Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-02
Congressional
Sees Suburban
Sites
Montgomery Tour
Is Conducted by
County OffieioIs

-Four members of the House Public
Buildings and Grounds Committee
toured Montgomery County, Md,
yesterday to examine building sites
and facilities in their efforts to help
Greater Washington solve its de-
Tense housing problems.
The group, consisting of Repre-
sentatives Meyers, Maryland, and
Mills, Louisiana, Democrats; Bishop,
Illinois, and Holmes, Massachusetts,,
Republicans, left Union Station and
rode to Rockville over the Baltimore
& Ohio Railroad, viewing len route
number of way stations on the
commuters line, as well as vacant
land available for housing develop
mentS.
On the train with the legislators
were F. Bryne Austin, supervisor of
elections of Montgomery County,
former secretary to the late Repre-
sentative William Byron of Mary
land; Thomas Earl Hampton, chair
man of the Montgomery County
Board of Commissioners; Lacy Shaw,
chairman of the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion, and Joseph Cantrel, counsel to
the county commissioners.
Met by Other Officials.
At the Rockville station, the con-
greSsional party was greeted by
States Attorney Ben K. Wilkinson,
State Senator Robert Peter, Joseph
Buscher. deputy clerk to the county
commissioners, in charge of the
eastern suburban district; J. Darby
Bowman, secretary of the Washing
ton Suburban Sanitary Commission;
Harry r. Hall, chief engineer of
the same commission: Irwin Kap-
Ian, chief engineer, and Fred w.
Tuemmler. director OF planning,
Maryland-National Capital Park
and Planning Commission; Donald
Claggett, member Washington SUBJ
urban Sanitary Commission; o. w.
Roby, county commissioner; r. w
Farmer of the County Board of
Commissioners, William Carlin,
former president, Silver Spring
Board of Trade; Leroy Gray, sec
rotary to Mr.. Shaw; j. Blaine Fitz-
gerald, Richard Shetterly and Ralph
Love, members of the Park and
Planning Commission.
From the Rockville station the
party proceeded to the courthouse,
where Circuit Judge Stedman Pres
colt and other officials extended
greetings and conducted the law
makers on q tour of the building.
A motor caravan was formed in
front of the courthouse and con-
Quoted on a route that took it
northwest to Derwood, back through
Rockville and Bethesda, Chevy
Chase, Kensington. Rock Creek
Valley, Silver Spring, Takoma Park
and other points, including several
contemplated sites for housing de-
veNpments or tracts where extern
sive home construction already is
under way.
Sites Near Trains Favored.
The tour ended with a dinner for
the Representatives and other Off
Gals at the Olney Inn, Olney, Md.
Mr.. Bishop was particularly inter-
ested in available land near the
Baltimore & Ohio tracks, viewing
it as best suited for new defense
housing, with transportation to
Washington not dependent upon
automobiles or buses.
I'VE are trying to find the best
spot to house Federal workers" he
said. In my personal opinion, the
burden of transportation should be
put on the railroads. thus saving
rubber and time Instead Of build
| ing tunnels and underpasses, we
should handle the people by rail.
There is plenty of ground in Mont-
gomery County within not more
than 10 minutes by train to Wash
ington. This is closer than driving
from the Roosevelt Hotel to the
Capitol during the rush hours"
Mr.. Bishop cited the fact count
less thousands of citizens of New
York and other metropolitan areas
throughout the Nation commute to
their employment by train instead
of automobile or bus.