Evening star., 1952-09-12
Drive 10 Attract
Light Industry
DueinCounty
Bethesda Meeting
Expected to Spur
Montgomery Move

IAPSStSu ~ SPuT
Montgomery Move
A concerted drive to draw light
industry to Montgomery County
will be undertaken this fall by
the County Commerce Associa-
tons.
The kickoff Of the campaign to
promote the county's industrial
is expected at a meet
ing Of the group today in Bethes-
da.
Spearheading the drive will be
Charles H. Kopeland, secretary of
the association. which represents
the boards Of trade and chambers
OF commerce in the county.
The commerce group realizes
its proposal probably will meet
bitter opposition. Many residents
long have pointed with pride to
the residential character Of the
county.
Mr.. Kopeland said yesterday the
association, four months ago, had
urged the county council to make
a study of possible industrial
expansion.
Civic Groups Object.
He said, however, uninformed
resistance of county civic groups
to industrial development have
resulted in sitting action by the
council.
Mr.. Kopeland said the council
had promised his group a report
by Tuesday on the progress of its
efforts to get an economic land
use survey underway.
The secretary also wants the
county council to appoint a COM
mittee to study industrial develop
ment and land use.
If no such committee is named,
Mr.. Kopeland said he would urge
the commerce association to set up
its own volunteer study group.
The group also would have a
secondary two-part function, he
said.
First it would educate the pub
lie" to the advantages of proper
industrial development"
Secondly it would seek the CO.
operation of the council in encour-
aging new industries to locate in
the county.
Commercial interests now more
than pay their share of the taxes"
Mr.. Kopeland said.
He said the people want more
schools, more police, more street
lights.
Sees Possible Tax Cut.
They could get all these and at
the same time perhaps cut back
their own tax burden by expand
ing the industrial areas in the
county, he said.
Montgomery County is sitting
back letting other regions take
industry away from it," Mr.. Kope-
land charged.
He pointed with envy to Prince
Georges recent acquisition of a
SIS million Safeway Stores ware
house.
Mr.. Kopeland made it clear he
was not urging the introduction Of
smoke-producing industries.
He said several manufacturer
of medical instruments and phar-
supplies have indicated
an interest in locating near the
National Institute of Health in
Bethesda. They should be en-
couraged, he said.
Mr.. Kopeland also revealed the
Silver Spring Board of Trade is
now dickering to have an un-
named light industry locate be-
tween Silver Spring and Rockville.
Factory Considers Sites.
-Four sites in the county are
being considered for a SIS million
garden-type factory. Other loca-
tions in the Carolinas are being
considered by the same firm, he
said.
Preliminary plans for the build
ing call for it to be surrounded by
park, he said.
Mr.. Kopeland cited as desirable
industries those similar to the
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics
Laboratory and the Naval Ordi.
nance Laboratory.
"The proper type of industry
located on the proper site is an
asset to any community" he said.
"even that Of the calibre of Mont
gomery County"
Mr.. Kopeland pointed out that
light industries are interested in
locating in Montgomery because
of its proximity to the Nations
Capital.
Money Voted For Survey.
The county council this year
appropriated $4,000 for an eco.
nomic base survey on recommen-
dation of County Manager Irving
g. McNayr.
The council also agreed to con-
slider a Joint study with the
Maryland-National Capital Park
and Planning Commission and
Prince Georges County.
The planning commission, how
ever, has not yet completed its
analysis Of the area to be en-
compasSed by such a survey. The
council has asked for a progress
report and indications are some
council members feel action has
been too slow in getting the
survey underway.
New Boby's Father
Strides Through