Evening star., 1938-05-01
ROCKVILLE BUS
QUIZ TO RESUME
Protests Against Fare
Increase and Changes
Still Roll In.
By a STAFF Correspondent of The Star.


BALTIMORE, Md, April 30.-Let-
ters protesting against fare increases
and service changes the Capital
Transit Co. proposes to make on two
OF its Montgomery County bus lines
continue to pour in as the Public
Service Commission prepares to re-
sumo hearings on the t0action Arms
petition here Monday.
In addition to officials Of the bus
company, many representatives OF
civic organizations, property owners
and their counsel. attorneys for the
Montgomery County commissioners
Rockville and Gaithersburg Town
Councils and commuters will apear as
witnesses. The hearing is to open at
10 o'clock at the commissions Offices
in the Munsey Building.
Letter From Lee Received.
Among the letters received by the
commission is one from Maj. E. Brooke
Lee, president of the Silver Spring
Management Corp, which said aban-
donment of service north of Alta
Vista on the Old Georgetown road
one Of the company's proposals. would
retard real property development in
that sector
From a broader viewpoint" his
letter reads, 1T seems a mistake In
city and public transportation plan
ming to discontinue bus service over
this section because it is along
the Old Georgetown road that the
priced detached house has
steadily advanced from Bethesda
toward Rockville.
The building activities along the
Old Georgetown road have been con-
siderable and constant for number
Of years past and have received further
impetus through the location of the
Federal project to study cancer on
the former Luke I. Wilson tract on
the Rockville pike, which property
extends back nearly to the Old George
town road, and scores of scientific and
technical men connected with this
project are buying lots and
small acreage along the Old George
town road, west and north OF the
location Of their work.
Land Is Available.
Land is available at moderate
prices along the entire length of Ole
Georgetown road from Alta Vista tc
this roads northern intersection with
the Rockville Bethesda pike, wherea!
on the Rockville pike all the property
is now occupied by the handsome es
tates of extremely wealthy people
except one section at the head o
Rock Creek Park which We under
stand is held for unusually higf
priced Development
Consequently, If the residential de.
velopment is to continue north O.
Bethesda in the present generation
it will have to be along the Ole
Georgetown road. To discontinue bus
service along this section will bt
severe dislocation of this desirable
progress"
Maj. Lee pointed out in his lettel
that his company during the last foul
months has been at work surveying
clearing and building streets in sub
division Of over $50 lots immediatel,
north Of Luxmanor on the northern
section Of the road and in the ares
the traction company proposes to leav.
without service.
He said his company counted on s
continuation of the bus service wher
it started the present development
Approximately $4,000 in pre-develop
ment expenses already have beer
spent. he said.
Dean j. Locke, engineer for th'
transit company, will resume his tes
timony when the hearing opens. MIR
Locke and Edward D. Merrill, presi
dent of the company, were the onl.
witnesses heard at the opening session
last Tuesday. Both testified the los
OF patronage and heavy deficits JUS
tify the changes their firm propose
to make.