Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-02-11
Meeting Boi|s
Into Plan for
PeaceCross
Maryland Assembly
Muy Be Asked for
Flood-ControI Fund

Maryland legislators may be
asked to appropriate funds for
partial dredging of the Ana
costa River as the first step
toward permanent solution of
the Bladensburg flood problem.
The suggestion was made last
night by Republican Delegate j.
Frank Lillard of Prince Georges
County at the close Of a stormy
mass meeting in HyattSville.
Mr.. Lillard told more than 400
vociferous citizens that he will
investigate the idea Immediately
and added that he will introduce
enabling legislation in the Gen.
eral Assembly II engineers con-,
slider it feasible.
The State Roads Commission
arranged the meeting to deter
mine public sentiment. The ses-
sion, marked by shouts, boos and
impasSioned pleas from 1indig-
narlt housewives, began in the
County Service Building. It was
shifted to the auditorium of st.
Jerome's Church when the first
hearing room became so crowded
that speakers could not be heard
by persons damned IN corridors.
Only Two Plans Discussed.
Only two plans were discussed.
One was that developed by Army
Engineers who have Jurisdiction
in food control problems. The
other was proposed elevation Of
Route in the Peace Cross Sec
ton. A third proposal, called
the Darneille plan, was men
toned but was not debated.
Prince Georges Republican
Delegate william r. Hughes,
sponsor of the plan to raise the
road, had eloquent supporters
In the audience. But his adher-
ents were heavily outnumbered
by high-tensioned opponents who
several times shouted the Dele
gate down and Missed every COM
mandatory comment.
Dissenting property owners
made it abundantly clear that
they will fight any proposal That
does not promise quick clearance
Of flood water from the area. in
GLIDING their Easements.
Highway Elevation Opposed.
At the outset Of the meeting,
R0ads Commission Chairman
Russell H. Mccain told the crowd
that elevation Of the highway
will not produce the desired re-
suit.
t. would permit vehicles to
cross over high waters. he said,
but would not alleviate food con-
ditions. Mr.. Mccain emphasized
that his agency is without au-
thority to undertake food con-
troll projects and is limited to
consideration of bridges and
roads.
Because of that fact, he ex-
planned. the commission cannot
expend the estimated $657 900
available for elevation or pro-
posed dredging. He said after
the, meeting that If the General
Assembly appropriates money for
dredging it should come from
general funds rather than from
highway ALLEGATIONS.
Mr.. Mccain said his agency's
engineers would be willing to SUI
petvise dredging operations If
that plan is adopted.
Federal Project Urged.
william F. Childs, chief engi-
neet for the roads commission,
called the elevation plan "a tenn
porary expedient."
"a permanent answer" he de-
clared, "can only be found in the
Federal Governments overall
plan"
The views of the two officials
were supported by the Commits
siotl's bridge engineer. Albert L.
Grubb and Harry Shaw, chief
engineer for the Washington
Suburban Sanitary Commits
sion. The Sanitary Commission
has been designated as project
liaison agency between the
State and the Federal Govern
meI1t.
Mr.. Shaw said he understood
that Federal engineers planned
to begin work on the project in
1854 and cautioned that "the
only practical plan for solving
the problem might be jeopar-
died If expedient measures are
taken now"
Leroy Humphrey, Democratic
Delegate from Prince Georges.
who is opposed to raising the
road. urged that the Federal
Government get the $12 million
overall plan under way quickly
as a vital link in the national
defense chain.