Evening star., 1926-03-28

lies contentious before any charter
was granted within that State, agreed
to consider the Virginia petitions on
the same basis as those received from
within Maryland.
Instantly the plans for the pro-
posed belt line were announced, the
citizens of Montgomery County and
Prince Georges County in Maryland
began a concerted drive against the
proposition.
Montgomery Opposition.
County officials of Montgomery
County Nd, lying to the north, west
and northwest of the District Of Co
lumbla, estimate that the value Of the
residential property Immediately af-
fected by the proposed belt line is in
the neighborhood Of 500, 10000.
Within another to 10 years. with the
greater trends Of population pressing
into the county, it Is believed by Off
cials that another $100,0OQO0O will be
added to the assessed property valua-
tions in those territories adjacent to
the District of Columbia and thereby
form the very heart Of Washington s
northern suburban area
'In addition to the residential
growth in this area 1t is fast becoming
a focal point for educational institu-
tions of the National Capital which
desire grounds ample for large build
ings and large campuses. Among the
educational institutions already To-
Gated in the area generally affected
by the proposed belt line Is the Chevy
Chase Seminary, Georgetown Prepara-
tory School, National Park Seminary
and q number of smaller institutions.
In Montgomery County, Md, also
lies Washington's chief country clubs,
among these being the Congressional,
Chevy Chase, Burning Tree, Colum-
bia, Manor, Bannockburn, Indian
Spring, Montgomery and Argyle.
These institutions alone represent in
vestments of many millions Of dollars,
the future of which would be left to
the caprices of the builders of any
belt line about the Capital. 1t safely
may be argued further that a belt line
railroad likewise might prevent fur
ther expansion of educational institu-
tions within short distances Of the
National Capital, a requisite factor to
their success.
Montgomery County, Md, which
will be an essential unit in extern
sion of Greater Washington regional
development plans, has shown greater
and more substantial residential
growth than any other suburb of
Washington, and officials of the
county, who, If the county were to
profit by a belt line venture, might
be expected to lend encouragement,
have gone on record against the prof.
ect. A resolution passed by the board
of county commissioners, the county's
governing body, addressed to the
Maryland Public Service Commission,
urges refusal of the company's petit
ton for charter
Sentiment Revealed.
The. sentiment of the citizens of
Montgomery County, who have held
mass meetings and acted through es-
tablished citizens organizations, may
be gained from the context of resolu-
tioRs passed and forwarded to the
Maryland Public Service Commission.
Among these Is that authorized at
mass meeting held under the auspices
of the Bradley Hills Community
League and attended by 400 Of the
most prominent people residing in ter
ritories adjacent to the District of
Columbia. Proponents of the belt line
were heard and after opponents had
registered vigorous objections, this
mass meeting appointed committee
of representative citizens to petition
the Maryland Public Service Commits
sion. This petition representing the
sense of this meeting follows:
GA mas meeting Of citizens afd
taxpayers of Montgomery County
was held on Friday, August T. 1925,