Evening star., 1938-10-30
CONNECTICUT AVE.
STRIP IS ACQUIRED
Montgomery Gets 1t for
S10,OOO-$8O, 900 to Be
Spent on Roadway.

A four-way deal has been signed,
sealed and delivered by which Mont
gomery County acquired the aban-
doned street car right of way on Con-
necticut avenue from Chevy Chase
circle to Chevy Chase Lake. The
State will pave and improve the
avenue from the circle to Jones Bridge
road, half a mile north of the lake.
Involved were the Capital Transit
Co., which received $4,000 for the
20-foot strip; the Montgomery County
Board of Commissioners, which put
up $500 Of the purchase price, and
the Chevy Chase Land Co.. which
supplied the remaining $2.500.
THE party of the fourth part" Is
the Maryland State Roads Commis-
sion. which allocated funds in its
1899 budget for repaving the avenue
and landscaping the parkway in the
center and yesterday announced the
work would start as soon as the nee
essary engineering data is furnished.
Commissioner Paul M. Coughlan,
who has been working with F. Bar
nard Welsh, counsel for the board,
and Robert L. McKeever, to COM
plete the deal. said last night that
every effort would be made to get the
necessary data into the hands of
the roads commission within the next
week or two, so that work would be
started before the end of next month.
To Be Well Handicapped.
In addition to contributing $2,500 to-
ward purchasing the right of way,
which it formerly owned, the Chevy
Chase Land Co. agreed to donate
as much of its property as is necessary
for l00-foot right-of-way from
Chevy Chase Lake to the Jones Bridge
road, providing the Roads Commission
lets the contract for paving before
January l, Mr.. Coughlan explained.
The entire cost to the county Of re-
paving the avenue from the circle to
Jones Bridge road. and landscaping
the parkway which separates it into
two lanes from Bradley lane to Chevy
Chase Lake. will be the $500 part of
the purchase price. according to Mr..
Coughlin. The Roads Commission has
allocated approximately $4,000 for
repaving the avenue and completing
the parkway.
A feature of the plans of landscaping
and beautifying the parkway, which
has been an eyesore since the car
tracks were removed three years ago,
Is row Of more than 10 cherry trees
to be planted in the center of the two
trafnc lanes. Trailing hoses and other
varieties Of flowers, English ivy, hedges
and trees of many species will be used
IN landscaping the avenue, making it
one OF the beauty spots of this section,
Mr.. Coughlan said.
Ends Threeye Controversy.
Completion of the deal ends three
year controversy between county and
State governments and the transit
company. The strip was sold by the
Chevy Chase Land Co. to the Rock
Creek Railway Co., which later was
merged with several other lines into
the Capital Traction Co., and acquired
IN 1888 by the Capital Transit Co.
When buses replaced street cars in
1885. the transit company removed its
tracks. retaining title to the right of
way. The County Board several times
offered $4,000 for the strip, but the
company held out for $4,000. pointing
out 1t was listed as an $4,000 asset on
the company's books. The legisla ture
authorized the County Board to issue
$4,000 in bonds to purchase and
peve the right of way, but the board
declined the offer by allowing the time
limit to expire
Last week the board made a last.
final offer" of $500, and when it was
refused, the Chevy Chase Land Co.
agreed to put up $4,000 if the transit
company would accept $4,000. The
Board of Directors of the transit COM
pany approved the offer last week, and
the deed to the property. consisting
Of slightly less than five acres, was
signed yesterday
In a telegram to Mr.. McKeever, ].
Glenn Beall. chairman of the State
Roads Commission. stated:
1T is the intention of the State
Roads Commission to resurface Con-
necticut avenue and the money for
this project has been allocated in the
1899 budget. We hope to start this
work just as soon as the necessary en-
gineering data can be obtained in order
to advertise for bids"