Evening star., 1955-01-28
Senate Group !
May Probe Bell
Road Project
Murray Requests
Delay in Pushing
Rock Greek Pluns

Rock Greek PlonS
The Senate Interior Committee
may launch an inquiry into the
controversial extension Of the
intercounty belt road through
nearby Maryland portions of
Rock Greek Park. it was learned
today.
A committee spokesman said
Chairman Murray has asked that
development Of the road be ''at
least temporarily deferred" until
the committee can determine
whether any compromise OF
Rock Greek Park is threatened
by the parkway.
This request was made to the
National Capital Planning Com.
mission in a letter from Senator
Murray in December. before the
new Congress was organized.
The committee spokesman said
he would suggest the question of
whether the committee wants TO
launch an inquiry be raised at q
full committee session at 10 am.
Monday.
Parkway Planned.
The controversial park stretch
lies between Wisconsin avenle
and Forest Glen. Plans, ap-
proved by the Planning Comnlis-
sion d year ago. call for the sec-
ton Of the two-county circufn-
ferential road which lies in the
park to be built to parkway
characteristics" To that end,
Maryland road builders hired
the Massachusetts, firm Of Olr1l-
sted Bros. to design the parkway
and to propose simultaneous i'm.
provements to the park itself.
Residents near the park Sec
ton, however. are contesting in
court the planning commissions
legal right to approve the park
use for the road.
The suit was dismissed IA
United States District Court for
the District of Columbia and %
now being appealed. The Fed
eral Court also rejected q citi-
zens' move for an Injunction 70
hold up progress on the road.
Avoids Excessive Cost.
Decisions by planners and
road builders to use the park
section we're based on concli-
sions that the park provided the
only practical means Of ducking
prohibitiyely expensive land
acquisitions for the loop free
way. Federal planning maps
have showed the park use for
the road for years.
In view of Senator Murray's
letter, Planning Commission
Chairman Harland Bartholomew
two days ago wrote the Mary
land National Capital Park and
Planning Commission, asking
| that Maryland authorities con-
tinue to defer any further COM
mitments on the inter-county
belt parkway until the meeting
of the National Capital Planning
Commission on February 3-4.'s
Mr.. Bartholomew letter said
that by next week his commits
sion hopes to hear further from
Senator Murray.
In a response yesterday, the
Maryland planners said very
substantial contractural commit
ments" already have been made.
Contract for Bridge.
The only contractural COM
mitment made public for the
road in the park calls for con-
struction of bridge structure at
Cedar lane. In addition. how
ever. Maryland roads officials
have said they were going ahead
with some land acquisition In
the area.
The Maryland planning group
wrote Mr.. Bartholomew also that
they have no power to require
the State Roads Commission TO
hold UP any further commit
ENTHUSIASTICALLY since the
Federal court refused to do so.
The Maryland group added
that It was ready and willing to
give any Senate or House COM
mittee or any interested member
Of Congress full information on
the project and its status"
Officials said q letter similar
to Senator Murray's was sent ont
last summer by former Senator
Gordon. Republican. Of Oregon.
But no hearings followed his en-
pressions Of interest In the Is
sues.