Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-14
RIVER IS BIG SEWER
Potomac So Characterized by
Secretary Wilson.
INJURIES FISH AND OYSTERS
Thorough Investigation of the Con-
ditions to Be Made.
NEARBY STATES MAY ASSIST
Pollution of Allegheny River Re-
ferred To-Protection of ALI
Streams Advocated.
INJURIES FISH AND OYSTERS
STATES MAY ASSIST

| THE Potomac river is nothing but
/ big sewer. 1t should be cleaned out
soon possible, a work that should
have been done long ago. The chemistry
i bureau report that the pollution in the
river is affecting the oysters taken from
the water between Washington and
! Blackstone Island premature. in
! that it was not comprehensive. and it
yas given out during my absence before
! the full investigation 1 intended was
made. \ complete investigation of
! Potomac river water is to he made. and
/ we shall welcome the participation of
tile states of Maryland and Virginia in
/ t.
"If the result shows, as l believe it
i VIII. that the water is not only contami-
mating the oysters in the river, but is
killing off some of the fish supply. I shall
recommend to Congress the establish
ment of a. sewage filtration plant in the
+ Potomac river. such as the great cities in
i foreign countries have in their rivers, and
/ this proba BILE first step here in the capt.
tai may lead to a general investigation
of river pollution all over the country by
| the Department of Agriculture"
/ In these words James Wilson. Secre
tary of Agriculture. voiced his determine
| ton to ''clean up the Potomac" as he eX-
pressed it. in an interview with a Star
/ reporter today. His characterization of
/ iHe HOtOmac as nOtnlnS Out Il dig
! sewer was brought about through his
attention being called to letter he wrote
! October , to Representative Parran of
MARYLAND. chairman of the joint commits
! sion of inquiry named by the governors
of Maryland and Virginia to make a new
/ investigation on the part of those two
/ states of Potomac river oysters. follow
+ ing the chemistry bureau report that oys-
! ters from the river are polluted
/ Glad of Cooperation.
While the Department of Agriculture
will be very glad to cooperate with
Maryland and Virginia in new investi-
CATION of the river and it's oysters," Sec
rotary Wilson said today, lit is our Il
tentiQn to make a thorough bacteriologi-
cal examination of the river in its rela-
! ton to typhoid.
/ This We shall probable do irrespective
of Maryland and Virginia, although If
they want to take part We shall welcome
the states in all We do. 1t seems the
proper thing to do. from sense of public
duty. When there was too much typhoid
IN Washington some years ago the De-
partment of Agriculture interviewed and
brought about cleanup of diaries and
! nspection of the milk supply.
1t has BEN my intention for some
time TO make this investigation, and the
present Opportunity would seem to be a
good one. ] have not held up the publ
CATION OF the chemistry Oh
the pollution in the river it affects
oysters. nor shall l. but 1t must be I'M
derstoOd THAI that report is not compre-
hensive, in that a complete investigation
has. not been made / daresay the fur
| Their investigation we are to make will
show conditions worse than that in the
chemistry bureau report, as we shall take
up now the question of how much the
pollution in the river is destructive to the
fish supply, and if that be shown, as /
think it will. there is every reason why
Congress should appropriate for a sewage
the old world have"