Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-02
SEWERS IN SUBURBS.
Danger of Delay on Plans for
Outlying Sections.
CONFUSION IN COMMITTEES
Movement to Obtain Action BY
Maryland Legislature.
SURVEY OF COST Is WANTED
Efforts to Obtain Sanitary Drainage
Of Villages Bordering on the
District Line.
SURVEY OF COST Is WANTED

misunderstanding as to the duties to be
performed by citizens committees repre-
senting Montgomery and Prince Georges
counties, Maryland. which were appointed
to petition the legislature for sewerage
legislation in that state. may cause de-
lay in the carrying out of plans looking
.Bward an improvement in the sanitary
conditions Of the sections bordering on
the District.
At meeting of citizens Of the two
counties in the boardroom Of the District
building last Saturday committees were
appointed to petition the legislature for
general sewerage legislation and to pre-
sent a specific recommendation for an ap-
preparation for a preliminary survey by
which to determine the cost Of building
to the District line sewers from the Sec
lions which drain into streams flowing
through the District.
1t has developed that in several in
stances the personnel Of the two commit
tees Is the same and that, In view Of the
similarity of the work to be performed,
members of the committees have become
confused as to the nature Of the legisla-
ton which the two bodies are to separate
" recommend. 1t came to light also that
State Senator Blair Lee of Maryland who
was appointed chairman of the commit
tee which Is to endeavor to secure pre-
urinary survey for the more limited
sewerage construction proposed, has not
been notified of his appointment, and no
arrangements have been made for calling
meeting of the committee.
Sewers to the District Line.
The project which the Lee committee
was authorized to undertake is the one
in which District officials have promised
to cooperate, as 1t is conceded to have
a direct bearing on the health interests
of the District. The specific plan is to
the sections which drain into Rock
creek and Anacostia valleys toward the
Little Falls branch, the local govern
ment to handle the sewerage after it
has been delivered into its own inter-
ceptors at points along the District line
Dlstrict ofnc1als are concerned over the
situation, as. prior to the appointment of
the Lee committee, considerable prelimi-
nary work was done in interesting resi-
dents of both Maryland and the District
IN the proposed Undertaking. Unless the
legislature authorizes an appropriation
for the preliminary survey at this SEES
slon they point out, pollution of streams
In Rock creek and Anacostia valleys with
sewerage drained from the neighboring
MARYLAND communities may not be pre-
Proposed Sewerage Commission.
1t is probable that steps will be taken
10 Strengthen out the tangle concerning
the work to be done by the two commit
tees. W. T. g. Curtis is chairman of the
committee appointed to draft legislation
providing for general sewerage construc-
ton wherever need for such may be
A
this committee 1t was decided to present
to the legislature a bill authorizing the
appointment Of commission to make
study Of the matter and report to the
legislature at its next session.
Suggestions that the two committees be
have been made, based on
the fact that the general committee will
recommend legislation for the appoint
ment OF commission to study the sew
erage problem in general.
This plan, however, Is not likely to meet
with support by those who are DESTROYS
that immediate efforts be made to bring
improved sanitary conditions in the Sec
tons bordering on the District. An APP
preparation for ascertaining the cost of
building sewers from these sect ons to the
District line should be authorized by the
legislature without delay, they assert, so
that q definite proposition for inaugural
ing the Improvement can be presented to
the legislature at it's next session
The Maryland state board of health is
In sympathy with this plan. and has sug-
gested that legislation to this end include
a provision for the establishment of sani-
tary districts covering the sections to be
improved over which the board shall
have control in sanitary matters
The Two Committees.
The committee, which has been in
structed to present the plan to the legis-
lature, includes, in addition to Senator
Lee, chairman; ]. Enos Ray. DR. c. w.
w. G. Plat, H. ]. Patterson,
DR.. William l.. Lewis. DIR. Ryan Dew
eraux and DR.. James Dudley Morgan.
The committee instructed to recommend
general sewerage legislation and which
will ask the appointment of a commission
to study the matter includes the follow:
ing:
Representing Prince Georges county
J. Enos Ray, ]. H. Ralston, DR.. Harry
Nalley, T. Howard Duckett. Joseph Fan
ming and DR.. a. 0. Etienne.
Representing Montgomery county-Wil-
liam T. S. Curtis. Preston b. Ray, DR..
William l. Lewis. C. w. Clum, j. l.
Cassidy and William Tyler Page.
1t is said that this committee in it's bill
VIII sttpulate that the commission work
In conjunction with the Maryland state
board of health.