Evening star., 1950-10-03
COMMENTS.

tFTOH MFS. D. r.. ~, FafTfuT.)
This is an open letter pleading
Tor courtesy and instigated by Mrs,
F. D. H. of Takoma Park and her
idealistic theory of sharing. 1t is
a topic that has been much on my
mind since living on Federal
highway. We moved in March
to Az acres. which fronts 500
feet on a coast-to-coast route
near small village less than Is
miles from the District.
1t requires several hours work
each month to remove beer cans
and picnic litter from the en-
trance to our private land, which
is often blocked so it is impossible
for us to leave or enter without
requesting parked cars, often with
house trailers, to move. We can
not attempt to keep our entire
property clean when it is Uttered
by barrel or more of refuse each
week.
People with Virginia and Mary
land license tags have been seen
leaving, as we return home after
ruthlessly uprooting holly and
dogwood trees which we carefully
preserved when partially clearing
our land of hardwoodS to develop
a parklike area near the house.
Please, you who are city folk,
consider whether you would en-
dure such infringement of privacy
In your own home before doing
the thoughtless destructive things
which so many of you consider to
be entirely proper once you leave
the city limits.
AS for the highway right of way
being public domain.
Do you know that we who live
beside a Federal highway cannot
cross it to build lawn to our
own property without posting a
sizeable bond that the land will
be constructed to meet the in
spection of a highway engineer?
And do you know further that
we cannot even remove a dis
eased tree from the right of way
fronting our property without
written permission from the State
highway engineer (not the resi-
dent regional engineer) and then
their own men must do the work.
AS a result of this regulation we
lost a fine specimen pine when
awaiting removal of a badly in
fected highway tree
(From Mrs. A. ]. NJ, SpencerUille.)
Never have I been stirred to
wrath any more and quicker than
by the attack on Mrs. S. B. M. by
Mrs. F. D. H. of Takoma Park.
First of all, she should get her
information straight. 1t is true
the county owns a certain num-
ber of feet On each side of a coun-
ty road but how many crops, wild
or cultivated have you seen grow
ing within that number of feet?
No, you are not taking from the
county, you are taking from an
individual who pays his taxes just
as much as you do.
AS for the sign of corn for sale,
cheap if pulled. I have heard of
people doing this to try to shame
the people who would, otherwise,
Just help themselves. You think
they don't-ask any farmer who
has plowed, planted and cultivated
his fields along highway and
see how much they harvest from
the first four rows.
AS for the people in the county
wasting food, that is ridiculous.
Where else do you find women
spending their summers in the
kitchen canning rather than Won
dering where to go on vacation?
The road side stand may be al
right but not every one has the
time for it; to you I would say
patronize the ones that are up
expect fair prices but not give
away prices as most people do who
ride out for produce. After all
why should we give it to you after
all our labor?
! have lived in both city ano
country and since moving out here
the abuse people put to our prop
erty is fast becoming sore point
The small field SO nicely moved
may be nice spot for picnic
but trash and bottles left bef1inc
for others to clean up is unkint
to say the least.
To those who like to pick thei
own produce I would say, "Mov'
to the country and do a little worE
for yourself. Do not expect t.
help yourself to the fruit of Others
labor"
I know this is lengthy but sine
so much space was allotted fol
such a letter as Mrs. F. D. H
surely some could be given in de
fenSe