The Washington times., 1930-02-05

PARK ENGINEER
STRESSES NEED
To CITIZENS

TAKOMA PARK, Md, Feb. 5.
Citizens Of Prince Georges county
should get busy and see that a
building code, similar to that in
effect in Montgomery county and
other localities, is adopted, Irving
q: Root, chief engineer Of the
Maryland-National Capital Park
and Planning Commission. told
members of the Civic and School
association of Takoma Park,
Prince Georges county, at a
meeting last night in the Prince
Georges county school on Ray
Road.
Root urged his hearers to get
together and have the necessary
legislation passed at the next ses-
sion of the State legislature
About 200 persons were present.
including Montgomery and Prince
Georges county officials aud
Officials of Takoma Park.
Pointing out the desirability
OF a workable building code,
Root said he had recently
made q study which revealed
that the average cost Of con.
Structing houses in Prince
Georges county was $2,5OO as
against $500 in Montgomery
county.
Cheap Buildings Erected
THAT means" he declared,
that the good buildings are being
erected in Montgomery county
and the cheaper structures in
Prince Georges. where there is
no building code to compel con-
Struction of a more desirable
type OF operation.
You should look this matter
straight in the face" the engineer
asserted.
Root said that a Hyattsville
builder had told him that when
ever he attempts to put UP
good buildings in Prince Georges
county he loses money on the
project.
This is a serious situation"
Root declared, "and you can
readily see that a purchaser takes
a change when he buys in To-
calities where there is no code"
He said that the park and
planning commission, which is
sues building permits for the
Washington Maryland metropoli
tan district, including Mont
gomery and Prime Georges coun
ties. frequently receives appli-
cations from builders in the latter
county who want to put up
houses costing as low as $40O.
Backs Park Projects
These applications must be
granted, he declared, though the
plans for the dwelling call for
no cellars. gas. sewers, and.
sometimes. no electricity. He
read a number of applications to
the association members which,
he said, were typical. Among
them was one which proposed to
use cedar posts as foundation
for a 500 dwelling.
Speaking of the proposed, Rock
Greek and Sligo Parks. Root said
he hoped that actual work on the
latter project would be started
this year. He said that most
of the land to be used in the
parkway projects would be do
mated by landowners who realized
that the park would greatly in
crease the value of adjacent prop
critics held by them. He said that
virtually all of the land at pres
ent is used for farming and pas
turage and is assessed at an aver
age of 5000 an acre. When the
parkway is completed, he de-
clared,. the land will be werth
$1,000 an acre.
Senator Pledges Help
j. Enos Ray, chairman of the
Democratic State central COM
mittee, told the association that
he had recently conferred with
Senator Tydings CD of Mary
land on the question of the i'm
provement of New Hampshire
Avenue in the District of Colum-
bia and its extension to the Mary
: land line.
Tydings and other members of
the Maryland delegation in Con-
greSS ndU plCuScu Luelr support
to- this project, Ray said. He said
that the Maryland State roads
commission. is ready to improve
and turn Sligo Mill Road into
New Hampshire Avenue as soon
as the District of Columbia acts.
Others who addressed the
meeting were Ben G.. Davis,
Mayor of Takoma Park; George
B. Graham, chairman of the
streets and avenues committee of
the Washington Board of Trade;
T. j. Llewellyn, chairman of the
streets committee of the Civic
Federation of the District of Co
lumbia; John Walker, president
of the Maryland-D District of Co
lumbia Citizens Association, and
Councilmen John Adams, M. F.
Iverson and H. E. Rogers, of Ia
koma Park.
Mrs. I. M. Evans, president of
the association, presided,