Evening star., 1947-08-06
.CountyUpho|ds
Carnival Ban for
DeficientW Wiriinq
z Set Up to Operate
In Prince Georges Fail
To Get Electric Power


This was decided by the Prince
Georges County commissioners yes
terday after they upheld a decision
OF John H. Webb, secretary of the
County Electrical Board of Exam
liners and Supervisors, which pre-
vented the scheduled opening Mon
day night OF two carnivals.
The carnivals-one sponsored by
the Knights of Columbus on Varnum
street, Mount Rainier, opposite the
haywood Gardens Shopping Center,
and another by the College Park
Volunteer Fire Department - re-
mained closed again last night al
though already set up for operation.
Both were refused electrical power
after inspections Monday. Mr.. Webb
claimed he found faulty wiring was
being installed by unlicensed elec-
tricians.
See Lives Jeopardized.
An appeal to the commissioners
yesterday at Upper Marlboro by
sponsors of the Mount Rainier car
nival for permission to open last
night was rejected when Mr.. Webb
and two other members of the elec-
trical board asserted present condi-
tions would "jeopardize lives"
Appearing with Mr.. Webb were
Harry S. Silfies, president of the
board; John M Brown, another
board member and president of the
County Volunteer Firemen's As
ISOLATION, and William F. Mclean,
chief electrical inspector for the
fire underwriters of the county.
Joseph A. Plumer of Mount
Rainier, chairman of the Carnival
Committee, and Gregory A. O'Conor,
Mount Rainier, of the Knights of
Columbus, said the group would
stand to lose considerable money
if not allowed to open. The carni-
val concessions, they added, were
furnished by the Barney Tassell
Unit Shows and were under contract
for this week only. .
Previous Warnings Cited. :
Members of the electrical board
said the same carnival company had
been warned about sucn conditions
twice previously, in Riverdale and
The commissioners, in refusing
to overrule the action of Mr.. Webb
said the two carnivals can open as
soon as proper wiring changes are
made under supervision of a mas
ter electrician.
Mr.. Webb said the county has
been following the minimum elec-
trical requirements of the national
code, which has been in effect for
more than Is years.
Commissioner John H. Beall crit
icized the electrical board for
waiting until August" to take any
action against carnivals, stating
that "at least 20 carnivals" had
been held throughout the county
since May.
The commissioners said new per-
mits would contain instructions on
wiring standards. Carnivals with
permits already granted, but not vet
opened, also will face scrutiny, they
added.
In other business the commits
sioners took under advisement a bid
of $27 ,238 from the Construction
Corp. of Pennsylvania-the lowest
OF four-for erection of two bridges
across the Mataponi Greek, near
Nottingham.
To Reopen Road.
The bridges, when constructed
will reopen the Old St. Thomas
Church road, connecting Noting
ham and Croome, and will reduce
the present distance between the
two communities from 81z to 4 miles.
The road has been closed for more
than 20 years since former bridges
were washed away. At one time.
fords were used to cross the stream.
County Engineer Arthur w. Tay-
man, who opened the bid, also an
nounced that work was started yes
terday by the county on repairing
OF streets within the one third Sec
ton of the Hampshire Knolls sub
division included in a special i'm
provement district designated by the
county. The work is part of q
countrywide road patching program.
Residents of that community not
in the special improvement district
took matters in their own hands last
week end to start their own repairs.
Legal steps are under way now to
them within county re-
sponsibility.
The county heads gave approval
to proposed street improvements on
Hayden and Avondale roads and
construction of curbs and cutters on
La Sale road in Special Improve
ment District No. /, Avondale, fol-
lowing public hearing. The project,
when started, will be financed by the
county and be repaid through taxes
by residents of the area.