Evening star., 1935-09-01
DEFENSE HIGHWAY
PER|LS THREATEN
HOLIDAY DRIVERS
Fears of More Deaths Ex-
pressed-Drive for I'M
provement Gains.
FORMER ROADS AIDE
URGES WIDER ROUTE
Annapolis Rotary Club and
Washington Merchants Join
in Campaign.

AS Prince Georges County leaders
expressed fears new fatalities may be
expected on the Defense Highway over
the Labor day week end, fresh demands
for the widening and Strengthening Of
the road were made yesterday in Balti-
more, Annapolis and Washington.
Maj. H. D. Williar, jr., of Baltimore,
chief engineer of the State Roads
Commission under Gov. Ritchie's ad-
ministration. aligned himself with the
advocates of improving Death High
way"
In vigorous statements, the Wash
ington Merchants and Manufacturers
Association and the Annapolis Rotary
Club called on the Roads Commission
to substitute safe, wide highway
stretches for the many death traps
now waiting to- ensnare every motorist
who travels the road.
Urges Particular Care.
Perry Boswell. president Of the
Board of Prince Georges County Com
missioners, urged the public to drive
particularly CAREFUL over this week
end in an effort to prevent the death
traps" from adding to their total Of
IA deaths in IS months.
Every one is Mortified by the many
fatalities on the Defense Highway,
which should be widened and straight
ened at once" Maj. Williar, who is
now associated with Francis H. Dry
den. p w. A. administrator for Mary
land, said.
There is no doubt that the whole
character Of the road has changed
since it was built about IS years ago.
1t has developed from minor country
road to one Of the main highways of
the State.
Due to various causes-abandon
ment of the w, B. g. A. Railroad,
construction of more Summer homes
in Maryland, the Bowie races and the
Naval Academy events-traffic on the
road is constantly increasing.
New Road to Open.
Although the State Roads Com
mission soon will open a new route
between Washington and Annapolis
via Halls Station, Davidsonville and
the South River Bridge, that does
not alter the fact that the Defense
Highway should be widened and
Strengthened"
Maj. Williar produced a copy of a
report of the State Planning Com
mission which said lin view Of the
inadequacy of traffic facilities be-
tween Washington and Annapolis and
the potential possibilities Of this road
its modernization should be included
in Maryland's l0-year building pro-
gram"
Maj. Williar was chairman of a
special subcommittee of the Planning
Commission which drafted the report.
Nathan L. Smith, present chief en-
gineer of the State Roads Commission,
was a, member of the subcommittee.
After terming the Defense Highway
''notoriously inadequate" the An
napolis Rotary Club instructed a COM
mittee headed by Mayor Louis N.
Phipps personally to call on the Roads
Commission to urge immediate action.
Backs Melvin Proposal.
A resolution adopted by the club
suggested the commission move along
lines proposed by State Senator Ridge
ly P. Melvin of Anne Arundel County
in preparing plan and seeking Fed
eral aid.
1t said:
"In view of the notorious inadequacy
of the Defense Highway for safe travel,
and of its importance as the main
artery of travel between the National
Capital and the State Capital OF Mary
land, the State Roads Commission is
hereby requested and urged to comply
with the request of the Senator from
Anne Arundel County, and the stand
taken by others, to formulate imme-
diately program for widening,
Strengthening and otherwise improving
the highway, and to take steps at
once toward including the said propo-
sition among the projects to be sub