Evening star., 1936-12-11
CITIZENS DEMAND
HEARING ON PLAN
FOR BETTER ROAD
Bethesda c. of c. Will For.
ward Petitions to State
Commission.
MASS Meeting CALLED
FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT
Committee Which Led Wisconsin
Avenue Campaign to Aid
Present Fight.
2, Stan Correspondent OF The Star

e. Stan Correspondent OF The Star.
BETHESDA, Md, December H.
Advocates of the plan to correct haz-
ardous conditions along Old George
town road by widening and resurfac-
ing the dangerous thoroughfare were
moving today formally to place their
pleas before State and county OFF,
cials.
A request for q public hearing on
the proposal to improve the road,
which has been the scene OF three
motorists deaths and numerous near
catastrophes, was to be forwarded to
the State Roads Commission by rep
resentatives of the Bethesda Chamber
of Commerce.
simultaneously, heads Of the Old
Georgetown Road Citizens Associa-
ton issued a call for a mass meet
ing Wednesday night. when many
residents of the nine communities
skirting the highway will voice their
protests against further delay in the
work.
Commissioners TO Be Invited.
The Board Of County Commission
ers and county members of the Mary
land Legislature are to be invited to
attend and will be urged to contribute
their support to the movement. The
meeting is to be held at the Bethesda
Women's Club.
William Buckley, chairman Of the
committee named by the Chamber OF
Commerce to wage a vigorous cam
paign in behalf Of the proposal, said
that he and his colleagues stand
ready to carry on real battle for the
road"
Chairman Buckley, informing news
paper men of his request for a hear.
ing before State highway officials, de-
clared the petition would go forward
today. Buckley added he hoped the
hearing. which would be held at the
commissions Baltimore offices, would
be set "as early as possible"
Campaign Plans Similar.
Discussing his campaign plans
Buckley said his committee would
pursue a program virtually identical
to that 1t followed in the successful
movement for improvement of Wis
consin avenue from Old Georgetown
road to the District Of Columbia line
He is assisted by the same commit
tee that impressed upon State and
Federal officials the need of work
along Wisconsin avenue. The work
was completed this week and public
fete is scheduled here tonight in cele-
bra ton.
Buckley. one of the most active
members of the Wisconsin Avenue
Committee, was named to lead the
Old Georgetown road fight this morn
ing by Adlai S. Magee, president of the
chamber.
Groups Will Join.
His appointment came after B. w
Parker. chairman during the recent
drive, declined the post again because
of the press of private business
Parker expressed desire to serve as
one of Buckley's associates, however
Lendall A. Conner, president of the
Old Georgetown Roads Citizens AS.
sociation, said the Chamber of Com.
merce Committee, officials of the Be-
thesda Fire Department and repre-.
sentatives of the Alta Vista Parent.
Teacher Association would be asked
to join with citizens at the mass
meeting.
The parent-teacher group has long
favored the road improvement because
of the peril to students travelling tc
and from the institution, which Is
located just of the thoroughfare.
officials of the fire department are
also arrayed behind the movement
the narrow and tricky highway offer
ing constant threat of danger te
firemen and equipment. The fire
house is situated on the road.
Conner said the committee named
by his organization to advocate the
improvement project elected Ford
Young, sr., as its chairman. The
group will circularize this section OF
the county with handbills and posters
announcing the mass meeting.
The Chamber of Commerce and Old
Georgetown Road Citizens Association
protests against conditions along the
road were voted early this week aftel
the deaths of two men in the tragic
auto-bus wreck Sunday aroused the
entire community.