Evening star., 1954-09-16
State Financing
0fCabin John
Bridge Pressed
Gen. Prentiss Seeks
Firm Commitment by
Virginia, Maryland
BY George Beveridee

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
Virginia, 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 at Jones
Point, Alexandria. to be built at
Federal expense, and a down.
town bridge near Constitution
avenue. to be paid for by tts
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 a little
tired Of Virginia's complaint (ot
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-
tions 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 / 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 willing.
ness and interest to finance the
Cabin John bridge" =
Maryland and Virginia hav.
made joint traffic studies look.
ing toward the Cabin Johr
bridge. Maryland, with a multi
million dollar road-building pro.
gram in the mill, probably coule
find its share of money. Virgins
says it has none in sight.
w. H. Caldwell. Virginia Stat,
planning commissioner and 6
guest at yesterdays council
meeting, sympathized with Gen
Prentiss' proposal but backec
away from it.
'tIn Virginia." he declared
"the Highway Department is s
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 lool
into the possibility Of a research
Job on the complex subject o.
interstate and Federal respon.
sibilities. Earlier this year, HI
proposed that a definite formula
be worked out for financing al
the areas prospective bridges.
No Definite Action.
No definite action on Gen
Prentiss' request was taken yes
terday, however. The genera
said he would raise it again al
the next meeting.
In its 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 Gutheirn, Upper Montgom-
cry County (MdD planner. Sec
ond vice chairman.
Ip other actions, the council
instructed its staff to-:
/. Prepare data that would
permit the council to apply fol
Federal funds for regional plan
ming. as authorized by the new
Housing Act of 1854. The &C,
sets up SIS million fund for tina,
purpose.
$4,000 Aid Seen.
Mr.. Gutheim, who investigated
the Federal aid possibility, sale
planning the council already /.
doing should make it eligible
for assistance and estimated tn,
aid might amount to abou
$4,000.
2. Also prepare data from eacl
jurisdiction in the area concern
ing the proposed "outer belt
highway to encircle the District
in the hope that it can b
designated for Federal aid unde
q new highway act.
In the first Of q series of talk
on regional problems, DIR. Ralpl
e. Fuhrman, District deputy di
rector Of sanitary engineering
reviewed good progress" in are
plans for new sewage plants t