Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-03
REALTY MOTIVE
IN GRADE FIGHT HIT
Kensington Resident Rebuked
by Road Official at BaIti-
more Hearing.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY,
STAFF Correspondent Of The Star.

BALTIMORE, Md, May 3.-Charge!
that certain real estate interests out
side of Kensington were behind the
movement to provide an overhead cross
ing of the Baltimore a. Ohio Railroad
tracks in that town met with a sharp
rebuke from the State Roads Commits
sion when that body was holding a pub
lie hearing on the grade crossing elm
nation at its Offices here today. The
reference was made by E, w. Moore OF
Kensington, a former mayor OF the
town, who told the commission that a
certain real estate dealer, who was pres
ent, was active in the movement.
Howard Bruce, associate member OF
the commission arose to his feet and
said that shortly after he toof office he
personally went to the town OF KenSlng-
ton and examined the proposed project
and made certain decisions from purely
an engineering standpoint. He said that
no one ever spoke to him in regard to
any real estate. and that Mr.. Moore's
references to real estate interests were
not in order. 49,.
You have made a good argument"
Mr.. Bruce said, but on that point
you are just a little bit wrong"
Decision Expected Today.
He also disclosed that the COM
mission had worked out plans for
both an underpass and an overpass,
and indicated tina no decision would
be made until sometime after the con-
clusion of the hearings today.
There was apparent friction growing
in the room where the meeting was
held as when one speaker was on the
stand a spectator moved closer to
better hear the argument. At this
point another person took hold OF the
first mar and pushed him aside, ad-
monishing him that he was annoy
ing the speaker.
Mr.. Moore told the commission that
he had been informed by the Bal
timore g. Ohio Railroad engineers that
they had never seen any need for a Pc
destrian underpass near the station. He
said that the proposed overhead bridge
would make it necessary for the con-
Meeting road to go through the property
of two squares. He pointed out that cer-
tain streets in the town, including
B~ladensburg Dad and Metropolitan
avenue would have to be materially
widened in order to handle the in
creased traffic caused by the diver
sion to the proposed overhead bridge.
Menace to Children.
Another serious matter. he alleged,
would be the subsection Of all children
on the north side of the track to, four
way traffic. He also told the commission
that none of the citizens of the town
would want their wives or daughters to
go through the proposed pedestrian
underpath after dark, as it was a suit
able place to commit a murder.
Ta hie nni0inn AHF Moore Caid tho
Baltimore g. Ohio Railroad, has so i'm
proved the crossing with signals and
lights that he did not believe the State
Roads Commission was warranted in
spending any money for the elimination
of the crossing. He commended further,
that If it becomes necessary to relieve
the traffic, that it can be carried across
a bridge now over the tracks at the
upper end of the town. He predicted
that the proposed overhead crossing
would tear the town to pieces. Mr..
Moore said that Kensington was strictly
residential community and that the
citizens did not want any automobile
business. He read letters from Joseph
o. Murray and Brice B. Haas protesting
against the proposed overhead crossing
and submitted a protesting petition
which he said was signed by 473 people
''who knew what they were signing"
Az ILLS pOnlb AC dlACSCA bAAuS @ PASFAOh
petition submitted in favor of the elimi-
nation of the crossing had been signed
by people who had given it no con-
sideraticn.
BlameS Realtors.
Despite the rebuke of Chairman Uhl
of the commission, against charging
that real estate interests were oppress-
ing the matter, Rev. T. D. Wlndiate
charged that the citizens of the town
had not stirred up the crossing elimina-
ton matter, but that real estate inter-
ests were DESTROYS of opening up such
property which they held in the section.
He also charged that the opponents had
not been treated fairly in. the matter
of giving notice of the public hearing
today. Saying that he had only learned
of the hearing yesterday, he charged
that the commission had not complied
with the law governing the granting of
/ lblic hearings. He cited a number OF
business properties that would be affect
ed by the closing of st. Paul street.
MASS MEETING TO BE HELD.
Ag--o. E--A- nnoAs Dr,hIsn ME