Evening star., 1935-08-28
BOARD |NDORSES
DRIVE ON HIGHWAY
County Commissioners Call
for immediate Work on
death Road"
BY GEORGE PORTER,
STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

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UPPER MARLBORO, Md, August
28.-Setting an example for all civic
and governmental groups in Prince
Georges, the county commissioners
yesterday urged immediate improve
ment of the Defense Highway.
Evidencing a desire to back their
words with action, the commissioners
decided that their resolution should
be presented in person to the States
Roads Commission.
Seeking further support for the
undertaking, they also will attempt to
have the project Endorsed by the
Western Shore County Commissioners
Associatiou at its meeting in Hagers-
town, Friday. The association con-
sistS Of the commissioners from IA Of
Maryland's % counties.
Cite Statewide Interest.
Knowing that citizens from all the
Western Shore counties frequently
visit the State capital. the Prince
Georges commissioners believe all
should be vitally concerned with
elimination Of the "indefensible death
traps which dot the Defense High
way.
Commissioner Joseph H. Blandford,
who sponsored the resolution adopted
by the local board yesterday, said he
would ask the Commissioners Associa-
ton to pass q similar resolution.
1t expresses the belief that every
effort should be put forth to make
the Defense Highway as safe and
adequate as possible"
"The deplorable accident on the De-
fense Highway last Tuesday in which
five persons were killed has aroused
the people of our county to the dan
gerous conditions which long have ex-
listed on that highway" the resolution
states.
Overload Pointed Out.
"The Bureau of Public Roads of the
Department Of Agriculture has made
a traffic count which shows that the
road at times is travelled by $4,000
cars a day, although the State Roads
Commission estimates its capacity at
10000 cars a day." 1t continues.
I'VE believe our duty demands that
we safeguard the lives Of all who use
our highways. in every way possible,
and accordingly indorse the move
ments already under way to widen
and straighten the Defense Highway"
The resolution further calls on the
State Roads Commission and the Pub
lie Works Administration to allot the
necessary funds for this project at
once.
Commissioner Blandford Is to pre-
sent a copy Of the resolution and sub
nit the commissioners views on the
urgency of the proposal to Chief En-
gineer Nathan H. Smith of the State
Roads Commission in Baltimore today.
In passing the resolution, members
Of the board said they not only were
taking action which they personally
believed important, but also were re-
fiecting the sentiment Of the $1,000
Prince Georges residents who elected
them to office.
Cooperation Planned.
The commissioners asserted they
would cooperate with the County
Federation of Citizens Associations,
which already has indorsed the project.
and all other interested groups. in an
organized effort to have the highway
widened.
Commissioner Vinton D. Cockey, an
engineer, said the road should have
been widened several years ago and
declared the County Board would not
rest until the long delayed improve
ment is made.
While the local board was acting on
the matter here yesterday, Charles M.
Falconer, president of the Automobile
Club of Maryland, predicted in Balti-
more that If the Defense Highway Is
not widened and Strengthened, there
will be more accidents on its treach-
erous curves like that of last Tuesday.
"In the name Of humanity, the
people Of the State should be willing
to forego other improvements else
where and make this one for the pur-
pose of saving lives in the future" he
said.