The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1915-04-23
Soon to have Washington-Annapo
Road Done

Early completion of the State boule-
ward connecting Annapolis with Wash
ington through an improved highway
similar to that which now links Annap-
oils with Baltimore, was assured by the
Court of Appeals decision filed recent
ly in the case brought by c. c. Magru-
der and other residents of Prince
Georges and Anne Arundel county
against the State Road Commission.
The case, which was tried first in the
Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County,
was decided by Judge Brashears in
favor of the Roads Commission, where
upon the petitioners appealed. The
Court of Appeals, in its opinion, up
held Judge Brashears' view of the
points involved.
Since it opens up the way for the
immediate improvement of the road
from Camp Springs to Meadows and the
road from Upper Marlboro to Hills
Bridge, in Prince Georges county,
officials of the Roads Commission are
much gratifed at the decision. The
Court of Appeals ruling gives the
commission the right to determine
what are main links in the State high
ways system and therefore what roads
may be improved under the Acts of
1914.
The road from Camp Springs to Mead
ows and that from Upper Marlboro to
Hills Bridge are links in the main
higwhay running from the first-men-
toned place through to the Anne Arundel
county line. The commission already
has built road from Meadows to Up
per Marlboro and expects ultimately to
complete the improvement by building
a connecting link from Hills Bridge to
the Annapolis and Solomons Island road
at Mount Zion, in Anne Arundel.
Contracts for the construction of the
Camp Springs Meadows and Upper
Marlboro-Hills Bridge links were
awarded some time ago. but the work
was held up on account of injunction
proceedings instituted in the Circuit
Court by Mr.. Magruder and others.
Shortly after the State Roads Com
mission was first created it selected for
improvement three routes between An
napolis and the District of Columbia
line. One of these routes, the north
ern-most one, started at Annapolis and
followed the old stage road route
through Parole, Chesterfield and Col
iington to point at the District line,
near Brentwood. The second or mid
ile route, starting from the District
line, passed through Seat Pleasant,
Hale, Hardesty and Davidsonville to
Lees Wharf, where it connects with
Annapolis and Solomons Island road.
The third route was the Camp Springs,
Meadows, Upper Marlboro and Mount
Zion roads, over which the controversy
between Mr.. Magruder and the State
Roads Commission developed.
The Act of 1914 appropriating funds
: to the State Roads Commission pro-
vided for the completion on the "main
arterial sytem." Mr.. Magruder and
his fellow-complainants in the case be-
fore the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel
County contended that the old stage
road through Parole and Collington con-
stituted the main arterial system from
Annapolis to the District line. that it
was the first route selected by the
State Roads Commission, and, there
fore, that it should be completed be-
fore work on the other routes was
started.
The commission insisted that it had
the right to determine what constitutes
the main links in the State highway
system and, therefore, the right to de-
termine what roads to improve under
the most recent appropriation act.
Judge Brashears, sitting in the Circuit
Court for Anne Arundel County. up
| held the commissions contention, and
now the Court of Appeals has upheld
| dim.
Aside from the fact that it author
! yes the commission to proceed with
| the improvement of the Camp Springs
Meadows, annd Upper Marlboro Hills
! Bridge roads. and thereby get that far
; along with a road which will connect
up with the roads through Charles and
| ST. Mary's counties and lead directly
Co the States capital, the decision will
set at rest other threatened contro-
verses of similar nature in other Sec
| tons of the State.
| Statement