The Washington times., 1922-07-07
AUTO|STS AGOG
At OPPOSITION
To ROAD REPAIR
Short Route to Baltimore
Blocked by Eenemies of
Plan to Improve 1t.

VIII the Maryland Sfate roads
commission authorize the construc-
ton of one mile of improved road
the building of which would mark
the opening of the shortest possible
auto route between Baltimore and
Washington?
Or will the commission heed the
influence being brought to bear by
n few large landholders In the west
ern part of Prince Georges county
to divert the road improvements to
their section where. II is said, the
traffic is negligible?
These questions are uppermost in
the minds Of hundreds of motor car
owners, not only Of Prince Georges
county, but of Baltimore and Wash.
ington as well.
The road in question is the
old Bladensburg Rockville highway,
which includes the Queens Chapel
road. The route is a direct feeder
from Washington to the Baltimore
boulevard at Hyattsville.
Queens Chapel road. from Wash
ington to Hyattsville, is in excellent
condition with the exception of
about seven-tenths Of a mile just
outside West Hyattsville. But this
seven.tenths is in such condition
that many an axle cannot stand the
gaff when the cars hit the bumps.
The condition of the road, II Ia
said, makes It necessary for motor
lists going to and from the Balti-
more and Washington to continue
on the boulevard to Bladensburg
road, crossing the Baltimore and
Ohio. tracks at Hyattsville, where
several cars have been struck and
their occupants injured.
Council Favorable.
The mayor and common council
of Hyattsville. realizing the need
for the opening of Queens Chapel
road to motorists as short cut
to Baltimore, and. recognizing the
danger to ira aVelers at the Hyatts-
vile grade crossing. has adopted
resolutions urging the county COM
missioners to ipdorse the road d-build.
ing project.
Last Thursday a delegation of
Prince Georgeans. including Mayor
J. Frank Rushe, George II. Lam
hardt and o. b. ZantZinger. put the
matter before the county commits
sioners. Only one member of the
| commission-Mr. Gude-opposed the
Improvement of the road. The com
missioners urged that the road be
! constructed where IL would benefit
the most people"
| Now here is where the opposi.
tion to opening this road comes
in" said Mr.. Zantzinger. There
are four farmers and big land hold
ers north OF the proposed stretch
who want the money which would
be spent on Queens Chapel road
used to build new improved road
on the Bladensburg- Rockville high
way. southwest one mile from
Riggs road. This would leave a gap
of as rough a road as you could
! find in the State until the motorist
hit the concrete State highway
again. And who would be served
| by the building of such a road?
Only a few large landholders. The
bulk Of traffic between Washington
and Baltimore would not use this
road. Are the people of the two
cities and the country in between
to be penalized because a few land
holders want road built in front
OF their property"
I'VE have taken the matter up
with the State roads commission"
said Mayor Rushe. land we have
asked Chairman Mackall to grant us
an early hearing on the subject. We
have the names Ct hundreds Of tax
payers ind motorists who want the
short route between Washington
and Baltimore built. and we will
present these names to the commits
sioners. On the petitions are the
names of Congressman and other
leaders from this part Of Mary
land"
Mr. Lanhardt said the seven.
tenths mile of rough unimproved'
road which the protestants seek to
have improved is damned by every
motorist who rides over II.
People certainly are not going to
ruin their machines riding over
rough roads when they can ride on
the best roads in the country"
said Mr.. Lanhardt But we do
feel that the public should be con-
sidered when we ask that by the
expenditure of small sum
stretch Of road can be completed
which would mean a saving in gas
oline and wear and tear"