Evening star., 1925-09-02
BELT LINE DEALT
TWO HARD BLOWS
Washington Chamber of
Commerce and Arlington
Federation AsSaiI Project.

The voice of the Washington Cham
Der of Commerce was raised last nigh;
against the proposed belt line rail
road in Maryland and Virginia. when
its board of directors voted to send a
formal protest to the Public Service
Commission of Maryland against
granting the application of the Wash
ington and Loughborough Belt Line
and Terminal Co. to exercise it's char
ter. The menace to the beautifying OF
Washin gton and the hindrance OF
plans for development of the great
metropolitan district as we'll as the
want of need for such a line were
pointed to by speakers. Letters from
presidents of the large railroad sys
terms in this territory were read
showing there was no need for in
creased freight-handling facilities here.
oliver Owen Kuhn, representing the
special committee of Montgomery
County citizens picked at recent mass
meeting to shoulder the fight against the
project, pointed out to the directors
that the proposed line was one of the
greatest menaces which had faced
Washing gton and it's development in a
long time. He called attention to
y
land and Virginia, all of whom were
protesting against the project. He ex-
planned how the project was railroaded
through the Corporation Commission
of Virginia, and left citizens of the
latter State no redress except an ap-
peal to a body of sister State.
Menace to 100, 900 Home Owners.
Mr.. Kuhn pointed out there was no
need for the project, public welfare did
not demand it and it was not desirable,
and he read to the chamber letters
from the presidents of the big railroad
systems and from freight handlers.
The proposed railroad would hazard
the investments of 1000 people in
Montgomery and Prince Georges
Counties, 80 per cent of whom are en-
ployed in Washington, he pointed out.
This territory is an integral part of
the greater Washington development
and is a distinct hazard to it. Citing
tax figures from the section. Mr.. Kuhn
said that the basis of the levy of taxes
in the Bethesda district was SIS ,1G4,-
900 and in the Wheaton district
SIC, ,6S5 900, a total of $26, ,789 900. New
home construction in these sections
totaled SO, 900 900 in the last year and
S6 900 900 in the last two years, and
yet a. $4,o00.00O project proposed to
come in and hazard all this. It's plans
are ambiguous, he said. If such a
project were allowed to go through,
he pointed out, it would make freight
delivery routes out of the beautiful
boulevards leading into and out of the
City of Washington. Furthermore, If
other railroads opposed the line and
refused to cooperate, how could any
such fanciful project survive, he
asked.
A letter from President Samuel
Rea of the Pennsylvania Railroad
was read, in which he said that
from the standpoint of the Penn
sylvania Railroad system there is
no necessity now, or, so far as one
can see, in the future for the con-
struction of an additional line of
TRANSPORTATION between the Southern
railroads and those running north
of Washington"
Rail Heads Denied Need.
Eppa Hunton. jr., president of the
Richmond Fredericksburg and Poto-
mac Railroad Co., wrote, regarding
the necessity for such a line, that it
is my very distinct judgment that
no such necessity exists as present,
or will develope in the future, mas
much as the ability of this company
to handle expeditiously all traffic
| now offered, as we'll as it's financial
ability to provide increased facilities
in the future, completely safeguards
the present and future transporta-
ton needs, and contracts now in effect
with the Pennsylvania Railroad and
Baltimore and Ohio, and which have
been in full force for many years,
! assure US adequate freight facilities
! in the City of Washington"
Daniel Willard. president of the
Baltimore and Ohio, pointed out that
additional land for expansion had
been purchased at Potomac yards,
and that he did not consider the belt
line necessary. Expressing the hope
| that permission would not be granted
for its construction, he concluded: 81
| think the position which you say has
| been taken by the citizens of Mont
gomery County is completely justified
by the facts as / understand them" +"
Fairfax Harrison, president of the
| Southern Railway system, said that
| the company promoting the proiect