Evening star., 1955-03-22
Restoration
OF Bridge Plan
Fund Asked
$4,000 Needed
For Jones Point Spun,
Wirth Tells Senators
By Harold B. Rogers

Committee today heard appeals
for restoration of $4,000 cut by
the House from a budget esti-
mate for planning the Jones
Point Bridge and sharply ques-
toned Conrad Wirth, director OF
the National Park Service, about
the whole project.
Mr.. Wirth told the committee
the $4,000 cut by the House was
urgently" needed to prepare
plans and estimates of cost for
the Potomac River crossing be-
low Alexandria.
The witness said that the
House Appropriations Committee
and the House had cut the bud
get estimate of $675.000 recon-
mended by the President to
$4,000
Bill to Transfer Project
He emphasized that under a
policy previously discussed pub
licly in hearings before a House
Appropriations Committee, legis-
lation will be introduced to
transfer responsibility for con-
struction of the Jones Point
Bridge from the Interior De-
partment to the Bureau of Pub
lie Roads.
Despite this proposal for new
legislation on the Potomac River
crossing and the sharp ques-
tioning by Senate Committee
members, Mr.. Wirth testified
he had been authorized by the
act Of Congress to proceed with
the Jones Point Bridge, and
planned to continue if funds
are made available.
The Jones Point Bridge is one
of two river crossings author
ized by Congress last year, he
emphasized. the second bridge
being in the central area up
stream Of the Arlington Me-
mortal Bridge. Meantime, how
ever, the central bridge is ufr-
der dispute as to whether it
should be q bridge over the Po-
tomac or a tunnel under it.
They Question Project
Several committee members
raised questions about the need
! for the Jones Point bridge and
it's financing.
The witness testified that its
need had been justified by many
planning and expert agencies as
a relief for the crowded traffic
problem of this Washington
Metropolitan Area.
Senator Ellender, Democrat, Of
Louisiana, an economy advocate
who blocked for years the con-
struction of the new Senate Of
flee Building now under way,
questioned the advisability Of
the Federal Government having
to pay for the full cost Of the
Jones Point Bridge itself.
The Legislator drew from Mr..
Wirth the testimony that APP
proaches to the Jones Point
crossing would be paid for by
the States of Virginia and Mary
land.
Part Of Bypass Network
The crossing below Alexandria,
Mr.. Wirth said, has been recon-
mended as a vital link in the
circumferential roads to help by
pass the heavy north-south traf-
fic around Washington.
Senator Dirksen, Republican,
of Illinois. interjected that in
his opinion Route 301. running
through Maryland and crossing
the Potomas River over the Nor
gantown Bridge far south Of
Alexandria, would be a more
widely used bypass of Washing
ton.
Mr.. Wirth rejoined, however,
that traffic studies "do indicate
that a considerable amount of
traffic" would miss Washington
by going over the Jones Point
Bridge. He estimated the count
indicated several thousands Of
cars day. a large percentage
of which would be produce trucks
headed north to Baltimore, Phil
adelphia and New York.
Senator Kilgore. Democrat, Of
West Virginia agreed with Mr..
Wirth on this point. He pointed
to badly congested traffic from
heavily loaded produce trucks
coming from the South over
Potomac bridges here and head
ing North.
Asks John Marshall Fund
| Mr.. Wirth also testified in
favor of a $4,000 item approved
by the House for expenses Of
the John Marshall Bicentennial
Celebration Commission, which
will make plans soon in honor
of the former noted Chief JUS
tice of the United States.
Chairman Hayden of the Ap-
jpropriations Committee. hearing
testimony on the second supple
mental appropriations bill. re-
cessed the hearing until 10 am.
tomorrow when one of the items
to be heard will me request by
the National Capital Planning
Commission for restoration Of
| 100000 cut by the House for
expenses of conducting a survey
Of Washington regional mass
transportation. The House had
cut the 1000 of request
FOR. eAnn mn c,,hy,aifta I,x, prooi-