Evening star., 1957-08-28
Tale of Two Counties

OIlCe upon b JlttlS tLlcIO
was a pretty little county
nam ed Prince Backward
County. Like many pretty
counties. Prince Backward
Just couldn't help but grow.
Every year there were more
houses and more people. but
Prince Backwards growth
was lopsided. The roads
didn't grow-just the holes
in them. The FIRE depart
ments didn't grow-the old
engines just grew older.
Though the schools grew.
they didn't grow as fast as
the growing children.
Finally. one day when thu
kids were sitting three deep
at their school desks. the
exasperated citizens Of
Prince Backward squeezed
into their school house and
shouted: This has got to
stop!" They decided that
there were some things that
Prince Backward needed as
much as people and houses:
so miles Of smooth new
roads. for instance: 100 miles
Of nice big sewer pipes, and
a lot more handsome fire.
men and dashing cops. But
to pay for all this they had
to raise their tax rate to IS
per 500. Goodness graci-
ous." cried one fearful tax
payer. why should we have
to pay 500 more taxes than
the citizens Of Queen Forward
County?" Well. let's find
out why.
In the beginning, Queen
Forward County was no pref
tier than Prince Backward
County. The dogwood didn't
bloom any brighter and the
cardinals didn't sing any
louder, but when Queen For
ward started to grow. all of
it grew together. Not Just
the people and houses-;he
fire department. police de-
partment. road department
and school department. They
all grew together and the
kids had plenty Of room to
study. The citizens were
never exasperated like the
citizens Of Prince Backward
and there wasn't one ulcer to
be found in the whole county.
That was because the tax
rate was cnly $2.70 per 500,
nearly 500 less than the rate
in Prince Backward. The
reason Prince Backward grew
wrong and Queen Fol ward
grew right-the reason Prince
Backward citizens had to pay
so much more taxes and have
so little to show for their
money is industry.
Prince Backward citizens
were frightened by industry
and they discouraged indus
try from locating there.
Queen Forward citizens,
however. welcomed selective
industry from the very first.
Every 100 industrial employees
gave Queen Forward $500, 900
more personal income per
year. $270.000 more bank de-
posits. "a more jobs outside
the industry. 4 more retail
establishments and $3.50, 900
more retail sales per year
Most of all. Queen Forward
County citizens liked the way
industry helped foot the tax
bill and improve all sorts of
municipal facilities. Prince
Backward citizens didn't
want industry because they
said 1t was noisy. or dirty, or
would pollute the air. But
Queen Forward County citi-
zens. who grew up with in
dustry, pointed out: Their air
was as sweet smelling as a
rose: their county was as
clean as a whistle. The secret
Of Queen Forwards growth
was controlled development.
Population and industry ex-
panued together, each help
ing the other.
Controlled development
consists Of overall planning
that puts industries where
they belong and residential
areas where they belong, so
that neither will interfere
with the other. Counties that
have grown without industry
and now want 1t to help pay
skyrocketing taxes, often find
that 1t is too late because un-
controlled residential expan-
sion left no room for plant
sites.
Let's make a balanced
growth in industry and
homes through controlled de-
velopment. We in Fairfax
County should adopt the slo-
gan Lets broaden the tax
base, don't raise the tax"
william G. Sims,
Chairman, Economic and
Industrial Development
Committee Of Fairfax
County.