot of heavy
truck traffic away from the
downtown streets.
Shopping Aid Seen.
"Our shopping area would be
more attractive-particularly to
women drivers who are afraid OF
trucks" said Mr.. Wheeler.
D. C. Book of the Alex" ndria
Chamber of Commerce and Max
Spray of the Retail Merchants
Association said the directors OF
their organizations were firmly
on record in favor of the Jones
Point bridge.
Donald King, president of the
Old Town Civic Association. said
his organization usually appeared
before City Council to fight any
change in the city's historic resi-
Dental area. &.
Tonight, we're here to speak
for something" said Mr.. King.
"Old Town is in favor of the
Jones Point bridge. We believe
it would be a good thing for
the city as a whole. We like
to maintain status quo as a rule.
but we are realistic"
Others who spoke for the
bridge were State Senator John
A. K. Donovan, Col Harry F.
Hansen, assistant District En-
glneer Commissioner; Samuel r..
Harrison, chairman of the Re-
gional Highway Planning Com
mittee; o. Ashby Reardon. Miss
Mary SWitzer. Capt. Alfred
Rohde, president of the Mount
Vernon Citizens Association; c.
c. Robinson, executive director
of the Northern Virginia Re-
gional Planning Commisr' u;
Stuart Morrison. president ci Ie
North Ridge Citizens Assoc.a-
tion; Mrs. Walter Du Bois
Brookings. William C. Bauk-
night. who represented Jefferson
L. Ford, jr., owner of several
apartment projects along the ap-
proach route, and S. Cooper
Dawson. jr.. vice president Of
the Virginia Travel Council.
Apartment Owners Protest.
Principal opposition came from
John Barton Phillips. He is act
ing editor of the Alexandria
Gazette. and it was largely be-
cause Of editorials and stories IN
the Gazette that last nights
hearing was held.
Mr. Phillips announced that
he had selfish interest in the
bridge location because he is one
Of the owners of the Hunting
Towers and Hunting Terrace
apartments. The approach road
would pass close to those two
projects. He said he also was
interested in the welfare of the
entire city and doubted that a
bridge at Jones Point would oe
beneficial to Alexandria.
Dennis K. Lane, an attorney
who said he owned property near
the proposed bridge. also OBJ
jected and said he agreed 100
per cent" with the statements Of