Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-02
Citizens of Cumberland Protest
Against Pollution of Potomac.
FIGHT ON TIE PULP MILL RENEWED
Now Proposed to Take the Matter
to Congress.
L HIS CITY INTERESTED
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

me people OF Cumberland will look to
Washington for assistance in their strug-
gle To stop the pollution of the Potomac
river. Thts pollution has practically de-
stroyed ms citys water supply, and it is
believed threatens the supply of Wash
ington. The interests Of the two cities are
regarded as common. as the river is the
natural source OF water SUNNY for both
cities. 1t is believed here that the pollu-
ton Will soon reach the acute stage at
Washington. as il is of a progressive char
actc?, extending further down each year.
The fish have all been killed in the river
about Cumberland, and fishermen say they
are obliged to go further down the stream
every year. Where fish have been plentiful
the year before they decmated the
following year. AT Hancock, lifty-six miles
east Of here, the complain: is the same
SATURDAY night at pubic meeting OF
citizens in the city council chamber Scra-
tor George l.. Wellington enlisted in the
fight against pollution. making an address
that aroused the widest enthusiasm II
is said that never in his public career did
Senator Wellington receive such an ova-
ton. TIE meeting was an adjourned one
from Thursday night. when a committee
was named to report Il plan for continuing
the fight against pollution. The verdict of
the jury in the criminal prosecution at
HdgerStown aCquitting the West Virginia
Pulp andPaper Company of polluting the
Potomac is regarded a serious setback
to the cause OF the city.
Enthusiasm at the Meeting
The report was presented and unani-
mously adopted amid much enthusia sm
William c. Devecmon of the Cumberland
bar read the report. 1t recites that Cum
berland spent 100000 in building and i'm
proving the present waterworks of the city,
which are practically useless, because of
the intolerdble condition of the water
Three expert engineers, after an exhaustive
investigation, reported that the Potomac
was the only available source of supply,
and chemical experts, after much expert
ment, found that the polluted water can
not be successfully filtered, every method
of filtration having been tried in vain 1t
is impossible to remove the color. 1t is
argued that should another source of sup
ply be secured it would be necessary to go
miles into another state. with no assurance
that the newly selected stream would not
in time be polluted.
The Potomac water now emits such
stencil that it is not even lit for street
srrinkling purposes. People are compelled
to buy drinking water from vendors. while
cooking water is obtained from Il limited
supply of wells and cisterns. The burden
on the poor is great, especially during the
present cold snap, when the pumps freeze
up SO easily The resolutions say that
a result of bad water property values are
not what they would be, and that persons
even living here.
The resolutions call for the selection of
an executive committee Of twenty, whose
duty it is to ascertain from the counsel who
prosecuted the pulp mill case whether in
their opinion conviction is possible under
the law as it now stands, and if not TO Sug
Gest amendments or new laws that Will
cover the ground; 10 ascertain the power of
the state board Of health in the premises,
and if that body has the power to invoke
its interference; to consult with Senator
George l.. Wellington and Representative
George A. Pearra as to the advisability OF
securing the aid of Congress- inasmuch as
the District of Columbia also draws lis
water supply from the Potomac. The res
olutions condemn the course of the Cum
berland Evening Times as being inimical
to the best interests of the people, and de-
piore the fact that the city which pays 40
per cent of tn taxes Of the county has not
the sympathy of the mining region.
Text of the Resolution.
The resolutions conclude: Resolved, fur
Their, that American citizens in town
mass meeting assembled, We view with
alarm and dismay the power and effect of
corporate greed and wealth upon our insti-
tutons and upon public sentiment and pub
lie morals. SO well exemplified in this case,
where city has struggled against the
paper trust for years, and thus far without
avail, for pur, water, which nature herself
has supplied for man as free as the air
that the assault is not only directed against
the pulp mill, but against all pollutions.
Gen. Joseph Sprigg, the chairman, deliv-
cred an address, in which he stated that the
position of citizens was not in defiance of
the law and the ruling of the courts, as
some charge. He denied the imputation as
absolutely false, stating that the people
only wish to assert their rights under the
law, and that no attempt has been made
by any one to go around the law. Con-
sidering the overwhelming character of the
testimony adduced against the, pulp mill at
Hagerstown, he said there should be no
surprise from any one over the discomfort
of the people here as the result of the YER
dict. Gen. Sprigg at length stated the city's
side from legal standpoint, quoting nu-
merous authorities, including eX-Attorney
General John Prentiss Poe, when he fought
the polluters Of Gunpowder river, Balti-
more's water supply. Mr. Poe was one of
the attorneys for the pulp mill In the re-
cent case.
Senator Wellington was warmly received.
He said, as citizen of Cumberland, he
was wrapped up in the well-belng of the
city. He continued: IT believe you have
done the proper thing in calling meeting
% express disapproval of the verdict of the
jury, well as the ruling of the court, and
l believe the ruling laid down is as bad as
the water in the Potomac river" This sally
caused the greatest applause, lasting sew
eral minutes. Il stand with my people"
he said Il believe under the law Of the
land are entitled to use the water of
the natural stream God has given us. Any
man or corporation interfering with the pu-
rity Of that stream is against Him.
Water Unfit for Any Use.
The senator accused the pulp mill of
making the water, once coed, unfit for any
use. He thought the law gave ample rem
edy and he was particularly severe in his
denunciation Of those citizens who testified
against the city. He said If a citizens com
mittee would be sent to Washington he had
no doubt that their cause would be given a
careful hearing by the District committees
in both houses. He, himself, proposed to
bring the matter before the Senate commit
tee.
William c. Devecmon Of the Cumberland
bar said a calamity was overhanging the
city greater than war, for the latter could
be ended, but this Dissertation of the water
supply might be everlasting. to the detri-
ment of the health and happiness of the
people. He spoke of the threatened boycott
of Cumberland, and said: Let them do it.
We. too. can fight the devil with fire. Mr.
Devecmon says that testimony offered by
some Cumberland citizens in behalf of the
pulp mill defied the laws of gravitation
and branded the discovery of Sir Isaac
Newton as myth.