Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-21

| ing the past week and the future looks
| much brighter.
| Action looking toward the repeal of the
wheel tax in the District of Columbia is
now being taken In the right direction
AS the act was originally passed by Con-
gress. there is nothing to do but secure
the passage by that same body of an
other act repeating the former one. The
courts could hardly render a decision
that the act was unconstitutional, and
| now that bill has been introduced by
Representative Rodenberg of Illinois to
repeal the tax, the motorists of Washing
ton are on the right tack.
The outlook for the completion of the
re-Washington boulevard looks
good according to latest reports. At the
! last session Of the Maryland legislature
100000 was appropriated to complete the
stretch between Beltsville and Laurel
The claim is made that it was owing to
the lack of funds that the work was not
completed long ago. The work is to be
pushed during the coming summer and
will be finished by early fall. The con-
tract for doing the work was let in De-
cember last, but owing to the severe win
ter it has been impossible to start the
work between the points mentioned,
distance of about six miles.
There are little more than ten miles I'M
completed. including the Laurel
section. The Baltimore end between Co
lumbia avenue and Eikridge has been
held up because of peculiar situation
that arose out of the passage of a law
by the legislature of 1910. which pro-
vided that the boulevard should be built
through Elkridge and on a grade that
should not be less than the grade at any
other part of the road. Every motorist
knows the steep grade which Is encoun-
tered at this point, and especially at the
railroad crossing at the Elkridge sta
ton Whether an error was made in
drawing the measure is not known. but
as the greatest grade on the road is
per cent. and the building of a road on
such a grade through the village would
have been impracticable and the road
would have. been almost impossible if it
had been built. nothing was done.
The uncompleted sections Of the road
not under contract, but for the building
OF which contracts will be shortly let,
are as follows: That between Morrell
Park, on the outskirts of Baltimore, and
the Patapsco river at Elkridge. This
section embraces the present dangerous
grade crossing of the Philadelphia, Bal
timore and Washington railroad at Hale
thorpe, and the overhead crossing OF
wooden structure-a short distance away.
It is estimated that it will cost at least
$4,000 to improve this section alone.
This includes the section through Elk
ridge. which is little. less than three
quarters of a mile. short section
through Laurel. the main street. Of the
town. which will cost about $4,000. The
Paint branch section. near Berwyn and
the Maryland Agricultural College. which
includes bridge over Paint branch, and
a short stretch of road on each side,
which will cost about $4,000 to improve
When these few connecting links are
completed the motorists of Washington
will then be enabled to motor from the
National Capital to Havre de Grace over
excellent macadam roads. With the ex-
ception of the fifteen miles of sand be-
tween Perryville and Elkton, ii might be
said that continuous macadam high
way extends from Washington to Mon
treal Canada. These highways are to
constitute a part OF the international
highway between Montreal and Miami.
Fla. South Of Washington the move
ment is being pushed forward. and the
time is not far distant when this high
way, extending along the seaboard states.
will be reality.
B. H.. Warner, a pioneer motorist of
this city, has purchased a 1912 self
starting 4-3O Pullman touring car. fully
equipped. 1t is five-passenger car
finished in blue. with gray running gear.
X
c. NJ. Braker Of New York is the guest
for a few days OF his son-in-law, Ted"
Of the Buick Motor Company.
y
That there are now 100000 men off,
cially employed on the work of superin-
tending the maintenance and construc-
ton of the roads of the United States
is one Of the Indications of the size
Of the American Road Congress that
is to be held in the fall The American
Road Congress will draw not only the
men who are actively engaged in the
road work. but most Of the automobile
1N0nfinuo1 A. 1<3@6th DeC40