Evening star., 1942-12-04
Federation Hits
Wood burniino
Airfie|d Site
Prince Georges Unit
Also Protests Plans
To Shift Rail Spur

The Prince Georges County MD
Federation of Citizens Associations
today was on recordd as condemning
the burning of wood cut from land
now being cleared for the Army
airfield in the Camp Springs
Meadows area instead of it being
sold to farmers who want it.
The federation, meeting last night
in Bladensburg High School. also
attacked the recent Office of De-
fense Transportatio order granting
permission to the Baltimore e. Ohio
Railroad to relocate its freight spur
crossing the Baltimore highway in
Hyattsville.
Declaring that the wood need
lessly" destroyed at the airport could
keep nearby farmers warm for
months, the federation called on
airport officials to sell the wood to
those desiring to purchase it.
Walter F.. Mulligan, president of
the group, said he had been told
by reliable sources" that workmen
on the project even pour kerosene
on the wood before setting it ablaze.
May Take Spur to Court.
A reporter from The Star on
Tuesday witnessed the burning of
between 10 and Is cords of firewood
on two of the runways, although a
farmer in the vicinity had failed in
several attempts to purchase the
wood.
In a resolution bitterly opposing
the relocation of the B. & o. freight
spur the federation indicated that
court action may be sought in an
effort to reverse the ODT ruling.
Joseph B. Eastman. director of the
ODT, had asserted that relocation
to a point approximately IS feet
south Of its present location just
below the Hyattsville overpass, as
proposed by the railroad, was neces-
sary to the war effort.
Describing the ODT's action as
arbitrary Mr.. Mulligan declared
that lit is ridiculous to spend a
quarter Of million dollars to
eliminate one grade crossing and
then put another in its place"
He said loaded trucks coming
down the slippery overpass in win
ter would not be able to stop in
time and would crash into trains
passing over the relocated spur.
Opposed by Several Groups.
The move, which previously had
been approved by the Hyattsville
Mayor and Town Council, has been
by the Maryland State
Roads Commission, the Maryland
Motor Truck Associa ton, the Prince
Georges Chamber of Commerce and
the Maryland and District of Co.
lumbia automobile clubs.
"A group of proposed amend
ments to the county alcoholic bev-
erage law was approved by the fed
Grafton. They were presented by
Daniel M. Greene, chairman of the
Legislation Committee.
"One of the proposals would pro-
hibit the sale of alcoholic beverages
other than beer and wine after mid
night, instead of the present 2 am.
deadline.
Another would provide that no
liquor license shall be granted to
establishments within 1000 feet of
school or church or one mile of
an Army camp. There are no re-
strictions on the location of liquor
at present.
Ask Hyattsville Meetings.
The federation also approved
motion offered by Mr.. Greene call
ing on the county commissioners to
hold alternate weekly meetings in
the County Service Building in Hy-
attsville instead Of holding all their
meetings at Upper Marlboro.
Introduction of a bill in the Cen
eral Assembly to amend the State
weights and measures law so as to
include automatic gasoline pumps
in its provisions was favored by
the group.
Mr.. Greene, Charles Sayre and
Frank Fierstein were elected to a
Nominating Committee to nominate
officers of the federation for the
coming year.
A. P. Bell, sanitary engineer of
the District Health Department.;
DR., John M. Byers, county health
officer, and County Agent P. E.
Clark spoke on damage caused by
rats and mice and discussed meth
ods for their control. A motion
picture, -Four Little Mice" was
shown in conjunction with the talks.