Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-07-31
The widening OF Our Main
Thoroughfare.

Sometime ago was asked to write an
article upon the widening Of Wisconsin
Avenue. or the Rockville pike. from the
District of Columbia Line north to the
Bank of Bethesda, at the entrance to
Edeemoor. As the time is appropriate
do so now.
At the time ] became Commissioner 1t
was evident that something should be
done and done at once. At that time the
stretch of road from the District of Column
bia Line to Rockville was kept up as an
experimental test road by the u S. Gov
eminent. The Government declined to
continue to maintain it and threw it back
upon the county's hands. This would have
placed an added expense upon the tax
payers of this county of about $4,000
per year.
Immediately secured conference with
Mr.. Mcdonald. Chief of the Good Roads
Department OF the Government. and Mr..
John Mackall, Chairman Of the State Roads
Commission Of Maryland, and explained
to them that this was the only link in a
1870 mile-c chain from Cumberland to Wash
ington that was not a portion Of State
Road and maintained by the State, and
that il would be burden and a hardship
upon the people Of our county II this added
expense were thrown upon them. Mr..
Mackall agreed with me and accepted this
Ofe ha fnh
shouldered and improved.
then for two years worked upon the
formulation and passage Of a bill before
the State Legislature, which wrote and
presented at Annapolis. and which was
afterward amended and enacted into law.
This Act is not mere authorization, il
is mandatory. 1t directs that the County
Commissioners of Montgomery county pro.
coed with the acquisition by condemnation
or dedication Of strip of land "a feet in
width on the east side of the Rockville
pike (for that is the side least built upon
and is practically open country from the
District Of Columbia Line to the Bethesda
Bank, where the roadway divides into
the pike and the Old Georgetown Road.
People have been manned and people
have been killed due to this dangerous,
narrow condition of the roadway, and il is
strange to relate that l. who was primarily
responsible In initiating and pushing the
widening idea. should have been one Of
the first to suffer painful accident. where
many happen at the intersection of Brad
ley Lane and the Rockville pike. a great
majority Of which would never occur if the
road were widened.
Why has II not been done2 Why has il
been postponedH If it is not done now or
soon the people Of Bethesda district have
the right to know, why. Do we, in Bethesda
district, not pay one-fourth Of the entire
tax Of the countyi Do we. In Bethesda
district, not feel the danger to our wives,
children and other members of our fami-
lies every time they 60 out upon this high
wayi Do the other people of the county,
the farmers hauling their crops. the dairy
men hauling their milk, the hucksters
hauling their produce not want reasona BILE
facilities for hauling these commodities in
safety over the main thoroughfare, the
main artery Of travel in our whole
county, They most certainly do. We
believe in and support loyalty our con-
stituted government, National. State and
county. for the majority rules no matter
what party or faction may be in the sad
die. All we ask is justice.
At meeting Of the Bradley Hills Com
munity League recently this progressive
movement was discussed. petition has
been circulated for its PRONUNCIATION and
speedy conclusion. We hope it will be
accomplished. 1t should have been com.
pleted long before this. The land should
have been acquired when the bill was
passed and at least now before real estate
values further.
TWAS my original idea that IL then should
have been turned over to the State Roads
Commission and they should bear the cost
of paving or improving the road. as il is a
State highway. This was what the bill
had introduced contemplated. II is not
too late now. Let us save human beings
from being MANNED or killed. The widen.
ing will bring business to Bethesda. espe-
cially to the merchants on the east side.
There should be no objection from anyone.
Let us all pull together for the good Of the
community and county.
Sincerely,
HENRY JACKSON HUNT SRD.