Evening star., 1925-07-14
RITCHIE PLEDGES MARYLAND'S
AID TO DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
VIII Appoint Committee
to Confer With va.
and ID. C..
Sees Big Possibilities for
improvement of
areas.
BY WILLIAM j. WHEATLEY.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. July 14-Full
cooperation from the State govern
ment of Maryland is promised in the
movement for the appointment of a
regional planning committee to work
out a co-ordinated scheme Of develop
ment for a great metropolitan area in
Maryland and Virginia territory ad-
jacent to the Capital City. Gov. AL
bert c.. Ritchie of Maryland said
that he Is ready to do anything to
further the movement, which marks
the beginning of a plan of cooperation
between the three autonomous sub
divisions so that the development of
the areas across the District line will
be on a well thought-out plan instead
of a haphazard growth, so prevalent
in many cities of the country.
Gov. Ritchie said that ne had not
made thorough study of the plan so
far as 1t had been worked out, but
when it's details were explained to him
by a, representative of The Star he
expressed himself as favoring it, and
added that those in charge could ex-
pect full cooperation from him. He
promised to do anything within his
power to assist in furthering the
movement and to name representa-
tiVeS of the State to cooperate with
the city planning committee of the
National Capital Park Commission
without waiting for formal action by
the State Legislature.
Ready to Help.
II see no reason why such a plan
could not be worked out to the bene-
fit of all concerned. AS I have said,
l have not thoroughly studied It. but
on it's face that appears to be fine
nrnnnCitinn nd II i l.
do anything possible to aid in the
movement to bring 1t into reality.
The Legislature does not meet un.
til next year. and as there Is need for
action now on such a proposition as
that, L am willing to appoint a COM
mittee to represent the State to CO.
operate with the regional planning
committee. Such a committee, of
course, in addition TO representatives
from the communities directly con-
cerned, should have a representative
CT the State on 1t. l think it should
have on it a representative of the
State Highway Commission, who
would be necessary because the mat
ter of such regional planning would
have to take into consideration the
State highways traversing the areas
directly affected"
While it was pointed out to Gov.
TNllCIlle llldC COrnnllCI6e represent
ing Maryland, Virginia and the Dis
trict of Columbia was working out
plans for meeting to be held here
in the very near future to draw up a
petition for necessary legislation to
authorize the official cooperation, and
which will be presented to Congress
and the Legislatures of the two States,
he said that in the interim the work
could be pushed forward by the ap-
pointment of a committee by the State
executive. OF course, any changes in
the laws necessary would have to
come from the Legislatures.
Zoning May Have Trouble.
He calls attention to the fact that
the area embraced in the Washington
Suburban Sanitary District of Mary.
land is in very good condition now
so far as the law is concerned as to
planning, but he added there was no
provision for coming, which is one of
the problems which the regional com.
nittee will work out. Gov. Ritchie