Evening star., 1948-03-17
S150,o00 Issue
To Buy Park p
Land Approved
Prince Georges Board
Reverses Feb. ~
Action on Bonds

"A $15o,o00 bond issue to provide
funds to purchase park land in
Prince Georges County today has
the sanction of the Prince Georges
County commissioners.
Reversing their decision of Feb
ruary "a, the commissioners yester-
day went on record during their
weekly board meeting in Upper
Marlboro in favor OF the bond issue.
Proceeds from the sale Of the bonds,
requested by the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission, will be used to purchase
202 acres along two tributaries of
the Anacostia River.
In one Of their busiest sessions
In recent months, the commission
ers changed their minds about au-
thorizing the bond sale, following
pleas for such action by Irwin l.
Main, chairman Of the Planning
Commission, and j. Bond Smith,
counsel for the same body.
Purchases Already Pledged.
The planning representatives told
the commissioners the money is
necessary to make land purchases
already pledged by the commission.
About s112,500 of the proceeds de-
rived from the bond sale will be
used to buy 65 acres along the Paint
Branch. near College Park, and the
remainder along the proposed
Northwest Branch parkway, it was
explained.
The rest Of the money will 90
toward the construction of a new
administrative building for the
planning body and the county en-
gineer's office near Magruder Park,
Hyattsville.
In other business, the commits
sieners instructed County Police
Supt. Ralph w. Brown to enforce
a regulation requiring contractors
on construction projects to remove
dirt and mud deposited by their
trucks on streets and highways of
the county. The action was prompt
ed by protests from the Coral Hills
Citizens Association against dirt
being left in the $500 block of Pard
road, Coral Hills.
Creation of the Eastpines subdi-
vision, near East Riverdale, as Spe-
cial Improvement District No. IS,
was approved.
The commissioners also voted to
grant county employees two holi-
days next week, the same as in
State offices. The two days are
Maryland Day, March %, and Good
Friday, March 26. Ofices will close
at the end of business next We'd
nesday and remain so until the fol-
lowing Monday.
School Crowding Protested.
A three-man delegation repre-
senting citizens of District Heights
APPEALED to the commissioners about
crowded condition at = the COM
m unitys six-room elementary
school. They were told no immedi-
ate aid is possible, since all money
authorized for school construction
already has been allocated by the
Board of Education.
The delegation, comprising Leon
ard Hearkness, j. w. Mcnamara
and Julius F. Basen, reported that
1852 pupils, or an average of 60.3I
per classroom, are expected to at
tend the school starting next Sep
teniber. At present, they said, the
school has 237 students, or 3e.5 per
classroom. Construction of new
apartments and homes necessitates
the additional facilities, the trio
said.
A group of four Mount Rainier
city officials, seeking advice on linn
iting the number of taxicabs being
allowed to park along Rhode Island
avenue in the community, were told
the municipality could draft an
ordinance restricting such privileges.
Police Chief Eugene B. Plumer, one
OF the four, pledged cooperation
In enforcing county cab regulations,
particularly one prohibiting persons,
other than passengers, from riding
with the opertors while on duty.