Evening star., 1953-01-31
Citizens Favor
Bond Issue for
Health Center
$80, 900 Foirfox PIun
Supported Generally;
Referendum Tuesday
By Mary Lou Werner

Fairfax County voters are con-
fronted with a bond issue they all
seem to approve.
It is the $50. 600 program to
help finance construction of the
county'S first health center. This
proposal is to be voted on Tues
day, simultaneously with the $1l
million bond issue for schools.
So far, no organized opposi-
ton has appeared against the
health center bond issue. There
hasn't even been talk Of scat
tered, individual opposition. :
Everyone speaks so favorably
about the proposal that its sup
porters are getting worried lest
it be overlooked by overconf1-
dence.
Site Will Be Donated.
Even the most tax conscious
citizens from the rural ends Of
the county realize this bond issue
Is bargain.
In the first place, the county
won't have to buy a site. Mrs.
Joseph Willard has agreed to
donate approximately three acres
on Route 237 at the Fairfax town
limits. Wilson Farr. Fairfax at
torney, has promised to give
little extra land necessary to
square of the site.
The $4,000 represents only
about As per cent of the total
health center cost. The rest of
the money is to be provided by
Halliburton funds which Fair
fax County has been guaranteed
If the bond issue passes.
With a health center Of its
own, the county could give up
the rented quarters that now
house the health department.
The rent amounts to $500 a
year. The exact annual cost of
retiring the bond issue hasn't
been calculated because the term
Of the bonds and the interest
rate have not been determined,
but the amount Of rent money
saved would go long way to-
ward meeting those expenses.
Original Plans Changed.
The county originally had
planned to accommodate health
department Offices in the new
courthouse. addition now under
construction. But the county
government already has out
grown the amount Of space
planned in the addition. The
health department could hope
for only fraction of the area it
needs.
The proposed health center
would give the department TO-
600 square feet of space. It is
now cramped in about 1,l38
square feet.
The added space would permit
the health department to oper-
ate an orthopedic clinic for the
first time. Now it is necessary
to take orthopedic patients to a
clinic in Arlington County and
that one is getting crowded. Ex-
ira room for x-ray facilities
would enable the county to step
up its schedule of chest exam
nations.
Other Services to Get Space.
John e. Taylor. Fairfax Coun-
ty sheriff and president of the
county's tuberculosis Associa-
ton, says existing X-ray facil-
tiles aren't adequate. He can see,
no way to remedy that situation
without additional space.
Other services that would be
accommodated in the center in
clude public health nursing,
clinic service. maternal and child
health, communicable disease
control. school health, SANTA
tion services, health education,
statistics, and physiotherapy.
The health center bond issue
referendum was called at the re-
quest of the Board of County
Supervisors after DR.. Harold
Kennedy, county health officer,
found that Hill-Burton funds
could be obtained this year.
The supervisors are solidly be-
hind the proposal. as are the
Fairfax Lay Health Association
and the Fairfax Hospital and
Health Center Commission.