Evening star., 1952-12-17
Wary Reception
Given Highway
Master Plan
Commission Offers
Area Proposal at
HyottsviIIe Tonight

uyuttSVHuS iOHI9Ht
The Maryland-National Capital
Park and Planning Commission
will present at 8 o'clock tonight
in the Hyattsville Armory its pro-
lposed master plan Of highways
for the suburban area.
The plan received a wary re-
Iception last night at public
hearing at the Glenbrook Club,
Bethesda.
Spokesman for the commission
presented its plan to a crowd Of
more than 800 people at the Glen
brook Club.
The commission proposes a sys-
tenn Of freeways. express parkways
and major highways to be built
during a long-range program. At
the request of spokesmen for sew
eral citizens groups. Commission
chairman Robert M. Watkins an
nounced that further meetings
will be held with civic organiza-
tions before the commission ap-
proves the plan.
Each speaker urged that the
big thoroughfares go through
some other neighborhood than
his own. Warm applause greeted
a suggestion that major highways
lfor through traffic be constructed
to carry cars and trucks across
the Potomac River to Virginia
at a point well west Of Bethesda.
Routes Not Exact.
Mr.. Watkins and Fred w.
Tuemmler. the commissions di-
rector of planning, emphasized
that the proposed general plan
does not attempt to pin down
exact routes of the roads nor set
up a priority for their censtruc-
ton. They said that Improvement
programs presented by the State
Roads Commissio nand the Re-
gional Highway Planning Com
mittee are designed to meet "m-
mediate and near-term future
needs" while the commission plan
looks further ahead. +
Most of the opposition fire was
directed at plans for completion
of the National Pike. a new route
l240, through Bradley Hills Grove.
Mr.. Tuemmler said that the State
Roads Commission has ordered q
professional study to determine
the route through Montgomery
County and "a report is expected
soon. .r
Residents of Thomas Branch
Valley route, west of the Bradley
Hills Grove location, said they be-
lieve they have a commitment
from the State commission not to
build the pike through their area.
Warns of Deceit.
|. A resident of that area. Attor-
ney David Fegan. warned of "guile
and deceit among officials Of the
State Roads Commission" Mr..
F'egan charged that the State
commission already has received
a report Of a study of the new
route 240 made by the Ballard
engineering firm of Baltimore,
and ne said the report recon-
mends against the Thomas Branch
route. But State commission off,
cials still hope to use this ap-
proach, he asserted.
Mr.. Fegan said he had been
told by State official that when
the State commission gave the
Ballard firm the contract, "it ex-
lpected and understood that Bal
lard would recommend the Thomas
Branch River road route"
To Ask Investigation.
Mr.. Fegan said he will ask the
State Legislature to investigate
this contract when it meets next
month. He said that If the State
Legislature wishes, II shall name
names and dates and be more
specific in a situation that appears
to be waste of the public's money
and a fraud upon many Of US
property owners"
"All evidence points to thor
ough job by Ballard" Mr.. Fegan
said He added, 1T appears that
the State Roads Commission Is
casting reflections on Ballard's
ability so that the commission
can be whitewashed in the situa-
ton"
Mr.. Watkins said he regretted
the attack on the State commits
sion. and he praised its chairman.
Russell Mccain. Mr.. Watkins said
the State commission is fair and
has given full cooperation to the
commission, which he heads.