Evening star., 1927-10-15
TWO POLICE ON GUARD.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

! Special Dispatch to The Star.
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. October
| 15-To prevent indignant residents OF
Prince Georges County from continu
| ing to tear down dirt barricades that
| block a mile stretch of the Robert
Grain Highway, now virtually com
pleted. two State policemen are today
patrolling the thoroughfare. Twice
during the past two weeks the barr1
cades have been torn down and even
carted away. only to be replaced by
the State Roads Commission.
Residents are aroused because they
feel that the barricaded road should
be opened to traffic. Construction of
this part of the road was virtually
competed two months ago, they say.
1t had been thought. it was said. that
after the 81 days allowed for the ce-
ment to harden thoroughly. the road
would be unofficially opened to traffic.
1t will not be opened. according to
plans, until October 90, when elabo-
rate ceremonies will be he Il.
John N. Mackall, State highway
commissioner. said last night that the
part of the highway that has not been
opened to traffic Is dangerous, because
the shoulders along the road have not
been completed. He said the commits.
sion would not take the responsibility
for opening the road until it was made
safe for vehicular traffic. This can
no. be accomplished until some time
next week. it was explained.
Doubts Serious Opposition.
''I do not believe there Is any re.
sentiment over the road being closed,
Mr.. Mackall said. "My information
is that just a few nearby residents
who objected to taking the detour par,
ticipated in tearing down the barriersI
lit was thought best by my office
after learning by chance of what hap
pened, to have two State policemen
stationed at The barriers to see that
the road was not used. l do not be-
lieve the presence of these patrolmen
will be necessary after today. since
have received assurances that the bar
riers will not again be disturbed.
"Only about three-quarters of a
mile of the road is closed. The detour
is in excellent condition and only
| makes the trip about one-quarter of
mile longer. have not heard that
some vehicles can not travel over the
detour.
James E. Binger of Halls Station, 10
Gated short distance from the
| blocked highway, admitted yesterday
| that he had led 100 angry residents
| of the vicinity who destroyed a dirt
| barricade yesterday morning. He added
that he had been responsible for the
| tearing down the barricade a number
of times in the past, claiming that the
road could be opened to traffic without
menace to motorists.
Canning Factory Needs.
| Mr.. Binger, in explaining his ac
| ton, pointed out that he was the
owner of a canning factory which de
pended upon Baltimore for its sup
ply of containers. Heavily loaded
trucks carrying the cans are unable
to pass over the detour into which
they are forced by the barricades. he
said.
| However. Mr. Binger seemed some
what placated late yesterday when a
| truck containing cans for use in hi.
plant arrived at the barricade an(
with the assistance Of State ROAD
Commission truck was able to make
the detour. At the steep grade EN-
ployes of the commission dumped
gravel into the worst ruts and levele(
| the incline so that Mr.. Binger's truck
was not in danger of turning over.
| Late last night. when Mr.. Binger re
ceived an anonymous telephone call
suggesting a raid on the barricades
he declined to participate.