Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-08-27
CIVIC FEDERATION
JOINS ROAD DRIVE
Prince Georges Body De-
mands State Act to I'M
prove Defense Highway.
BY GEORGE PORTER,
Stan Correspondent Of The Star.

BLADENSBURG, Md, August ~.
-Terming "the protection of human
life the most vital and serious obliga-
ton of the State" the Prince Georges
County Federation of Citizens As
sociations last night demanded the
widening and Strengthening OF the
Defense Highway.
At the request Of John S. White,
member of the House of Delegates,
the association unanimously adopted
a resolution calling on Gov. Nice, the
State Roads Commission and the
Public Works Administration, to
make funds available Immediately
for the improvement of the road,
which was referred to throughout the
meeting as Death Highway"
viii Cite Figures.
While copies Of the resolution are
to be forwarded at once to those con-
cerned, they will be followed by per-
sorlal visits by a special committee OF
the federation composed of Delegate
White as chairman, Mayor Fred w.
Cast of Cheverly. Burdett Fighter,
Henry w. Cord, Burt H. Wise and
John Riggles.
As evidence Of the need for i'm
proving the highway the committee
will be armed with the latest traffic
count figures compiled by the Blu
reau of Public Roads, Department OF
Agriculture, which show a maximum
of 1928 cars pass over the Defense
Highway at Bladensburg day, with
an average of 1884. The roads
capacity is less than 10000 cars
day, according to highway engineers
Mayor Cast, who presented the
figures at last nights meeting, pointed
out that the Defense Highway. rather
than the Baltimore Boulevard. gets
the bulk of the traffic which crosses
the District line at Bladensburg road
since the opening of Rhode Island
avenue. Nearly 10 per cent of such
traffic turns into Death Highway
at the Peace Cross, the statistics
showed.
EAUnu ANVSo~ AOs&Ss
The maximum traffic at the border
line was 25,256 northbound and H.
1913 southbound. The average, both
directions was 1892.
The resolution adopted by the fed
Grafton stated the Defense Highway
has been notorious as an unsafe road
because of its many turns, narrow
roadbed, slippery surface and dan
gerous shoulders"
It added that "an appalling num-
Der Of casualties have occurred on the
highway ever since 1t was opened, the
most serious being the killing OF 1--WE
persons in one accident, August 20"
1.-THE dangerous condition has been
increasing and will continue to in
crease rapidly as result Of increasing
traffic to the watering sections Of the
State and the prospect Of bus traffie
because of the abandonment Of the
w., B. & A." the resolution continues
"It is virtually impossible for two
buses or trucks to pass abreast on
the narrow highway without running
on the slippery and treacnerous olr'
shoulders"
Extra Police Sought.
In the hope of improving traffic
conditions on the highway before the
widening is done, the federation d.
rected Whites committee to ask j
Purdon Wright, superintendent Of
State police, to station more patrol
men on the Defense Highway, or tc
use his power to deputize Prince
Georges County residents for the task
It was stated there were several men
experienced in handling trafic and
other police work, available.
In submitting his resolution, Dele.
gate White told the federation mem.
bers 1t was their opportunity and re.
sponsibility to champion improvement
Of the road because public sentiment
although aroused to fever pitch b.
last Tuesdays calamity, wouA quickly
subside, as, he said, did the clamor fol