Evening star., 1935-09-08
CIVIC GROUPSPU
FIGHT ON HIGHWAY
Governmental Leaders Also
Join in Drive Against
Deaths Road

Cottage City's town commissioners
and j. Wilson Ryon, Prince Georges
County Republican leader, have Joined
those favoring improvement of the
Defense Highway.
Ever since five persons were killed
in one of the highways notorious
death traps. August 20, one or more
organizations or influential individuals
have joined the crusade for safer
more adequate road each day.
After the Prince Georges County
commissioners set an example fol
Government units by calling the
dangers of the road to the attention
Of the State Roads Commission. and
suggesting Federal funds be obtained
for its improvement, numerous NUM-
cipal groups have taken similar
action.
Federation Gives Support.
Town governments now on record
in favor OF immediate widening and
Strengthening of Death Highway
include BlsdenSburg. Brentwood, Col
mar Manor, Mount Rainier, Riverdale
and Cottage City.
The influential Prince Georges
Federation of Citizens Associations
was the first civic group to indorse
the roads improvement. The Sher-
wood Forest and Epping Forest Clubs
followed suit at the first opportunity,
Likewise, service clubs in both
Prince Georges and Anne Arundel
Counties were quick to join the move
ment. which now includes in its ranks
the Annapolis Rotary Club. the Anna
polls Civitar Club, the Rotary Clue
Of College Park and the Exchange
Club of Prince Georges County.
Miscellaneous organizations aligned
with the cause of saving human lives
on the Defense Highway include the
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
citation Of Washington, the Lanham
District Democratic Club. the Ameri-
can Automobile Associations District
Of Columbia Club. and the keystone
Automobile Club of Washington.
Leaders in Fight.
Influential individuals who have
publically proclaimed their views con-
cerning the dangers Of the present
route and the urgency OF its mod
ernization include State Senate Presi-
dent Lansdale G. Sasscer. Land Com
missioner Edgar F. Cara. Mayor
Louis N. Phipps Of Annapolis, Senator
Ridgely P. Melvin of Anne Arundel
County, Representative Stephen w.
Gambrill, Dr. Thomas E. Latimer.
chairman Of the Prime Georges County
Republican State Central Committee;
Frank Small. jr.. member of the COM
mittee; Frank B. Smith, secretary of
the County Democratic State Central
Committee; John S. White, Prince
Georges County member of the House
Of Delegates: State Senator Raymond
Kennedy Of Baltimore City; Ralph
Powers, president, Prince Georges
County Chamber Of Commerce, and
Maj. H. D. Williar, jr., former chief
engineer. State Roads Commission.
Cottage City's officials, who gov
ern town IN close proximity to the
highway and are personally aware Of
its congestion and dangers, adopted
resolution requesting its improve
ment on motion of Commissioner D. l..
Grantham.
Needs Is Obvious"
Declaring he is not sure exactly
what is needed to build safety into
the highway, because that is the prob
lem for an engineer, Mr.. Ryon, one
of the county's leading lawyers. said
1t was obvious something should be
done" to improve the road.
The surface between Bladensburg
and Lanham is treacherous in wet
weather A person wearing rubbers
can hardly walk on it without slipping.
Unquestionably some of the curves,
especially those in the vicinity Of
ANNAPOLIS, are very bad" he said.