Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-17
V|RG|N|ANS PRO TEST
AlexandriansD Project
ed Site for sewss Outlet.
HEARING \ G RANTED
DELEGATION HEADED BY REPRE-
SENTATIVE JOHN F. RIxEY.
Complain That District Authorities
Have Not Given Proper Considers
ton to Their Neighbors.

peared before the District Commissioners
| to present a vigorous protest against the
location of the outlet of the new outfall
sewer at a point near the naval magazine.
While the officials of Alexandria were earn
est In their protest against the location
of the sewer outlet according to present
plans yet the meeting was characterized
by display of the most friendly and cor
dial feelings between the authorities of the
two cities separated by the Potomac river.
The Alexandria delegation was headed
by Representative Rixey. who had made
the arrangements for the hearing, and it
included Mayor F. ]. Paff, City Attorney
Gardner l.. Boothe, City Engineer E. c.
Dunn. Mr. J. T. Sweeney, president of
the board of aldermen; Hubert Snowden,
president of the city council; Alderman E.
L. Leadbeater, chairman of the commit
tee on streets: DR.. e. A. German. health
officer; Alderman Samuel Fisher, Victor
Boyer and Lewis F. Schade. In addition
to the three District Commissioners the
District government was represented by
Capt. Chester Harding, assistant to the
Engineer Commissioner, and Supt. d. h.
McComb Of the sewer department.
Basis Of Complaint.
In brief the Alexandria officials argued
that the location one and one-quarter miles
above Alexandria of the outlet Of the out
fall sewer, which is to be built in con-
age disposal project, would be detriment
to the material development of Alexandria
and would also be a menace to the health
of it's residents.
The Commissioners were urged to do
nothing that would interfere with the pur-
pose of the citizens of Alexandria to go
before Congress and secure more money to
provide for the location of the outlet of the
sewer at a point several miles below the
Virginia city. The Commissioners seemed
to be of the opinion that due precautions
had been taken in the preparation of the
plans for the project to insure that the
health of residents of Alexandria would
not be menaced. They also stated that the
work toward the execution of the sewer
age disposal project has advanced so far
now that a change in the location of the
outlet would neceSsitate the construction of
new pumping plant, and that the location
of the outlet could not be changed under
present plans.
The Commissioners stated however, that
they Will give very careful consideration
to the arguments and opinions advanced
by the officials from the Virginia city and
that they are not willing to do anything
that would be detriment to the material
prosperity of Alexandra or endanger the
health of its citizens.
Arguments for Change.
City Attorney Boothe, the first speaker
on behalf of the Alexandria representa-
tives, presented brief of the arguments
ton of the sewer outlet from a point
near the naval magazine, one and one
fourth miles north of Alexandria to a
point about two miles south of that city
The method of disposng of the sewage
he mentioned comes under the head of
disposal by dilution. He declared that the
citizens of Alexandria do not believe that
the flow of the Potomac is sufficient to
prevent offense to the residents of Alex
andria account of the sewerage dis
charged into the river. In of
argument Mr. Boothe presented figures
and extracts from a report made by the
geological survey of an investig cation of
the river, its velocity, flow &c. In a
written argument which Mr.. Boothe pre-
sented opinions of experts as to the We
loclty of flow necessary to properly di-
lutte sewerage discharged into a stream
and from these figures and statements he
deducted that the flow of the Potomac is
not suft1cient to properly dilute the sew
erage from the city of Washington. A
summary of the arguments presented by
Mr.. Boothe was as follows:
l. All authorities agree that the amount
of sewage emptied into running stream
must not be in excess of the volume of flow
to sufficiently dilute, remove and purify the
sewage so as not to cause offenSe.
2. That this volume must be considered in
respect to the minimum low-water flow
3. That the velocity of the stream must be
sufficient to prevent deposits.
4. That dilution must be perfect and uni
form.
o. The volume Of water available in tidal
streams is only that of the upland flow.
Alleges Lack of Consideration.
The speaker claimed that the proposed To-
cation of the outlet and the amount of sew
age to be discharged have not been de-
signed, as far as Alexandria IS concerned,
with proper consideration of the points
mentioned. He claimed that the amount of
sewage would be in excess of the power of
the water to properly dilute it.
Mr. Boothe argued that owing to the pc
culiar condition of the Potomac river the
current at Shepherds Point is such that
| the sewage deposited near that point will
| be deposited on the Alexandria docks.
| At the close of Mr.. Boothe's argument
| Commissioner Macfarland asked him why
| the matter has not been brought to the at
| tention of the Commissioners before this
| time. Mr.. Boothe replied that the citizens
| of Alexandria did not know that the plans
| had been finished or that the report of the
| board selected to fix upon the location of
the outlet had been agreed to until just
| recently.
I'VE people in Washington said Com
missioner Mcfarland, would not do any
| thing to injure the city of Alexandria, and
| am sure that the board of eminent en-
| gineers who selected the location of the
sewer outlet would not do so. The matter
| has been given wide report, but objection
| has not been raised Until now. However,
this Will not prevent our giving considera-
| ton to the protest at this time
| Representative Rixey stated that the Vir-
| glnia members of Congress had not been
aware that the project had been advanced
| SO far. Inquiries asJto the nature of the
legislation respecting the project developed
that the last appropriation made was for
the completion of the outfall sewer
Representative Rixey desired to know
| whether the matter had advanced SO far
that 1t would be impossible for the people
OF Alexandria to go before Congress and
secure change in the location Of the out
| let.
Col. Biddle's View.
/ Colonel Biddle mentioned that the work
has gone SO far up to this time that it
would be impossible to medify the plans
for the present project, and that if any
thing were done to place the outlet further
| down the river that a new pumping plant
would have to be constructed, the PRES
| ent pumping plant has been designed with
| the view to having the sewer outlet near
the naval magazine.
THE whole question, think" said Col.
| Biddle, turns upon the point as to
whether or not the location of the outlet
above Alexandria will constitute a menace
to the health Of the people Of that city. In
estimating the amount of sewage to be
deposited in the river provision was made
for a population of 100000 persons in
/ cI,s reyfn % fhn