Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-27
PRIMARY TO SPEED
:. Up PUBLIC. WORKS
Montgomery Officials Want
Start on Construction to
;, Show County Voters.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY,
Stan CORRESPONDENT OF The Star.

~ BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY,
''o Stan Correspondent OF The Star.
ROCKVILLE, Md. April 26.-Public
improvements in Montgomery County
long contemplated, and which have
been held in allegiance for months, are
being spirred closer to reality by the
demands Of political necessity developed
by, the approaching campaigns which
will eliminate in the primaries In Sep
TENDER and the subsequent elections IN
November. 1t is known that the ao-
n1iristration forces In the county are
DESTROYS Of going into the coming pri-
Ynaries with a record of visible accom-
plishment, and the delays in the reailza-
ton of some of the public works plans
is said to be causing no little concern.
Two projects which are being pushed
forward at this time are the construc-
ton of the proposed new county gov
eminent building here and the pro-
vision of public parks in the metropoli-
tan district, along the Sligo Branch
and Rock Creek.
Park Projects Lag.
While the county building project is
moving along to realization, develop
ment of the park system, including the
available for recreation grounds, has not
been characterized by the requisite
speed which the administration officials
have hoped for 1t. The Maryland-Na-
tional Capital Park and Planning Com
mission has had before 1t for months
the plans and recommendations for the
opening of Rock Greek and Sligo Parks,
but no actual construction work has
vet been done. 1t was the plan ana
"a n he roads AArlV
this Spring.
Although the commission some weeks
ago appointed agents to negotiate. with
the property owners who have lano
within the proposed border lines Of the
proposed parks for the acquisition OF
the necessary plats, 1t was said that
they have not met with the success
which was hoped for. While 1t was
desired that large part Of the land
be dedicated, the commission has found
that considerable of the property Is in
estates with minor heirs which pre-
cludeS the dedication, while other
plats have mortgages on them which
require lengthy negotiations because OF
the fact that gift OF the land would
reduce the security. In other cases the
commission has found It necessary to
because the owners were not disposed
to dedicate all of the land which the
commission wanted.
Only One Refusal.
However, only in one instance has
the commission been met with a fiat
refusal to sell the land to 1t which 1t
needed, and the owner is quoted as
having refused because he did not ap-
prove of the plan of the proposed park
near his holdings. To meet this case
the commission has been asked to au-
thorize the institution OF. condemnation
proceedings, as well as to authorize |
the same procedure IN another case
where minor heirs are involved.
]. Bond Smith, general counsel OF the |
planning commission, has been directed |
to prepare the proceedings for these |
two concentrations, and is expected to |
submit them at the meeting Of the |
commission to be held later. In the |
meantime, estimates are being prepared
for the construction Of the roads IN
Sligo and Rock Creek Valleys, and II
that the roadways Will be finished byd
the middle Of the Summer, aEn1onth |
or two before the primary, the cam |
paign prelude to which Is developing |
into one of the hottest in the history |
of the county because Of the rapidly |
widening breach between the organiza- |
ton Democrats and the so-called ants. |
It was said, however, that sufticient |
property has been acquired in the |
of a road, or rather the improvement |
of an existing one from Maple avenue !
in Takoma Park northward to Blair |
road. This Is declared by engineers
to furnish the most difficult part of the
~nJIre road construction, which even
tualiy wiz extend to the ColesvAle High
way. This section win be about one
i.rI - h km<~, d-I
way is 40 feet wide, and plans now
formulated call for the widening Of the |
present right Of way to go feet. :.
In Rock Creek valley.
In the Rock Greek Valley It Is |
planned, as soon as the planning COM |
mission authorizes the necessary con-
formations and the appropriation of |
funds for the construction, to build q |
road from the District of Columbia line
to Connecticut avenue, about midway |
between Kensington and Chevy Chase
Lake. However, 1t was indicated that |
the construction Of this road for the |
entire distance proposed Is dependent |
upon the success of the amendment to |
in the measure in the United States |
Senate, providing q fund Of $4,000 |
for the construction Of highway from |
the end Of the present Rock Creek Park |
road in the District TO the Maryland |
District Of Columbia line. where it |
would connect up with the proposed |
Maryland project.
In the event of the failure Of Con-
gress to authorize the District project, !
it was pointed out that it would be
no advantage to build the Maryland
park road to q dead end at the District
line. In, such case the proposed road
would end at the East-West Highway.
The length Of the proposed road
from Connecticut avenue to the District
line is 3la miles, one-third Of which
Is an existing county highway which
will be used as part Of the park
project.
The commission now has the money
available with which to begin the con-
struction and 1t needs but the authority
Of the body in appropriating the money.
1t was indicated that 1t is not the plan
to build concrete roads at this time.
but to lay a surface Of crushed rock,
which, in the opinion Of the engineers,
would be sufficient for the trafflc which
would use the highways during the next
year or two.