Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-08
THOUSANDS ATTEND
OPENING OF R.L.AvE.
Gov. Richie Heads Parade
Inaugurating New
Thoroughfare.
BY GEORGE PORTER,
Stan Correspondent of The star.

EVANSVILLE, Md, December T.
With music, pageantry and speeches,
the suburban area of Prince Georges
County yesterday opened the long
sought extension of Rhode Island ave-
nue. ana dedicated the new road, to-
ge,her with the overhead bridge, which
eliminates the Hyattsville grade cross
ing, to the convenience and safety of
all who tour by motor.
Voicing the sentiment of gratitude at
the completion of the projects, Gov.
Albert c. Ritchie of Maryland, guest
of honor and principal speaker of the
day, awakened new enthusiasm when
he announced that he had every ex-
pectation and confidence" that the Bal
timore Boulevard would be widened to
40 feet from Laurel to the District line
before the end of next Summer
Speaking in the National Guard
Armory at the conclusion of the parade.
which constituted the opening feature
OF the celebration, Gov. Ritchie gave
general outline of what he termed the
most extensive road program which the
State has ever undertaken" of which
the Rhode Island avenue extension and
Hyattsvllle Bridge, he said, were major
attainmentS."
Promises to Speed ROadwOrk.
Other features to be undertaken
shortly, the governor said included the
read from point near Laurel to con-
meet with Sixteenth street at the Dis
Trict line, and the widening of the De-
tense Highway.
In regard to the latter, Gov. Richie
said: L can assure the people that
this work will be begun in earnest next
year, and as much of it will be finished
as the available money will permit"
The governor paid tribute to the CO.
OnpTatinn Hf the Uariny1S -,
ing for the Improvements dedicated
yesterday and mentioned specifically I.
Howard Duckett, j. Enos Ray and Irven
OWlngS as the leaders with whom he
had contact in helping complete the
task.
The governor spoke again at a BAN
quet served by Ruth Chapter, No. Z.
O. E. s., in the Masonic Temple last
night, at which William Anghn acted
as POSTMASTER. All events of the day
were arranged by the Hyattsville Cham
Der of Commerce
Officials Attend Banquet.
S. Marvin Peach was master of cere-
monies in the armory, and the guests
were welcomed by DR.. H. T Willis,
mayor of Hyattsville, who said enough
gas had been wasted from idling auto
mobiles waiting for the gates to open
to float a battleship. Former Gov.
Cornwel OF West Virginia spoke as a
representative of the Baltimore g. Ohio
Railroad. of which he is general coun.
sci
The ceremonies started with a brief
symbolic pageant, the opening of the
gates, !" performed by four pretty young
women as sponsors"
The gates, small, wooden structures
were opened at the Mount Rainier end
shortly after 2 o'clock by Miss AuCla
Mae Croker of Mount Rainier and Miss
Eleanor Monkey of Brentwood A sim
liar performance occurred when the
parade reached HyattSville with Miss
Elsie G. Casey of Hyattsville and Miss
Esme B. Reeder of Riverdale serving as
sponsors.
Sirens "Shriek" Opening.
simultaneously with the opening of
the gates fire sirens of the neighboring
communities were blown for period CT
one minute.
After this first outburst of "whoopee "
the parade got under way, with County
Officers Nichols and Prince on horse
back and State police, under the COM
mand of Corp. j. B. DeutSeh in the
lead. They were followed by Company
F, Hyattsville National Guard, escorting
Gov. Ritchie, members of the State
Roads Commission, the Prince Georges
County commissioners and other official
guests. These were accompanied by the
Chamber of Commerce Rhode Island
Avenue celebration committee and
members of the general parade COM
mittee, with the Veterans of Foreign
Wars Band furnishing music.
Upon reaching the HyattSville Armory
the governor and his party mounted the
reviewing stand to watch the passage of
the rest of the parade. The procession,
frightened by many floats, fire appara-
tus, uniformed organizations and bands,
continued along the Baltimore Boule-
ward to Riverdale. The towns of
Hyattsville Riverdale, Brentwood and
Mount Rainier and the citizens of the
Woodridge-Langdon section of the Dis
trict Of Columbia were represented in
the line Of march.
Star Float Winner.
The Evening Star float was adiudged
the best decorated one from outside of
Maryland. Other prize winning floats
were: Best fire department, Hyattsville,
pumper, first; second, Riverdale, nom
pumper; third, Mount Rainier, nom
pumper; school floats, first Riverdale,
sponsored by local Womens Club: Sec
ond, Cottage City; third, Brentwood
Best marching unit. Veterans of For
eign Wars: best decorated Maryland
business float. Mcleod & Romburg,
Brentwood: most interesting float. w. G.
T.. U. Of Prince Georges County; most
original Maryland float, HyattSville
Hardware Co. Judges were r. Ernest
Smith, county treasurer; Henry L.
Morris, county delegate, and William T.
Davis, register of wills
The group which shared the review
ing stand with Gov Richie included
@. Clinton Uhl. chairman; State Roads
Commission, Robert Reindollar, as
sistant engineer of the commission. and
commission, Representative Stephen
Gambrill, w. p. Magruder. Irving
Owings, j. Enos Ray. Maj. E. Brooke
Lee, State Senator Lansdale @. Sasscer,
County Commissioners William A. Du-
vail and Harry M Bowen, William
Stanley. former Gov. Cornwell. Dele
gates Mulliken and Morris, T. Howard
Duckett. Mrs. Ray, Mrs. OWings and
Mrs. Duckett, Arthur Owens, L. l.. Gray,
Henry A. Friday. Frank Smith, A. A.
Vaughn, Max Vollberg and the parade
judges.
Rescue Squad Assists.
As a precautionary measure Chief H.
l.. Leonard of the Prince Georges
County Rescue Squad placed the or
ganiZation's three ambulances in serv-
ice one at Mount Rainier. one at
Tyattsville and one in the center OF
the line of march.
Among those who watched the
parade with a keen interest, although
taking no active personal part in the
celebration, were officials Of the State
Roads Commission under whose super
vision the road and bridge were built.
This group included District Engineer
Edgar G. Duncan, and Inspectors w.
Z. Amick, j. E. Wood, T. M. McNulty,