Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-12
CIVIC BODY PUTS
Off ROAD PROJECT
Montgomery Federation
PostponeS Action on Mass.
Ave. Extension.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY,
stan Correspondent of The Star.

SILVER SPRING, Md, November
. 12.-After hearing warnings against
endangering the credit OF Montgomery
County by the issuance of more bonds,
Is the Montgomery County Civic Fedora
ton, meeting in annual session last
night at the Takoma- Silver Spring High
School here, listened to more than two
hours of debate on the matter OF APP
proving a route for the extension OF
Massachusetts avenue from the District
of Columbia line into Maryland in the
direction of Great Falls. When 1t be-
came apparent shortly before midnight
that the debate would be protracted
one, and there was wide difference
of opinion on the question of press
ing the resolution at this time, the
matter was put over when motion OF
Col A. B. Barber, retiring president,
to table it was carried.
Officers Elected.
The association also elected officers
last night for the ensuing year and pre-
scented to e. Brooke Lee The Evening
star Cup, awarded each year to an
individual or COMMITTEES performing
the most outstanding civic service.
DR.. i. M, Christie. delegate from the
silver Spring Chamber of Commerce,
was elected president and the following
were reelected: Capt. Joseph G. Clssel,
Silver Spring Citizens, ASSOCIATION wee
PARK Citizens Association, RECORDING
secretary; o. NJ. Ktle, Mohlcan Hills
citizens Association, corresponding
secretary, and j. j. Miller, Hlghlaho
Park Citizens Association, treasurer.
The following were elected. as addl-
tional members of the executive COM
Inittee: Col. A. B. Barber, Bradley HlIlS
r,ommunity League; Oliver Owen kunn,
Alta vista Community League; Emory
n Boeley. Friendship Heights cltiHenS
committee, and Stephen James, Linden
Citizens Association. .,.,.,,,,
The only contest was on the selectlon
of a president, and IN tne eieceioh AZ, 20
T1r Christie the association upset lne
or1lv selection of the nominating COM
Tniftee. which had recommended X. 4.
Pondy of the Edgemoor Citizens ASso-
cistion w. B. Horne, in nominating
mr. Christie. said that for lour years
the president has come from the area
west of Rock Greek. He thought TINS
was unfair to the people OF the eaSe
side. and he believed that the presloent
for the ensuing year should come 81 run ea,
the latter area. The vote was 50 lot
DIR. Christie and 81 for Mr.. Bondy.
Foilowinp the announcement OF the
vote. Mr.. Bondy moved that Vie cleo
tion be made unanimous, which was
done.
Debate Is Started.
Following the presentation OF the
Star Cup, accompanied by lauoaUory
speech by President Barber OF the Work
IF Mr.. Lee. to which the latter replied,
and a lengthy report by the retiring
president of the efficient work OF the
civic federation, the body launched i'm
mediately into is special order OF busl-
ness the proposed extension OF MasSa-
chusetts avenue, which occuNeed the
attention of the body to the ext Vision OF
even its committee reports UNI It was
finally put over, without any ecislon,
but not until several other motle were
offered in an attempt TO setNe the
matter. -
There did not appear to be any OBJ
lection 70 the extension of the .oad, or
the matter of recommending 1t as q
future project, but there was obJection
to the organization approving It urtn
after the master highway plan, now
being worked on by the Maryiand-Na-
tional Capital Park ard Planning Com
mission, had been promulgated. MAI
Lee urged caution on the organization,
and pointed out that nothing could De
done in the way of construction until
the Summer Of 1881, SO that there was
plenty of time to give mature cnnsidera-
fion. He said that by acting last hight
the association would put itself In the
position of recommending the expendl-
fure Of a million or more dollars IN
few hours of debate, which action he
characterized as silly.
George H. Lamar, Rockville, Salo JnaG
he was utterly at variance with the sug-
gestion that when new pieces OF prop
erty are added to the county taxing
area, that they can be used for the
issuance, of bonds. He said that now
hundreds of pieces of property were be-
ing sold under foreclosure sales IN
Montgomery County, and he said tnat
this was due to the water" in the values.
During the past few years, he continued,
Montgomery County has made sub
stantial progress, bat he said that the
time has come when the citizens asSo-
citation cannot commit itself to the I'M
limited issue of bonds. He said they
unjust use care in using the credit OF the
county.
Alleges Speculation.
He asserted that the land in the vicin-
ity of the proposed extension was bought
years ago by land spectators, who, are
waiting for Just the road opening that
is proposed, and it would be gold mine
for them He added that the people who
will get the benefits ought to be COM
PEELED to pay for the opening and con-
struction. Mr.. Lamar expressed the be-
lief that county authorities ought to be
put on notice that the federation, if it
adopted the road plan, did not sane
ton any plan for financing 1t from
county funds.
Mr. Bondy said that he was quite in
accord with what Mr.. Lamar said, and
added that the road project should be
considered in connection with schools
and park development which demand
large expenditure of funds in the future.
He said that he did not want to see
Montgomery County put into the posi-
ton of having to erect portable schools,
because 1t had not considered the fina1-
cial problem far enough in advance.
He moved to recommit the matter,
which was rejected.
Mr.. Lee took issue with Mr.. Lamar
on his statement in regard to foreclos-
ure sales. He also said that there had
been much talk in the county in the
past Of the building of so-called real
estate roads" and he didn't like that.
He said that the whole matter should
be given more mature consideration, in
conjunction with the master highway
plan ow being worked out by the en-
gineers at great expense.
Cites Boulevard Project.
The proposal to extend Massachusetts
avenue, Col. Barber said, had not been
considered in connection with the
study by the Federal Government of a
proposed boulevard along the river. He
asserted that Lieut. Col. u. S. Grant,
executive officer of the Federal Plan
ming Commission, had told him that
no consideration had been given to
the improvement of Conduit road, be-
cause of the matter of other road prof.
AcfS being coDSiderad an fhie area EIn