Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-13

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On the Federal doorstep fror
which it is separated only b
the Potomac River.
Given Back In 1S4e
Virginia gave Arlington ava,
once to the Federal City. bu
& was given back to the Stat
First Of Q Series
-~--------------------
N l846. In that year Congress
decided that Arlington Gan,
most of Alexandria, WASH
needed for the seat of Gov
eminent.
On August II. 1846 citizen
d the area voted 1853 to 222 il
favor of going back into TIN
Commonwealth Of Virginia
Seven months later the Stat
General Assembly oficially de-
clared it an integral portion
Of the Commonwealth.
The Federal Government wal
something of an Indian giyer
i took back at various times 9
total Of as square miles Tor II
per cent of the county, for 9
number of purposes including
the Pentagon, Navy Annex
Arlington Cemetery, and Mill
tary posts.
Since 1916 Arlington has
grown up. The farmlands and
woods have been transformed
into lawns and tree-shaded
homes and a goodly smatter-
ing of commercial and indus
trial properties.
Growing Pains
Arlington has sweated
through most of the growing
pains now being experienced
bYits neighbor. Fairfax County.
Filling in the few vacant tracts,
however, Is expected to add co.
000 persons-or more depend
ing on the type of development
to the present 10000 popula-
ton.
The county's water and sew
age systems are in, its school
building program is nearly over.
its park and recreation program
is organized and expanding, It's
library system distributes the
second largest number Of books
in any county in the State
Rairfax is first).
"We are providing services in
all categories Of normal munic-
ipal services" says County Man
ager A. T. Lundberg. I'VE now
are looking forward to expand
ing and improving the quality
Of what we have" 4
Free Of slum areas, Arlington
has a low crime rate compared
to other urban areas Of the
Nation. In every category Of
serious crime. Arlington falls
far below the national average.
Traffic Headache
A major headache for police
Is handling the enormous vol
ume of>traffic. Arlington's traffic
load on State highways was the
highest in Virginia during fiscal
1878, averaging 1890 vehicles
each 24-hour period. OF the
1888 charges made by police
that year, almost 1900 in
volved offenses by motorists.
Arlington, just minutes from
Washington in the non-rush
hours, is a prime residential
area. Many of the brains which
wrestle with the world problems
by day tackle community prob
lens at night.
The average county adult has
o year Of college, and the
average family income is almost
$1,000 a year.
When the Federal worker
comes home from the office,
he is likely to become absorbed
ina hot political campaign. a
school controversy. a civic or
chestra symphony in Lubber
Run Park. an art show at Bon
Air or a recreation department
pageant at a high school sta
dium.
Politics a Diversion
Politics provides one of the
hveliest diversions for the citi-
zeps, The Federal employee who
works in voteless Washington
often becomes a bare-knuckled
campaigner in Arlington's al
phabetized politics.
Arlington has been described
as the "organizingist" COM
mqnity in the country. 1t doesn't
take long to come up with a
study group on most any sub
jeet. There are As citizens as
soeiations, nearly two for each
square mile, and the county
civic federation is a powerful
voice in community affairs.
One of the county's major
problems now is deciding the
future characteristics of the
residential community. There
is little doubt it will remain pri-
marily a residential area-the
problem is one of population
density apartments versus
single-family homes.
Some Of the choice land still
urideveloped is being eyed by
developers for tall apartment
buildings. a situation which
has alarmed many homeowners
who don't want the buildings
towering over their homes or
"marring the Potomac skyline. /"
There also have been differ