Evening star., 1936-12-07
.|NCENSED CITIZENS
CLAMOR FOR ROAD.
Officials Condemned After
Two Are Killed on Old
Georgetown Route.
BY Stan Correspondent OIL The Star.

BY Stan Correspondent OIL The Star.
BETHESDA, Md, December =
Citizens of Montgomery County. in
censed over the bus-auto wreck in
which two motorists were killed here
yesterday. clamored anew today for
immediate improvement of narrow and
treacherous Old Georgetown road.
A plea was made to State and county
officials a year ago by civic organiza-
tions for widening and resurfacing of
the heavily-congested highway to
safeguard against traffic mishaps. but
the request was ignored by both
groups.
Aroused residents, condemning ofi-
cials for their failure to remedy haz-
ardous conditions along the road, are
to renew the fight following yester-
days deaths. which occurred when an
automobile skidded into the path OF
Capital Transit Co. bus.
Before C. Of C. Tonight.
The matter will be brought to the at
tention of the local Chamber of Com
merce when it meets in the County
Building at O'Clock tonight. while 1t
also is to be laid before the Montgom-
cry County Civic Federation next
Monday. The two bodies sponsored
the improvement request.
Civic leaders who supported the
original plea for improvement OF the
thoroughfare between Wisconsin ave-
nue. and Halpine pointed out abolition
of the Washington-Rockville electrlc
railway and the substitution of buSses
warranted immediate widening Of the
already overburdened road.
Claims Borne Out.
Oficials were told the width OF the
buses constituted perpetual mem
ace to other vehicular traffic using
the thoroughfare and steps should be
taken to widen the highway as pre-
cautionary measure.
Their claims were borne out yes
terday when an automobile occupied
by George H. Carter, %, Of Washing
ton, D. c., and Arthur Stewart. SO, OF
Bethesda, skidded on the rain-drench-
ed surface and lunged broadside across
the opposite trafic lane.
An oncoming bus ploughed through
their machine. killing them instantly
and injuring the bus driver and one
of his passengers.
Among those who scored officials
today for their laxity were S. Walter
Bogley, vice president of the Bank
Of Bethesda, and Samuel E. Stone
braker, well-known civic leader, who
were two of the road improvement
proponents year ago.
Greatly Overloaded.
IT sincerely believe something should
be done Immediately to remedy con-
ditions along the road" Bogley de-
clared. There is no question but
what old Georgetown road has be-
come equally important, as far as traf-
fic is concerned, at Wisconsin avenue.
II am firmly convinced q traffic
count taken on the road would dis
close that it is not only greatly over
as many machines as Wisconsin ave-
nue.. 1t is truly one Of the worst
trafiic hazards in Montgomery
County"
"It is no surprise to me the ac-
cident occurred" Stonebraker stated.
I'VE went to the State Roads Com
mission and the county commissioners
q year ago and pointed out the dangers
Of allowing the road to continue In
its narrow state. We told them 1t
was but q question of time before
fatalities would result"
Originally Wagon Trail
Stonebraker added that the inten-
sive development Of real estate along
the road from Bethesda to Halpine
warranted the widening and resurfac-
ing Of the highway so it could safely
accommodate the ever increasing now
Of traflic.
He pointed out the road originally
was q wagon trail and that the only
measures taken to improve it for mod
ern vehicles was the resurfacing with
macadam dressing and the addition
Of tiny strips along each side to widen
it about two feet. Nothing was done
to eliminate o number Of dangerous
curves, he said.
Other residents Of Bethesda and
Alta Vista said that the rapidity with
which the community has grown has
overtaxed the road. In recent years
number Of previously vacant areas
have been developed into modern sub
divisions, other sparsely settled Sec
tions have been completely built up,
while O new school has been erected
Just OF Old Georgetown road at Alta
Vista.
All Of the various developments
have added to the burden the road
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