Evening star., 1952-02-07
>>ase Cites Traffic Toll
In Support Of Highwa,
By-Passing District
Bill Asks $36 Million;
Group Told EurIy Action
Is Needed to Cut Cost
By Harold B. Roqers

The rising tide Of deaths and
injuries from automobile accidents
was cited today by Senator Case,
Republican, of South Dakota in
support of his proposal for a cir
cumferential highway to bypass
the District and connect the
Washington Baltimore Parkway
with the Shirley highway in Vir-
ginia.
The Senator laid his proposal
before Senate Public Works
subcommittee as the group opened
hearings on the 5000 million Fed
eral aid to highways bill.
$S6 Million Asked.
The Case amendment to the big
road bill would authorize $50 mil
lion for construction of a pro
Itected, safe and suitable bypass
and circumferential highway" in
the area. It would extend in a
westward loop from a point on
the Washington Baltimore Park
way north OF Washington to the
Shirley highway below Alexandria.
Senator Case also has pending
another amendment for use of
Federal aid funds to build similar
circumferential highways near
cities of over 10000 population.
Senator Case presented his ar
gument during the testimony of
Thomas H. Macdonald, commits
sioner of the Bureau of Public
Roads, when the question of auto
mobile accidents came up.
Rising Costs Cited.
Mr.. Macdonald was the first
witness following an opening
statement on the big bill by Sena-
tor Chavez, Democrat, of New
Mexico, committee chairman.
Senator Chavez emphasized the
need for highway construction and
repairs, explaining that because
of rising costs of both materials
and labor, he believed that the
$500 million in his bill could well
be raised to $500 million.
The Senator said that highway
systems were virtually defense
plants and should be considered
essential war expenditures"
, Senator Case referred to Mr..
MacD testimony to the
effect there had been a serious
upturn" in the number of auto
mobile accidents and deaths.
Deaths Increasing.
Figures in the Macdonald re-
port showed that automobile ac-
cident deaths rose from 28,076 inI
1945 to $1,000 in 1850 and about
37.500 in 1851.
Senator Case said that despite
the Federal program Of separation
Of grade crossings where many
fatalities had occurred. the rise
in traffic accidents and fatalities
throughout the country showed
that the largest general increase
was due to traffic congestion. This
showed the need, he said, for
development of circumferential
to increase safety.
The Senate Public Works Com
mittee has received approval in
principle of the Case circumferen-
lion highway for Washington
from five Federal agencies.
Sawyer Backs Plan.
One of these, the Commerce De-
oartment. raised the question as
TO whether the cost Of such al
highway should be divided, in
stead of being met entirely by the
Federal Government, as the Case
DILL provides.
Secretary Sawyer said such al
bypass was highly desirable and
N the public interest, not only |
;imely but long overdue" |
Other agencies which approved
the Case proposal with some mi
nor suggestions included the Ma
;ional Capital Park and Planning
Commission, which said that
Federal financing is realistic and
virtually imperative: the General
Services Administration, which
the plan whether in
oeacetime or for national de-
'ense";; the Department Of Justice,
md the Secretary Of Interior.
Mr.. Macdonald later told a re-
,orter the Bureau Of Public Roads
6 savei-v much In favor of fhel