Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1925-08-28
U. s.. Must Pass Upon Belt Line.

U. s.. Must Pass Upon Belt Line.
From the Washington Star Of Sunday.
Intended. according to its petition before
the Maryland Public Service Commission,
to carry on an interstate business, the
Washington and Louehboroueh Belt Line
and Terminal Co. proposed construction
has brought fourth unofficial inquiries from
Federal authorities as to the manner in
which the road is to tie up with other
railroads serving Washington and whether
it will. as is said to have been proposed.
take away much Of the business now
handled at Potomac yard. the great freight
junction point for northbound freight To-
Gated between Washington and Alexandra.
At the Interstate Commerce Commission,
where the applicants must 90 before
authority is granted to engage In an inter-
state or intrastate railroad enterprise in
volving construction of a line. officials
inquired why the sponsors for the belt
line did not apply to the commission In
the first instance. instead Of seeking
authority from the Maryland State COM
mission for the construction Of the belt
line.
At the War Department II was said
permission must be secured from the de-
partment and from Congress before
bridge can be constructed across the Po-
tomac River. as proposed in the petition.
Crossing Of such an important stream as
the Potomac involves authorization by the
chief Of engineers Of the army according to
officials Of the District engineers Office
The belt line sponsors propose to construct
bridge across the river at or near Little
Falls to handle business from Virginia
into Maryland.
Interstate Commerce Commission officials
presumed the incorporators of the proposed
belt line had made railroad connections
with the big roads entering Washington
from the South to assure steady flow Of
traffic along the route Of the proposed line.
Railroad spokesman deny that any such
connections have been made. while COM
mission officials in an unofficial way in
quired further why Potomac yard should
be subordinated unless the need for re-
routing Of traffic north Of Washington had
been shown to the railroads which made
use OF the big yard few miles south Of
the Capital. Railroad officials insist the
present yards can care for twice the traffic
now handled.
At the same time William W. Bride,
chairman Of the citizens committee Of
residents Of the suburbs northwest of WASH
ineton In Maryland assailed the claim Of
the incorporators Of the belt line that the
road would handle upwards Of 10000
freight cars day. He said sponsors Of
the road proposed to construct a great
freight yard between the Loughborough
section along the River Road 2 miles north
Of Tenleytown and Wisconsin Avenue to
handle this volume Of traffic, a greater
freight traffic than Is now handled at Po-
tomac yard in many days.
Turning to the esthetic side Of the pro-
posed construction and the industrial COM
munities expected to grow up along the
right Of way Of the belt line, Mr.. Bride
pointed out that Montgomery county, i'm
mediately north of Washington. is now
rapidly becoming an important educa-
tional center.
Georgetown College has erected a pre-
paratory school at Garrett Park, in line
with the proposed railroad development
the Chevy Chase Seminary at Chevy Chase,
Nd, and the National Park Seminary at
Forest Glen, Nd, are in the territory which
may be traversed by the road, while prop
erty has been acquired along Wisconsin
Avenue for the construction Of other edu-
cational institutions which now have head
quarters In Washington. The value Of all
these properties would be very much de-
precisted were an induasFial and manu.
featuring development Of considerable
magnitude allowed to spring up along the
route Of the belt line. he said.
Montgomery county also. Mr.. Bride added,
has become an important country club
center, with half dozen golf and country
clubs located in the territory few miles
north Of Washington possible Of inclusion
in the territory embraced by the proposed
route Of the belt line. Among these he
mentioned the Chevy Chase Club, the
Burning Tree Club. the Columbia Country
Club. the Bannockburn Golf Club, the Con-
sressional Country Club. the Indian Spring
Golf Club and the Montgomery Country
Club. Values Of any one Of these proper
ties would drop. he said, II railroad were
constructed near them. Millions Of dollars
have been spent in the development Of
these valuable properties.
The Georgetown spur Of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad. running from the Metro
politan Branch Of the B. g. o.. at point
south Of Kensinston to the Potomac River
about two miles north of the Key Bridge,
is the only railroad now serving the territory |
covered in the application Of the belt line.
Il runs directly through the property OF the
Columbia Country Club.