Evening star., 1960-01-24
orthern Virginia Tour |mpresses State Lawmakers
Area Activities
Amazevisitors
On 3-Day Tour
Success Of Trip
Is Gratifying to
LocoI Officials

~
LocuI Officials
Hard facts and the soft sell
are giving State legislators q
new look at the Northern Vir-
ginia area.
This is really amazing" was
the most often-heard comment
Is the lawmakers and State.
officials took q close look at the
housing developments, indus
trial districts. shopping CEN
ters, historic attractions and
mammoth read projects.
The legislators and their
wives today are ending a week.
end tour which has taken them
many miles through the sub
urban area of Arlington and
Fairfax Counties and the cities
Of Alexandria and Falls Church.
The party Of legislators con-
tains representatives Of every
geographic section and every
political view in Virginia.
II doubt any Of us has imag-
ination enough to comprehend
accurately what is happening
in this area" was the reaction
Of DR.. William Pennington, a
Southslde House Of Delegates
member representing the Coun-
ties Of Appomattox, Bucking-
ham and Cumberland.
LOng-Range Plans
After a bus tour yesterday, +,
DR.. Pennington said the most
important thing I've gotten
from this is that we must not
plan in terms Of next year or
five years but in terms of the
next 20 years"
"The people here are the
same kind of people we are
Virginians," said Dr. Penn
ington.
These were the kind of words
Northern Virginia community
leaders wanted to hear. They
weren't pushing their product
but they were getting the mes
sage across.
Yesterday. the lawmakers and
many of Gov. Almonds official
family started out with a bus
tour. Then they had lunch at
National Airport, a flying look /.
at the area. and last night a
candlelight tour of Lee Mansion
and a banquet at Arlington
Towers. /
Governor Halls Visit
II want to say in all serious
ness" Gov. Almond told a
crowded banquet hall, "that I
think what has transpired here
has been one of the great
events in the modern life of
Virginia.
You have established a
precedent of open-armed hos
pitality that ! trust will reach
into the ultimate parts Of
Virginia. hope the General
Assembly in the years to come |
will repeat these visitations |
into each and every area Of |
Virginia"
The Governor said the trip
was step on the road to bet |
ter understanding and ap-
probation of the vitality Of
Northern Virginia. He said it
pointed UP its inseparability !
from the rest Of the State.
1--WE been carried away with |
it." said Howard Adams from
Northampton, who is chairman |
of the House Appropriations |
Committee. The thing that |
has impressed me has been the /
growth of these communities |
and the progress they are max
ing. 1t seems to me they are
taking the lead away from most
of the State in their progress.
But above all ! am impressed
by the hospitality, which is un-
surpassed"
whats that, a flying sau-
cer?" asked a legislator when
the bus drove by the new Allan
tic Research Corp. headquarters
with its modernistic scooped-
out roof design.
Interchange Viewed
State Senator John A. K.
Donovan Of Fairfax County
Falls Church pointed out the
work going on at the largest
Interchange in the world" as the
group passed what will be the
intersection of Shirley highway
and the Circumferential belt
way.
Senator Donovan warned
them to "fasten your seat
belts" as the bus proceeded up
bumpy, pot-holed B Backlick
road from Springfield to An
nandale. The Senator didn't
ask for any highway funds but
he pointed out that this was
Just a small section Of the 300
miles Of State roads in Fairfax
County.