Evening star., 1933-11-12
TRADE UN|TSFAVOR
| F STREET WIDENING
Plan to Make TWo.Way Ar
terry From Seventh to
Ninth Approved.

oodieS-the Board OF Trade, Chamber
Of Commerce and Merchants and Man.
ufacturers' Association-moved unani-
mously during the last week to sup
press opposition to Highway Director
II. G. Whitehurst's plan for the widen
ing OF F street, between Seventh and
Ninth streets, to permit a two-way now
Of trafic at that point
Through joint committee, the three
groups have gone on record definitely
In favor Of the proposal, long regarded
as necessary in the public interest.
whitehurst's plan, estimated to cost
between $4,000 and $4,000, calls for
cutting 5la feet from the present 1871
foot sidewalk In front of the old Patent
Once Building, giving a 12-foot lane
for vehicular traffic between the west
bound street car tracks and the curb.
The southwest corner of Ninth and p
streets and the southeast corner Of
Seventh and r streets would be rounded
back in a graceful curve, permitting
greater street width at these points.
According to Capt. Whitehurst, funds
for the work are now available. The
project does not involve altering the
physical structure Of the old Patent
Once, nor the moving of street car
tracks, either of which would involve
| far greater cost.
The Federation of Citizens Associa-
| tions, at q meeting last week, voted
ing it favored going to Congress with
a plan to cut away the street portico
OF the Patent ONCE structure and max
| ing T street Of uniform width through
/ out. The trade bodies, however, feel
that such move would involve con-
siderable delay, with probability that
Federal agencies would not approve
tampering with the building.
| The Chamber Of Commerce, which
reaffirmed its stand on the matter at
a meeting of its directors Tuesday,
favors going ahead on the Whitehurst
plan now, and seeking the other later
| The work would begin Immediately
upon approval by the Commissioners,
according to spokesmen for the trade
bodies.
The Chamber of Commerce, which
under the leadership of Thomas P.
Littlepage, Its former president, has
been actively supporting the plan of
the Chesapeake Beach Railway Co., to
span the bay with new ferry service,
is studying the decision of the Inter
state Commerce Commission fixing
November Is as the deadline for start
| ing construction work necessitated by
the project. Otherwise, the I. c. @.
certificate authorizing the project will
be withdrawn.
| With the company unable to begin
work until the Public Works Admins
tration approves its application for a
loan OF S425,000 to supplement private
capital already available, the decision
will mean defeat of the project, which
has the Endorsement Of score of trade
organizations In Washington and on the
Eastern Shore of Maryland. unless the
| Government loan Is granted in the
meantime.
The railway company had asked that
| the starting date, last fixed for Novem-
Der !. be advanced TO May |, 1894, with
completion fixed for December 81, 1885.
as against June 80, as at present re-
quired. In addition to advancing the
starting date only. is days, the COM
! mission fixed the completion date as
/ July IS, 1885
The ferry project, which would bring
! the vast Eastern Shore producing and
marketing area 40 miles closer to Wash
ington, has been vigorously opposed by
rival ferry interests operating out Of
Baltimore Principal opposition has
come from the Claiborne-Annapolis
| Ferry Co., which operates service
across the bay north Of the route Of
the proposed project.
The ferry would operate between
Hudson, Md, and Chesapeake Beach.
Md. The public works loan would be
combined with $4,000 to be supplied
by the railway company and those
associated with 1t. making q total of
| $737,000 estimated needed to build
terminals, boats, ETC., to start the serv-
ice.
The Chamber Of Commerce plans to
continue its fight for the service, &C
cording to Dorsey w. Hyde, jr., execu-
tive secretary. The issue has been
made one Of the foremost in the trade
body'S program for the coming year,
now being mapped out following the
naming of committees during the last
week by President Martin A. Leese.
Other points in this program include
solution Of the taxicab problem, ma
tional representation for the voteless
District citizens, establishment of an
adequate airport for the Capital; in
crease in the wages of Government
workers, the granting of power to the
District Insurance Department to rule
on the reaSonableness Of rate increases
for workmen's compensation insurance,
and the stabilization of employment
| through commercial development, buy
in Washington" and. greater home
building and home ownership.
The Washington Board of Trade,
under the presidency of Claude w.
Owen, is at present actively urging
the Public Works Administration to
allot money for the Districts pro-
nnCnd MItnirinoI MI
completed, will cost between $50 900 900
and s40,00o,0o0. The group Is support
ing the Districts request for an initial
appropriation to begin the project, land
for which already has been acquired.
The board also is endeavoring to
secure funds under the public works
act to complete the purchase Of prop
critics in the Southwest section Of the
city designated for acquisition by the
Government in connection with its pub
lie buildings program some years ago.
The Treasury Department IL being
urged to continue its purchase of the
entire area at current market prices.
thus relieving distressed property own
ers whose holdings have been allegedly
under cloud" due to the Govern
ment's failure to buy the land after
indicating it would do so.
Among recent actions Of this group
was that of its Bridges Committee in
making replacement OF the old Chain
Bridge its major objective for the cur
rent year. The committee, Of which
George Shinn is chairman, has been
actively working on this proposal. and
plans to go before Congress in January
to urge that the work be undertaken.
The Board Of Trade was active in
securing 81 900. 600 for road work in
the District under the public works bill, |
and by offering well-founded arguments
presented to the director OF the budget,
succeeded in releasing a 81 100000 sur
plus in the gasoline tax fund.
The Greater National Capital Com
nittee OF the Board OF Trade, concen-
trattng on bringing convention and
tourist trade to Washington, as well as
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