Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-16
State Financing
0fCabin John
Bridge Pressed
Gen. Prentiss Seeks
Firm Commitment by
Virginia, Maryland
By GEORGE Beveridoe
By George Beveridge

Washington's regional plan
ners are considering ways to get
Maryland and Virginia firmly
committed to pay costs of a
proposed Potomac bridge at
Cabin John, Md.
The drive is aimed mainly at
Virg inia, which consistently
pleads poverty in talking about
major highway improvements in
this area.
Brig. Gen. Louis w. Prentiss.
District Engineer Commissioner,
warned the National Capital
Regional Planning Council yes
terday that. unless a commit
ment for the upriver bridge at
Cabin John is tied down, Con-
gress may balk at money for
Potomac bridges already ap-
proved.
The last Congress authorized
two new spans-one IT Jones
Point. Alexandria. to bS built at
Federal expense. and down-
town bridge near Constitution
avenue, to be paid for by tie
District.
Some Complaints.
Since both these bridges
would help Virginians greatly,
Gen. Prentiss said, influential
House and Senate members dur
ing the last session strongly
questioned Virginia's attitude.
He added:
Some said they were little
tired of Virginia's complaint (of
poverty and that it was time
for something to be done about
getting more Virginia participa-
ton in bridge projects"
Gen. Prentiss said he answered
the members this way: Potomac
bridges benefit the whole area,
and all interests in the area are
helping to pay for some of them.
Jones Point should be Federal
because it involves all jurisdic-
tons and will handle inter- State
traffic bypassing the city. The
District will build the downtown
span. Maryland and Virginia
will build the Cabin John bridge,
connecting with Jones Point by
means of proposed "outer belt"
expressway.
Wants Firm Indication.
"But I believe there will be
considerable opposition to grant,
ing appropriations for the Jones
Point and District bridges" Gen.
Prentiss told the council, unless
we have something in more posi-
tive form indicating a willing
ness and interest to finance the
Cabin John bridge"
Maryland and Virginia have
made joint traffic studies look
ing toward the Cabin John
bridge. Maryland. with multi
million dollar road-building pro-
gram in the mill, probably could
find its share of money. Virginia
says it has none in sight.
w. H. Caldwell. Virginia State
planning commissioner and a
guest at yesterdays council
meeting. sympathized with Gen.
Prentiss' proposal but backed
away from it.
TN Virginia." he declared,
"the Highway Department is a
god unto itself. We don't med
die in their business until they
ask us to. And up to now. they
haven't asked u.s."
Harland Bartholomew, council
chairman, told the staff to look
into the possibility of a research
job on the complex subject of
interstate and Federal respon-
sibilities. Earlier this year, he
proposed that a definite formula
be worked out for financing all
the areas prospective bridges.
No Definite Action.
No definite action on Gen.
Prentiss' request was taken yes
terday. however. The general
said he would raise it again at
the next meeting.
In it's annual election, mean
while, the council named Mr..
Bartholomew chairman for the
next year. The noted st. Louis
city planner also is chairman
of the National Capital Plan
ming Commission.
c. Luckett Watkins, Alexan-
dria public works chief, was
named vice chairman and Fred
erick Gutheim. Upper Montgom-
cry County (Md9 planner, Sec
ond vice chairman.
In other actions, the council
instructed its staff to-:
l. Prepare data that would
permit the council to apply for
Federal funds for regional plan
ming, as authorized by the new
Housing Act of 1854. The act
sets up IS million fund for that
purpose.
$4,000 Aid Seen.
Mr.. Gutheim. who investigated
the Federal aid possibility, said
planning the council already is
doing should make it eligible
for assistance and estimated the
aid might amount to about
$4,000.
2. Also prepare data from each
jurisdiction in the area concern
ing the proposed "outer belt"
highway to encircle the District,
in the hope that it can be
designated for Federal aid under
a new highway act.
In the first of a series Of talks
on regional problems. DR.. Ralph
E. Thurman, District deputy di-
rector of sanitary engineering,
reviewed good progress" in area
plans for new sewage plants to
clean up the Potomac.
The council agreed to look