Evening star., 1936-12-17
EXCEEDING DANGER
OF ROAD REVEALED
Mass Meeting Urges Action
at Once on Old George
town Route.
BY star Correspondent OF The Star.


BETHESDA, Md. December ia
survey recently completed by engineers
of the Keystone Motor Club has re-
vealed Old Georgetown road to be
both exceedingly dangerous" and one
Of the most heavily-tTaveled high
ways in suburban Maryland.
The disclosure was made last night
before a mass meeting at which resi-
dents of the communities along the
thoroughfare unanimously adopted a
resolution urging State Roads officials
to widen and resurface the route i'm
mediately.
Support was forthcoming from Off
cial sources for the first time and
two Montgomery County commission
ers and two delegates to the State
Legislature Endorsed the plan. Aid of
other executives who could not at
tend last night and the assistance of
the Maryland congressional delega-
ton will be sought.
Average $3.50 Cars.
A crowd which braved a driving
rainfall to voice its protests against
hazardous conditions that have led to
several deaths and serious accidents
was told by Maj. F. Mckenzie Davi-
son, member of the Keystone Motor
Clubs Advisory Board, the survey
showed Old Georgetown road should
be converted into at least d three
lane highway"
He eaid q traHHo oo,,rt S,o5a -. @Ao
road following the tragedy in which
two motorists died on December has
revealed 4,450 machines used the road
during a six-hour period last Sunday,
while an average Of $3.50 cars travel
the highway on week days.
The Sunday traffic peak was reached
between 4 and 5 pm, when 800 cars
passed the checking station, while the
peak load on week days is between
and pm. when the count was $50
cars.
Traffic Load Too Great.
Mai. Dawson declared the density Of
the traffic load is too great for the
road to bear safely in its present con-
dition and the thoroughfare should be
widened as a protection against sub
sequent traffic fatalities.
The speaker stated that IL curves
in the Smile stretch add to the perils
caused by the narrow paving. Three
are exceedingly dangerous" one being
a reverse and blind curve on a very
% ID grade" he said.
MY club is vitality interested in this
problem of yours and recognizes from
our engineers report a distinct hazard
in Old Georgetown pike" he con-
cluded.
Aid Is Pledged.
County Commissioner Robert D.
Hagner and Miss Ruth E. Shoemaker
and Joseph A. Cantrel, members OF
the county delegation in the State
Legislature, said they recognized the
need for improvement work and would
lend their support. "A letter from
County Commissioner Richard H.
Lansdale pledging his aid was read.
Commissioner Hagner explained the
County Board is powerleSs to carry
out any Improvements on the road
because it is a State arterial highway,
but he assured his listeners he would
advocate Endorsement of the project
by his colleagues on the Board Of
Montgomery County Commissioners to
strengthen the improvement request.
Cantrel told the residents to ham
mer, hammer, hammer at the State
Roads Commission and you can win
this fight" He said he would per-
sonally sponsor a legislative resolution
requiring the Highway Department to
survey the road for possible improve
ment, If such step is required.
Legislation Planned.
The speaker told the road improve
ment advocates the "State Roads COM |
mission members are the ones who |
have their fingers on the purse strings, |
not your county commissioners. Keep |
after the roads body and you'll get
your improvements.
Miss Shoemaker said the failure OF |
the State Roads Commission to ap- |
portion q reasonable amount" of |
highway improvement funds to Mont
gomery County during the past two
years possibly will lead to her intro
duction Of a bill during the next ses-
sion of the Legislature to revise the
appropriation system.
She said she has not definitely de-
termined what form the bill will take,
but said there is a great deal Of
sentiment" for such O. step.
Others who spoke iii flavor of the
road improvement weresNArs. Louis A.
Gravelle of the Bethesda Elementary |
School Parent Teacher Association,
John A. Dickinson. president of the
Bethesda Fire Board; B. w. Parker,
william Buckley and Samuel Z. Stone |
braksr, all OF u \ Bethesda Chamber |