Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-03-07
Body
Proposes Route
For Super-ROad
Local Commissioners Back
Plan For Proposed High
way West Of Boulevard

A five-county committee this
week resumed efforts to bring a
proposed north south super-high-
way through their respective
counties. The committee is COM
posed of Montgomery, Baltimore,
Howard, Cecil and Hartford coun-
tians.
Plans for the super-highway.
which would be constructed with
Federal funds, now are being con-
sidered by the roads commissions
of Maryland and several other
Eastern States. The state off,
Gals are attempting to lay out a
route for the roadway from Boston
to Washington which will be ac-
ceptable to Congress as a part of
system of roads of potential
military value to be built as a
national defense measure.
The five-county group of Mary
landers was active during 1885
when the super-highway was first
discussed in Congress. Since that
time, it has been generally under
stood that the Maryland segment
OF the road would follow one of
two proposed routes: along a hypo-
thetical line east of the present
Washington boulevard, or along a
more westerly route, running
through scenic areas of Cecil. Har-
ford, Baltimore, Howard and
Montgomery counties and bypass
ing both Washington and Balti-
more.
Howard county originally was
represented on the five-county body
by the late State Senator Joseph
L. Donovan, J. Booker Clark and
r.. G. Stromberg. The commits
sioners announced that they would
appoint another representative in
Senator Donovan's place, probably
member of the County Board.
The Boards of Commissioners
OF Hartford, Montgomery and Bal
timore counties declared that thew
would cooperate and members of
the Cecil county group individual
ly promised their support.
The Hartford Commissioners
appointed Chairman of the County
Board Harry d. Bailey, Major
Robert H. Archer and State
Senator j. w. Cronin, to repre-
sent them on the committee. For
Cecn county Walter E. Buck,
State Senator C. Clyde Squier
and Walter Touchstone will be
active. Montgomery's group win
be named by the Commissioners
in the near future, as will Bal
timore county's.
AS spokesman for the five
county group, p. G. Stromberg
said: I'VE are convinced that
much interest can be obtained
for our plan as compared with
the one involving the construction.
OF a bridge over the Baltimore
harbor and approaching Wash
ington from the east. It is esti-
mated that the cost of the harbor
bridge alone would be sufficient to
build a new highway from the
Susquehanna to the Potomac.
1T is our hope to locate the
road through the five counties,
by-passing Silver Spring, ElIicott
City, Pikesville, Towson and Bel
Air. Such highway would ira
verse the most beautiful section of
Maryland" ~
Mr.. Stromberg pointed out that
another argument in favor Of this
plan was brought out at a meet
ing of roads officials of Maryland
and seven other states involved
last December. At that time the
officials agreed that one 6f the
Two mentioned routes would be
the most logical and that to use
the easternmost, Incorporating the
new = Philadelphia road, would
necessitate the elimination of
approximately 20 grade crossings
On that road. Elimination Of each
would cost between $4,000 and
100000, according to estimates
IF Ezra b. Whitman, chairman Of