The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1950-06-29


by the Transportation Association of
America, which was formed back in
1885 for the purpose of binding to-
gether the various transportation
agencies of the country; forming
national policy in transportation; and
of drafting the necessary federal leg
islation required to make that policy
effective.
The purpose of the dinner-meeting,
which was presided over by Mr.. j.
B. Ferguson as temporary chairman,
was to form a committee from this
area to further the plans of the or
ganization.
Following brief Introductory re-
marks, Mr. Ferguson introduced
Donald D. Conn, the executive vice
president of the Association, who
gave his listeners a graphic account
of the organizations tremendous
task that is now nearing fulfilment.
Mr.. Conn stated that after appear
ing before the Committee on Inter
state and Foreign Commerce of the
House of Representative in 1916, his
Association was asked to draft a leg
islative bill and to have same ready
for presentation to the Congress of
the United States by March of next
year, and he asked that coopera-
tive committee be named here rep
resenting Washington, Allegheny
and Frederick Counties, who would
work with the Association in the
final draft of the bill.
In discussing his subject Mr.. Conn
brought out the danger of the trans
portation system falling into federal
hands and explained to his listeners
the tremendous Importance of the
various branches of transportation in
our whole economic system.
Following Mr.. Conns address,
there was very interesting round
table discussion on the subject, after
which a steering committee was APP
pointed, working towards the forma-
ton of the area committee that Mr.
Conn asked for.
see in the daily papers where the
Housing Authority is now giving out
information regarding the low cost
housing projects which are to be
undertaken here. l hope that they
will keep that information moving
all the time and perhaps find time to
strike off an extra copy for the
weekly papers as well, so that we
can tell our readers what is going on.
l also read in the daily papers
that the Hagerstown Planning and
Zoning Commission recommended
that property be bought in the sec
ond block of North Jonathan Street
for the two-fold purpose of enlarg-
ing the present Municipal Parking
Lot and eventually widening North
Jonathan Street from the second
block on out. I presume that the
matter will be brought up before
the Council in the near future, but
l hope that the members of the
Council, before taking any action in
this matter, will get full information
as to exactly where the money is
coming from to purchase this prop
erty.
From the report read in the daily
papers it would appear that Mayor
Mills hopes to get this money from
the city's appropriation of the fed
eral road funds but there remains
the question of whether the federal
government will permit any of those
funds to be used for the purpose of
just buying property in one block,
and that of course is matter that I
think the Council should be certain
of before they are asked to approve
the project.
There is, of course, fund in the
city treasury made up of the receipts
from the market house parking lot,
that is earmarked for the purchase
of real estate by the city for parking
lot purposes, and perhaps there is
enough money in that fund to buy at
least part of the property which is
needed to enlarge the present park
ing lot, but that the Council will
need to be sure of also.
never have felt and still don't
feel, that it is right of the Mayor to
spend weeks with the City Attorney
and with commissions appointed by
him, in working out plans for this
and that project and then springing
them on the Council at the last min
ute and expecting them to approve
them right off the bat. The Council
is elected by the voters of their va
rious wards to protect the interests