Evening star., 1943-01-06
County Moves
To Halt Deaths
By Gas Leakage
Experts Called
To Discuss New
Building Code

In a move to halt fatalities be-
cause of gas leakage in homes, the
Prince Georges County Md Com
missioners will confer with repre-
sentatives Of the Washington Gas
Light Co. at their meeting next week
in Upper Marlboro to formulate a
proposed countrywide building code
to be presented to the State Legis-
lature.
Decision to invite representatives
of the Gas Light Co. was taken by
the commissioners yesterday after
States Attorney A. Gwynn Bowie
urged the board to take steps to pre-
vent recurrence of such deaths.
Two such fatalities have been re-
ported in the county within the
last six weeks. The most recent
case occurred last Thursday in near
by Brookside when Mrs. Berdie G.
Gill, 10, was found dead in the Nv
ing room of her home.
SaucO lncXCuSaDle.
Police investigation showed that
gas entered the house when settling
earth caused pipe to snap near the
foundation. The first death because
of gas leakage occurred November
Is in Rogers Heights, according to
Mr.. Bowie.
Declaring that such deaths are
"inexcusable." Mr. Bowie told the
commissioners that the responsible
ity for them Should be placed on
someone
Asked whether the builder of the
home could be prosecuted, Mr.. Bowie
replied, that unfortunately there is
no law under which such action
could be instituted
This is bad business" he asserted.
Similar deaths could occur again
and again, and I think this county
should take steps to prevent their
recurrence"
Recalls Proposed Code.
Recalling that a building code
similar to those in the District and
in Arlington County had been pro-
posed at the last session of the Leg
islature and defeated, Board Chair
man William A. Carson said the
only solution would be to have ade-
quate inspection of all gas installa-
tions in the county. The only in
spection given new construction now.
he added, is by the building inspec-
tor.
Montgomery County officials said
three deaths had occurred last No
vember in Glenhaven, near Silver
Spring, under similar conditions.
The bodies of Mr.. and Mrs. An
drew Peregrin and their 10-month-
old daughter Jean were discovered
in their home in the 1000 block of
Quinn street after they had not
been seen for several days.
The Montgomery County COM
missioners have ordered a careful
inspection of the project as a re-
suit of the deaths.
Hospital Plans Approved.
The Prince Georges board also
approved plans and specifications
of the new county hospital to be
built in Cheverly. Paul H. Kea,
architect for the project. said the
action was requested by the Public
Buildings Administration. He add
ed that priorities for construction
OF the hospital had been obtained
After T. Howard Duckett. attor-
ney for A. S. Kay and Phil Lustine,
owners of haywood Gardens in
Mount Rainier, had requested a
reduction in the assessment on the
10 apartment buildings the commits
sioners said they would take the
matter under advisement.
The project has been assessed at
$4,000 900, and the county has i'm
posed a tax of approximately $780,
900. Mr.. Duckett pointed out If the
county followed assessment pro-
cedures of Baltimore and Arlington
County the tax would be not more
than $35 900.
The District Heights Volunteer
Fire Department was granted per-
mission to join the County Volun-
teer Firemen's Association.