Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-05
COURTHOUSE PLAN
TO Be CARRIED OUT
Lee Declares Funds Are
Available Despite Senate's
Defeat of Bond Bills.
By WILLIAM j. WHEATLEY,
STAFF Correspondent of The Star.


ROCKVILLE, Md, April 5.-7-Mont-
gomery County's enlarged courthouse
project, involving the purchase and use
of the square west of the present site,
is going to be built, despite the defeat
in the State Senate of the bill providing
$175.O00 in bonds for the acquisition
of the square, it was stated emphatical
ly by Maj. E. Brooke Lee, county and
State Democratic leader. today. This
appeared to be possible, following
study of the measure affecting the
courthouse and the widening of Mont
gonlery avenue, and the county leaders
say that they are going to carry out
the program as originally intended.
1t was pointed out, however, that as
the bill authorizing the county COM
missioners to condemn land for pubic
purposes was killed in the Senate, the
ACQUISITION of the property will have 10
be by purchase, which probably will be
more expensive than under condemna-
ton proceedings.
Could Await Legislation.
It was added, though, that if any OF
the owners seek exorbitant prices, sucn
parcels will be left until the next SEES
sion of the Legislature, when 1urther
efforts will be made to get the con-
demnation bill through.
The bill which originally passed the
House of Delegates providing $l50,OoO
additional for the courthouse construc-
ton was amended in the Senate by
providing only $4,000, but with a
stipulation that $4,000 of this amount
could be used for the purchase of a
triangle of land in the square west OF
the courthouse and the removal OF the
line of Court street between the pres
ent court square and the proposed new
site. On the other hand, one OF the
road bills was amended so as to pro-
vide $50, 1000 for the purchase or con-
domination of land necessary for the
widening of Montgomery avenue 16
feet.
Would Remodel Buildings.
Those familiar with the problem in
volved say that it will be necessary
under this plan to take off the fronts of
a number of the buildings in this area,
and that the county will have to bear
the expense of remodeling and moving
the front walls back for the distance
authorized. 1t was added that it will
be cheaper to purchase the whole lot,
and this they plan to do. These two
funds give a total of $4,000 to acquire
a portion of the land either by pur-
chase or condemnation.
The bill designed to provide funds for
the acquisition of the whole square
would have authorized $175.000. OF
this amount, it was said the two meas
ures provide nearly half and the re-
rnainder will be taken from the 5000 900
of county emergency certificates of in
debtedness which the commissioners at
the 1927 session of the Legislature were
authorized to issue. Some of these were
tied up in school and road bonds, but
Will be released by refunding bond bills
approved by the session just closed.
I. If the remaining 100000 is taken
from these emergency funds, then it
was said further, it would leave $110,-
600 for other purposes, including the
building of needed schools and roads
and the elimination of the Kensington
grade crossing. This, too, will be built,
it was said, and at the site of the pres
emit overhead bridge west of Connecticut
avenue.