Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-29
May Become Open Sewers.

These pipes, running along the streams
within the District, are ''intercepters." 1t
is predicted by engineers who understand
the situation that unless these inter
ceptors are extended into Maryland the
time will come when Maryland towns are
dumping enormous quantities of sewage
into Rock creek and the Anacosda river,
and the streams, which are now reason
ably clear, will become something like
open sewers.
Although there is an intercepting line
running through Rock Creek valley some
distance through the District, studies on
a larger one have been completed, and the
surveys carried as far as the Military
road. With the fear that the stream will
some day be polluted by the SUBURBAN
towns, the line has been designed to pro
vide at slight cost for the drainage of
the entire valley, in the state of Mary
land as well as in the District.
To get the effect desired, this line would
simply be extended up the creek.
This, it is argued, will solve the prob
lem that will be presented to the District
i'm the future. To control this metro
poIitan district a combined state and
national board is suggested by Mr.. Phil
lips. The board would construct the line
and have charge of it, and would see
that the towns kept their portion In re-
pair The district would receive the
sewage, pump it down the river, and be
reimbursed for this pumping at cost
which is so small per capita to the Mary
land people that it is hard to express
it's minuteness.
Time to Begin Study.
Mr. Phillips does not say that there is
any immediate need of such metropol-
itan district, but inasmuch as engineer
ing projects of this kind have to be
thought out far in advance of need he
points out that the rapid growth OF
vital question in the future. HD1says
it is none too soon to begin the study
of the problem, especially in view OF
the complicated judicial and legislative
situations which will undoubtedly be met
with.
In his last repor- Mr.. Phillips wrote:
1.-The interests of the District are so
immediate and the conservation of these
streams so important for the protection
Of the park systems and in the interest of
public health and sanitation that 1t Is re-
spectfully recommended that board be
appointed to work in conjunction with
such officials of the state of Maryland as
may be designated for tentative consid-
essary authority may be obtained"
The towns whose sewer systems endan-
ger the purity of Rock creek are Rock
vile, Garrett Park. Kensington. Forest
Glen, Linden, Woodside, Chevy Chase,
Md; Bethesda and other places on the
Metropolitan branch Of the Baltimore and
Ohio Anacostia rivers purity is threat
ened by College Park, Riverdale, Hyatts-
vile, Berwyn, Bladensburg, Takoma
Park, Lanham, Landover and Magruder.
Would Benefit Towns.
The engineers say that with such a
metropolitan district these towns would
be able to advertise themselves as having
as fine sewer service as any Of the
worlds greatest cities. There is a SINH
lar scheme in effect in Boston and it's
suburbs. The cost of the thing Is said to
be in rational proportion with the cost of
other developments that follow an in
crease of population AS the matter now
stands with the District officials interest
ed in the matter. the Maryland towns
benefited by this proposed system would
pay for the construction of the line. and
that the entire cost would be about 10000.
1t is roughly figured that there would be
seven miles or line along Rock creek
and from three to four miles along the
Anacostia river. Divided among the COM
munnities, it is predicted that bonds could
be sold for this project which would be
but a slight burden to the communities.
BY this plan there is no expense to the
District, as the sewer service here would
then be at the disposal OF the suburban
ties.
The only legislation hoped for at pres
ent by those interested in the scheme
is the creation of a board or commission
to consider the matter.