Evening star., 1929-12-18
ELECTRIC RATE CUT
FOR MONTGOMERY
Power Company Head Tells
Rockville Chamber of Com.
ing Reduction.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
ROCKVILLE, Md. December ls.-In
an address before the Rockville Cham
Der OF Commerce at its monthly meet
ing last night, William r. Ham, presi-
dent of the Potomac Electric Power
Co., announced that substantial reduc-
tions in rates on electric current for
residential purposes would become effec-
tive January /. The cut on current for
lighting would. he said, be from 2Il0
cents to 4 7IlO cents per kilowatt hour,
while that on current for other house
hold purposes would - from to az
cents per kilowatt hour.
Mr.. Ham expressed the opinion that
Washington is destined to become o
truly great city, and declared that
Montgomery County. than which, he
said no more beautiful country Is to be
found, was bound to share in the de-
velopment and prosperity that Is sure
to come to Washington.
Discusses Transportation.
Edwin c. Brandenburg, q director of
the washington Railway q Electric Co.,
discussed Montgomery County tranSpor-
tation, so far as subsidiary companies
of the washington Railway S5 Electric
Co. are concerned. He declared that
the automobile had dealt a heavy blow
to suburban transportation lines and
cited figures to show that since 1918 the
washington g. Rockville Electric Railway
had lost heavily, the receipts exceeding
the operating expenses IN but two years
during that period. He also asserted
that the Montgomery Bus Lines, ac-
ciiired by the Washington Railway d
Electric Co 18 months ago, was like
wise proving a loser, only OF the 10
months showing balances on the right
side of the ledger. He indicated, how
ever. that both lines would continue to
be operated and urged their support by
the members of the chamber and their
families and people Of the county gen.
orally.
the power company, and g. Melvin
Sharp, executive assistant, were intro
duced and, spoke briefiy.
The railway officials were present by
special invitation Of President Leonard
L.. Nicholson, jr., and in keeping with
his announced policy to have the cham
Der addressed from time to time by
prominent persons. Preceding the talks,
the regular business session was held
Memorial Road IndOrsed.
A resolution was adopted heartily"
indorsing the idea of the improvement
and maintenance by the Federal Gov
eminent of continuous highway from
Mount Vernon to Gettysburg as me-
mortal to both George Washington and
Abraham Lincoln, looking with diSfa-
vor upon any suggestion for the apan.
donment of the present location OF the
Lincoln Highway from washington
through Rockville to Frederick" and au-
tf1orizing the appointment Of COM
mittee to support in every proper way
the enactment of appropriate legislation
by Congress and the collation. and dis"
sen1ination of facts and historic data
bearing upon the present location OF
the Lincoln Highway" Appointment OF
the committee was deferred.
The resolution, which was onered Dy
George H. Lemar. called attention to It's
preamble to that part of the historic
"Old National Trail' which leads from
Washington to Frederick, through the
active cooperation Of Woodrow Wilson,
then President of the United States;
Blair Lee. then United States Senator,
and Phillips Lee Goldsborough, then
Governor Of Maryland, was ofacially |
designated, and has continued to be |
part of, the Lincoln Highway and has
long not only been the principal road
way from Washington TO the West, but
has long been the accepted route from
Washington to Gettysburg.
The public utilities committee sub
Hnitted a recommendation that the
chamber pass a resolution requesting
the town council Of Rockville to imn1e-
diately proceed to hook Rockviles
water system up with the mains of the
Washington Suburban Sanitary Com
mission of Maryland.
Committees Report.
"The committee feels" states the re-
port, that the matter of additional
water for the town of Rockville is of
utmost urgency and that the purchasing
Of water from the Suburban Sanitary
Commission is most economical for
Rockville and its citizens and Is the
only plan, without a large outlay of
money utterly beyond the means of the
town, that will assure to the town an
adequate supply Of pure water for all
time"
The report further set forth that. in
the opinion Of the committee, it is nec-
esSary, in order for the town to have .
sufficient supply of water for the Sum.
mer of 1880, that immediate steps be
taken so that the laying OF the neces-
sary mains may be started as soon as
the weather permits.
Action on the report was deferred
until the January meeting.
Philip w. Gates, j. Brawner Nichol-
son, o. H. Perry, George H. Lamar,
GURUS Il. Waro, M. stern ana QUO w.
Anderson were elected members of the
executive committee, the offlcers-Presi-
dent Nicholson, Vice President Edgar
Reed, Secretary Harold C. Smith and
Treasurer William r. Prettyman-being
ex offico members.
The chamber voted an appropriation
of $50 toward the fund that is being
raised for a community Christmas tree
and celebration for Rockville and made
O donation of $40 toward the Christmas
opportunity fund Of the Montgomery
County Social Service League.
j. Banks Berry, chairman Of the
Christmas tree committee, reported that
the business people of the town and
others are cooperating, that the prepa-
ration are progressing satisfactorily and
that there is every indication the COM
munity Christmas celebration will be
o big and successful event.