Evening star., 1945-10-17
Bonds Approved
For Fire House
In kensiington
Montgomery Bonrd
Is Given FinonciuI
Report by Day

OouAity ohPCiFioOl, yCctCIQdy III
formed the Board Of Commissioners
at Rockville that $3,008, ,147.60, in
Guiding State taxes, has been COL
lected by the county in the past
three-month period, as part Of q
lengthy report he submitted on
roads, engineering, weights and
measures, and the financial status
OF the county.
At the same time the commissioners
authorized issuance of $4,000 in
bonds to begin construction of a
fire house in Kensington, which was
approved in 1943 by the Legislature,
but not acted on locally because of
lack of materials.
Immediately thereafter a spokes-
man for the Kensington Volunteer
Fire Department stated that ar
rangements with q bank had been
virtually completed for such a bond,
that blueprints were ready for the
new house and construction would
begin as soon as low bidder was
found-"probably in a few weeks"
The location will be on Lincoln
avenue, on the west side of the B,
and o. bridge. According to present
plans, the house will be one of the
most modern of the county's fire
engine headquarters, complete with
a panelled living room, kitchen.
meeting room and dormitory.
Veterans of the department recall
that the VFD in Kensington has been
active for over 80 years, starting out
with cart and hose which was
hand drawn, and later graduating
to a Model ''T" with homemade ap-
paratus built on.
The four engines and one am
bulance of the department are now
housed In the Kensington Armory.
Its present membership consists Of
So volunteers.
Also at the commissioners meeting
approval was given to plan sug-
gested by Mr.. Day, for creating
a special advisory council for safety
on highways. Representatives of
county departments, civic organiza-
tions and other interested individ-
uals have been invited to attend a
meeting to set up such an organiza-
tion at 8 pm, October 26, at the
Rockville Court House.
Gives Road Figures.
In his report MIR. Day replied:
A total of $247,421.10 has been
spent for materials on roads in the
county for construction and recon-
struction, and $79 ,340.83 for mainte-
nance In 1945.
An estimated $s7, ,905 will be spent
for improvements already author
lied. including a $4,000 bridge at
Glen, Md.
The Federal Government will paw
$65, 200 per year for the next three
years for construction of feeder
roads.
Annual county appropriations for
July, August, and September were
So, ,4S0, ,655 80. and expenditures $875,-
466.O5.
Half of million dollar bond
issues authorized by the General
Assembly for storm sewer projects
will be spent in Montgomery County
and the remainder in Prince
Georges.
Lack of labor and road equip
ment" are the greatest problems
with which the county road depart
ment is faced, although surplus
Federal property now becoming
available will ease the situation.
Test for Employees.
An equipment department, author
lied for construction, will be located
on the Seven Locks road near Rock
vile. Road machinery, police cars.
school buses, etc., will be maintained
there.
Jo v. Morgan, recently y-appointed
civil service commissioner for the
county, explained that all county
employees, except policy making
groups, will be required to undergo
qualified examinations in order to
retain their jobs, and that all future
employees must be selected after ex-
aminations.
He asked that the county locate
his Office in Bethesda.
A committee from the Rockville
Elementary School Mothers Club
asked that work be done on the
school grounds, asserting that not
only was grading and landscaping
! necessary, but also removal Of
trash from the grounds"