Evening star., 1942-12-13

postal delivery or street lighting Sy
consisted Of model T truck and
housed in a woodshed, and the total
assessed valuation of the property
owned by the 200 residents was less
than 81 900 900.
Today more than 80 per cent of
the towns streets are improved, in
cluding sidewalks, curbs and gut
ters; mail is delivered twice daily to
the homes; street lighting system
has been established throughout the
entire town; $12 900 fire house and
municipal building has been erected
to house fire apparatus valued at
more than $4,000 and $4,000 post
office building serves residents Of
Brentwood, North Brentwood, Cot
tage City and Colmar Manor.
Playground Developed.
In addition, three-acre park and
playground area is being developed
and storm sewer system is being
extended throughout the entire
town. The population has grown to
almost 1000, while the total assessed
valuation of property in the town
approximates $2,25O0OO Garbage
and trash are collected at no extra
cost to the taxpayers.
But the present town officials,
headed by Mayor John M. Link, are
not content with standing still"
Not only have they drawn up a
postwar program, but they also are
concentrating on two projects which
they claim are urgently needed now.
The first of these is the proposed
extension Of Thirty-eighth street,
formerly known as Prospect avenue,
to Rhode Island avenue.
Thirty-eighth street, which now
runs between Columbia avenue in
Hyattsville and Shepherd street in
Brentwood, Is impossible between
Shepherd street and Bunker Hill
road.
II this section Of the street was
paved it would enable motorists to
go from Bladensburg road to Co.
lumbia avenue, and from there they
could reach the East West highway
via Ager road or could go to the
Baltimore highway, through Uni
versity Park.
Drivers Must Detour.
At present motorists are forced
to detour six blocks in order to reach
Rhode Island avenue. Mayor Link
also contends that the extension is
military necessity, since military
vehicles would lose valuable time
IN detours If Bladensburg road was
Hooded at the intersection of
Thirty eighth street.
A second project is the proposed
construction Of sidewalks along the
west side Of Rhode Island avenue
between Thirty eighth street and
the Northwest Branch.
Town officials have appeared be-
lore the State Roads Commission in
Baltimore, Gov. O'Conor and the
State Legislature in an attempt to
obtain approval of this project.
While prospects of getting the
sidewalks now appear favorable
omcials said the work probably
would not start until after the war
Mayor Link emphasized that the
work OF obtaining needed town i'm
provements Is not one-man af-
fair.
Credit for all improvements" he
said, must 60 also to the town
council and residents OF the town"
The council includes j. M. Ehr-
mentrout. James E. Sampson, War
rem c. McVey and George j. Boyce.
In addition, Mayor Link has an
pointed w, N. Mahaffey as chair
man OF special civic improvement
committee, which works with the
mayor and council. H. L. Wohlfarth
is town clerk.
Other improvements.
During the past year, town Of
f1cials have had two and half
blocks on Varnum street and four
blocks on Utah avenue paved. re-
tired more than $4,000 worth of
outstanding bonds: built up a sub
stantial reserve fund invested in
Government bonds and have con-
structed at least one-half mile OF
sidewalks, curbs and cutters along
Thirty-seventh street and Cedar
croft place.
A civilian defense organization
has been set up under the direction
Of Mayor Link. 1t was established
originally by James L. Russell.
former town mayor, who resigned
about five months ago to enter the
Navy.
First-aid classes also are held
regularly at the firehouse. Funds
for civilian defense and f1rst-aid
equipment are obtained through the
sale of scrap.
Among postwar projects are the
extension Of the storm sewer sys-
tenn throughout the entire town
1t Is now about so per cent COM
pleted; bituminous surfacing of all
streets; development of Bartlett
Park as recreation center and
widening of the Thirty eighth street
bridge over the railroad tracks be-
tween Cottage City and Brentwood.