Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-05-09
BETHESDA TOPUSH.
FIGHT ON Z FRONTS.
Leaders to Garry Paving
Demands to State Body
and Traction Firm.
BY JACK ALLEN.
Staif Correspondent of The Star.

Stau correspondent Oh Inc SbhI
BETHESDA, Md, May 9.-The
hight for eradication of the dangerous
and unsightly ravine being created in
the center of Wisconsin avenue in all
likelihood will be carried directly to
the State Roads Commission and the
Capital Transit Co., officials of the
Bethesda Chamber of Commerce said
today.
Leaders in the movement made the
statement after disclosing that an err
ror in the printing of the act intended
to force the traction firm to improve
its right of way along the thorough
fare undoubtedly invalidateS the
measure passed recently by the Mary
land Assembly.
Plan to Go Ahead.
Trade body heads declared the new
development sets back somewhat their
original campaign plans, but firmly
asserted that they Immediately would
press forward along new lines of ap-
,proach to the problem.
: Accompanying the announcement
was call from William Buckley, the
chambers president. for special
meeting of the Board of Directors to-
morrow night to formulate other
methods for attacking the situation,
which has aroused the entire COM
immunity.
: Creation of the ditch is the result
of the Capital Transit Co.'S refusal
to Join in the State Roads Commits
sion's program for improving Wis
sconsin avenue. 1t was asked to CO.
operate by paving between its tracks
and removing the trolley poles to the
side of the street.
Rails Below Pavement.
The electric lines right of way is
being left in ravine that daily be-
comes more dangerous to traffic. with
the Highway Commission proceeding
with its task of raising the dual traffic
flames on either side of the tracks
to a new level and resurfacing them
to width of 80 feet.
1t was first proposed by the cham
Der to urge upon Gov. Nice the neces-
sIty of signing the bill which would
force the railroad to cooperate in the
Improvements by requiring the COM
pany to do any work which the State
or county might deem necessary along
its right of way.
No official opinion on the status of
the bill has yet been obtained, but
trade body executives declared that
highly authoritative sources. never
theless. hold that the bill is worth
less for use in the present emergency
because of the mistake in printing.
Leaders Aroused.
The disclosure served only to arouse
chamber leaders to an even more de-
termined effort to win its battle for
the eradication of the ditch.
Samuel E. Stonebraker. former
president of the chamber. was to call
on officials of the Capital Transit Co.
this afternoon and seek a definite
statement regarding that firms pres
ent stand on the question of bring
ing the tracks up to the new street
level and paving between them.
Leaders said that Stonebraker would
demand tc know whether the rail-
= road is willing to contribute toward
: the cost of the work or whether 1t
intends Ito lay down, in a dilatory
/. manner, and continue to run cars in
the way it has in the past"
A committee will be chosen tomor-
: row night to confer with the Highway
Commission and urge that group to
: pave the entire surface OF the avenue.
: including the railroad right of way,
: to a width of rs feet and remove the
. poles from the dangerous position
4 they now occupy.
! Group to Meet Beard.
Another committee is to be selected
, to call upon the Board OF Montgom-
cry County Commissioners and re-
quest the county heads to stress the
= need of the highway group making
/ the improvements called for in its
. original plan.
Plan D, providing for paving the
. entire avenue from the District line
to Old Georgetown road to width
: of rs feet and moving the trolley
, poles to ornamental iron stanchions
/ on the side of the street. finally was
chosen.
The commission abandoned the
plan, however, and awarded a con-
, tract only for widening the traffic
lanes to 80 feet and resurfacing them,
after the traction firm refused to
share In the cost Of the work.