Evening star., 1926-03-28

at the Montgomery Country Club,
Bethesda, Md, under the auspices
of the Bradley Hills Community
League for the purpose of determining
the sentiment of the community
relative to the proposed freight rail-
road known as the w. & L. Belt
Line and Terminal Co.
1.-The meeting was large; about
400 representative citizens by count
were present. The Belt Line
interests were represented by
Admiral Austin NJ. Knight, w. Edgar
Leedy and their engineers. Mr.
Leedy explained the proposition in
detail and presented the views Of
the railroad adherence at length.
A volley of questions was asked by
various persons present, and a num-
Der OF addresses on the subject were
made by representative citizens.
Full .sideration Given.
"'After full consideration of the
subject the following authorized
resolution Is hereby submitted;
Whereas a petition has been filed
with the Public Service Commission
of Maryland seeking authority to
construct and operate a railroad
through the parks of Montgomery
and Prince George Counties ad-
jacent to the District of Columbia;
and
Whereas in said petition the
route and location of the proposed
railroad is not clearly and exactly
defined, but, on the other hand, is
extremely vague and highly in
definite; and
r. g.
license would empower this corpora
ton to locate it's right of way m an
underlined route not set out in its
petition for charter, but is subject to
revision based upon more detailed
studies and surveys which have not
yet been completed, and, apparently
cloaked to mask the plans of the in
corporators; and
Whereas, the said license would
enable the said corporation or it's
subsidiaries or associates to acquire
additional ground for enterprises such
as warehouses, stockyards, fertilizer
and chemical plants, and for other
Objectionable industrial projects: and
" Whereas, 1t is the expressed pur-
pose of the said corporation to in
corporate and promote the location in
these counties of plants and activities
detrimental to the character of these
entire residential districts: and
Project Held Injurious.
Whereas, the authority sought by
these promoters Is limitless in its
scope, and, if granted. would permit
them to locate by condemnation any
kind of industrial establishment or
establishments in districts which are
now exclusively residential and in the
direct line where many millions of
dollars have already been expended by
taxpayers for homes for themselves
and families, and the values of these
properties. it is believed by their
owners, would be seriously deprecated
by hte location of such "a highly IN
furious project in their vicinities; and,
together with its uncertainty of loca-
tion and character, would give oppor-
tunity for the manipulation of real
estate values to the detriment Of the
values Of these homes. Such prof.
ects, 1t Is believed, would bring into
our now strictly residential districts
a floating and alien class of undesira-
bles and would paralyse the develop
ment of the home districts which are
now both credits and assets to the
State of Maryland and to the Nationa'
Capital; and
Whereas the District of Colum-
bia is now zoned, as the petition for
charter itself declares. against the
very kind of development which
these promoters propose to force
upon the State of Maryland and the