Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-12
RICHIE TO ATTEND
EVANSVILLE FETE
Accepts Invitation to Cere-
monies Marking Extension
of Rhode Island Avenue.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


EVANSVILLE, Md, November Ia
Gov. Albert c. Ritchie of Maryland and
Col. H. D. Williar, jr., chief engineer
of the State Roads Commission, have
accepted invitations to take part in the
elaborate celebration which will mark
the official opening of the extension of
Rhode Island avenue from the District
line to Hyattsville, it was announced
last night when the citizens committee,
which is arranging the exercises, met in
the municipal building here.
The governor IS expected to head
parade which will open the celebration
and later review the procession from a
stand to be erected in front of the Ma
tional Guard Armory on the Washing
ton Baltimore boulevard.
Bridge May Not Be Ready.
In addition to Col Williar, members
of the State Roads Commission will be
invited and an invitation will also be
extended to the Prince Georges County
commissioners.
Despite the announcement that the
new highway bridge over the B. &. o.
Railroad tracks may not be open until
December is because of unforeseen diff
ficulties in obtaining rights-of-way, 1t
was decided to proceed with the original
plans of holding the celebration on De-
cember z. 1t had been hoped that the
ceremonies would mark the opening of
both the bridge and Rhode Island ave-
nue..
AS formulated last night, plans for the
celebration call for parade starting at
2 pm. at the District of Columbia line
in Mount Rainier. and ending at the
armory. This will be followed by BAN
OI1at tha local Macnpir EJoll OF m
Lemuel l.. Gray, general chairman in
charge of arrangements for the celebra-
ton, which is sponsored by the Hyatts-
vile Chamber of Commerce, appointed
a parade committee comprising w. T.
Jennings, chairman; Councilman Floyd
B. Matthias of Mount Rainier and M. z.
Bailey of the Rhode Island Avenue Citi-
zens' Association. This committee will
meet tonight.
1t was indicated last night that
there will be plenty of music and sew
eral floats In the parade Announce
ment was made that 93-piece band
from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of
Washington would attend the celebra-
ton, and it is also hoped to secure
the Boys Independent Band of Wash
ington and the band from the District
Of Columbia Reform School.
Floats in Parade.
Jennings stated that the Hyattsville
High School was considering putting
a float in the parade, and the Hyatts-
vile Elementary School hoped to enter
two, one from each building. A. Fl.
Seidenspinner declared that participa-
ton of the Riverdale school children
and a float was being considered.
A night parade was discussed. upon
suggestion by Bailey, but it was de-
Wy co
1t was best not to change the present
program.
The decorations committee was In
Structed to contract for the decora-
lions, which, it is estimated, will cost
approximately $1,000. Present plans
call for the placing of decorations along
the entire extension of Rhode Island
avenue and on the new bridge and
A total of $500 is to be raised to
finance the celebration, of which
HyattSville and Mount Rainier are to
collect $500 each and Riverdale and
Brentwood $3.50 each. The mayors in
each town have been named to direct
the raising of this money. Bailey Is to
solicit funds from the business men of
the Woodbridge -Langdon section.
ID. C. Represented.
Representatives of the Rhode Island
Avenue Citizens Association met with
the Maryland citizens by invitation for
the first time last night. The District
representatives were w. H. Dunn,
chairman of the streets and highways
committee of the association; Robert
Werth and Mr.. Bailey. Thomas j.
Llewellyn, president of the Rhode Island
Avenue Citizens Association, also at
tended the meeting, but as a repre-
sentative of the Washington Federation
of Citizens Association, being chair
man of the federation's highways,
parks and waterways committee.
The next meeting of the general COM
mittee will be held Saturday night In
the Municipal Building.
Only few hundred feet more TT
main to be paved In Mount Rainier
before the work of extending Rhooe
Island avenue is completed. C. E. Dun
can, District engineer, under whose inn
mediate supervision the highway Is
being built, said today he expected
the Baltimore Boulevard would be
linked with Rhode Island avenue at
the District line tomorrow or Thurs
day. 1t is expected the thoroughfars
will be open to traffic about November
81, a few days in advance of the
formal celebration.