Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-12-17
Plans Approved
For Annex 10
County Hospital
Bourd Reserves
Decision on
Cotton House.
B, q Staff Correspondent Of The Star.

By q Staff Correspondent Of The Star.
ROCKVILLE, Md, Dec 17.-Plans
for the construction Of a 25-bed an
mex to the Montgomery County
General Hospital were revealed yes
terday at a meeting of the county
commissioners, who Endorsed the
project.
DR.. ]. w. Bird, superintendent OF
the hospital, said he would apply
for a $4,000 grant from the Public
Works Administration tomorrow.
Vigorous protests against the erec-
ton of a cotton house" in Oakmont
marked a hearing before the COM
missioners to determine whether a
building permit for the structure
should be revoked
Of prefabricated construction, the
house is actually made of plyWood,
but has cotton insulation and the
walls are covered with cotton cloth,
finished with several coats of paint.
1t was used by the Agriculture De-
partment to show new uses OF cot
ton to decrease the Nations surplus.
Permit Suspended.
After the exhibit was closed it was
purchased by Mrs. Ola Powell NAL
colin, senior home economist Of the
Department of Agriculture Exten-
sion Service.
Mrs. Malcolm obtained building
permit September 81 to erect the
house on lot in the $500 block of
Oakmont avenue adjoining her own
home at SSH Oak place, Alta Vista,
but, before she could start work, she
was told that the permit was sus-
pended pending a hearing on pro-
tests made by residents of the area.
Attorney James H. Pugh. who rep
resented those protesting erection
OF the house, said the structure
doesn't comply with the county
building code in that the frame
studding is l by inches instead of
2 by 4 inches, as provided in the
code.
He added that the community is
composed of permanent. residential
homes and that the cotton house"
is of a temporary character and
can be built or torn down in three
days.
See Blow to Values.
j. K. Neil and w. L. Daley, resi-
dents Of the area, contended that
erection OF the house would de-
preciate values in the neighborhood
and would result in loss of taxable
revenue by the county. The house
costs about $1,000 completed.
Proctor L. Dougherty. a represen-
tative of the Speedwall Co., which
manufactures the house, claimed
strength far above normal construc-
ton and that the / by studs &C
tually add to the stability and
strength of the house.
While granting that the house vio-
lates the county building code
Lowry H. Coe, attorney for Mrs
Malcolm, declared that the ordi-
nance is void. Under the Bill OF
Rights, he explained. a person who
owns property is entitled to use II
as he or she sees fit provided such
use doesn't injure the public health
welfare or safety Of the community
He added that the house would be
a credit to the community ano
would not lower property values.
Mrs. Malcolm said she planned t.
live in the house herself and rem
her present home because it is tot
large. She. contended that thi
would be patriotic move in view
Of the present housing shortage.
The commissioners reserved deci
sion on the matter and gave botf
sides 10 days in which to presen
briefs.
The commissioners appointed
Upton Curtis of Potomac an,
Thomas Morningstar of Barnesvill
to replace Hugh Poole of Potoma
and John Poole of Poolesville, VIII
resigned as special policemen t
guard county schools.
Mrs. Barbara Houck Of Silve
Spring was named a nurse in tn
health Department effective Janu
airy l to fill the vacancy caused b
the resignation of Miss Adelaid
Horner.
The group granted permit t
DR.. Daniel Stuart to use the prop
erty at Browns Corner on the Coles
vile road as a neuro-psychiatri
convalescent hospital.
The commissioners also gave tn
Chevy Chase Terrace Citizens As
ISOLATION permission to erect
Christmas tree provided some or
Is appointed to turn off the tire
lights in case of a blackout.