Evening star., 1939-12-06
(Seco7,d or q Series J
By JAMES FREE.


Maryland and Federal public
roads officials agree that the Wash
ington- Baltimore boulevard Is a good
example of what must be avoided
in construction of trunk highways in
the future.
The best way to obtain a full un-
derstanding of the reasons back of
their judgment, highway authorities
point out. is to take an observation
drive on U. S. No. l to Baltimore
some afternoon or evening and then
take brief spin out either the new
U. 8. Route 40 toward Havre de
Grace or out the newer Gov. Richie
highway which connects Baltimore
and Annapolis.
These new highways are not as
perfect as they might be II Mary
land had a more comprehensive
roadside development and control
act, but they serve as contrasts to
the Washington Baltimore boule-
ward.
Have you ever driven at a mod
crate pace all the way from Wash
ington to Baltimore on U. S. No. /,
observing as much of the roadside
as possible as you went along? It's
fairly risky thing to do. what with
traffic as heavy and as fast moving
as it is, but by keeping to the ex-
treme right and giving a reason
able amount Of attention to the rear
vision mirror, one can make the
journey in safety. Some of the sights
are so impressive-o so incredible
that often it Is best to pull out of
traffic on the shoulder Of the road
and take a good look.
Small Route Signs.
Try to forget that you've ever been
over the road before; imagine you
don't know which way to turn or
what lies around curves or over hills.
II you really don't know, 50 much
the better.
You start out Rhode Island
avenue.
A half mile past the District line
you come to the fork in the road.
To the left is the continuation of
U. S. No. l via Hyattsville. To the
right is a connection with U. S. No.
so to Annapolis.
The alternatives are marked with
small signs, but competition for eye
attention is keen. A huge, elevated
sign straight ahead proclaims the
name of a gasoline. Other smaller
signs praise types of motor oil,
brands of beer and other things that
might interest stranger were he
not concerned with the simple task
Of discerning which way he must
turn.
Making the proper turn, you pro-
coed for several hundred yards with
streetcar tracks on one side and a
series Of filling stations, automobile
repair shops and business estab-
nshments on the left-more often
than not within a few. feet Of the
Good Views Non-Existent.
Once past Hyattsville, Riverdale
and College Park, stranger might
expect to see something of the rolling
hill country of rural Maryland. But
he would be doomed to disappoint-
ment, for stretches of open country
side, unincumbered by billboards,
filling stations, souvenir and sand
wich stands and other impediments
to scenic vision, are virtually non
existent.
About 2 miles beyond College
Park, q whole wooded hillside seems
in the of1ng. Then suddenly you
note, in q SCARED clearing on the
slope, giant billboard proclaiming
the section as q residential subdi-s
vision.
Nearing the Agriculture Depart
ment's experiment station at Belts
vile, you find quarter mile stretch
Of open orchard land on the right,
blending into the first natural land
scape that has presented itself. But
on the left, row upon row Of small
tourist camp and gasoline station
signs cut of the view of experiment
station buildings until you are al
most In front Of them.
Huge Billboards.
Farther, 8 and 10 miles, respec-
lively, from the District line are
two of the most surprising spectacles
the boulevard affords. They are
angled rows of huge billboards, de-
signed for attention Of motorists
approaching Washington from the
north. Each is on the east side OF
the road and between them they
block all save quick glimpses OF
fully . mile Of Maryland country
side. -..
In . number Of places the high
way curves it, way through what