Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-26
SEWAGE DISPOSAL
IS SYSTEMAT|ZED
Plans to Be Submitted for the
Approval of Maryland
Legislature.
CARING FOR THE REFUSE
ON BORDER OF DISTRICT
Commission Appointed by Gov
Goldsborough Works Out Solution
Of Longtime Problem.

The commission which the general
assembly of Maryland of 1910 author
ized the governor of that state to ap-
point. the duty of which commission
was to make recommendations to the
next assembly as to the best methods
of handling the sewerage situation in
the Maryland towns near the District
line. is ready to make definite pro-
posals as to the solution of the prob
lem
The Maryland legislature will be
asked to incorporate the whole territory
into sanitary district, to be under the
supervision of a commission Of five men,
bers, two each from Montgomery and
Prince Georges counties the fifth being
the sanitary engineer of the state Of
Maryland, and each member to receive
salary of $500 year. This commission
is to divide the territory at present in
need of adequate sewerage facilities into
several drainage areas, and is to prepare
plans and specifications for sewering each
area 1t is also to submit referendum
to the qualified voters of those areas that
are In the worst situation as to the dis
posal of their sewage. asking vote on
the question whether or not sewerage
systems shall be bull, and whether bonds
shall be issued for their construction
The bonds. if issued, will be taken
care oI Dy small TAX In the areas bene
fitted.
Towns Within the Area.
Of the towns in the vicinity of the
District line only one, Hyattsville, has
at present its own system. Among the
other towns are Bethesda, Friendship
Heights, kensington, Forest Glen, Sill
yer Spring and Takoma Park, in Mont
gomery county. and Mount Rainier,
Brentwood, Riverdale, Bladensburg and
Capitol Heights. in Prince Georges
county.
The settlements generally east of the
eth street pike discharge their waste into
the Anacostia river direct. or into that
stream through the Sligo and Northwest
branches.
Those west of that line use Rock creek
or Little Falls branch The urgent need
of proper sewer facilities in those vicini-
ties is shown by the fact, IT is pointed out,
that the state board of health Of Mary
land has made numerous surveys OF the
whole territory and has several times pro-
nounced the conditions of parts thereof rs
fast approaching the point where there Is
a danger of epidemic. particularly from
typhoid.
That Improvement in these conditions
Is of vital interest to the people of Wash
ington is evident, it is said. when 1t Is
realized that at present such sewage
flows either through or alongside the ter
ritory of the District. The plan is TO
have the sewage distributed by these
various open channels taken care OIL py
a separate system, or to have a system
that will connect with that of the DIS
trict. 1t is said that the latter may be
considered the most advantageous
The commission last Monday empower
ed committee, consisting OF 1. Howara .;a
Duckett, chairman; William I. ). Curtis
and Arthur b. Morse, to draw up bill
embodying its ideas to be passed by the
legislature This bill will give to the pro-
posed state commission of hve the neces-
sary power to negotiate with the Dlstrict
authorities for the disposal of the subnr-
han sewage at a point at or near Wnere
Washingtons waste enters the fotoHiac
or in connection with Washington's sys-
tenn itself.
Provision for Additional Expense.
The additional expenses of the pro-
posed body are 10 be borne equally by
the state and the two countries They
are estimated to be about $1,000. mostly
for surveys.
That there is agitation in most of the
neighboring towns for local sewer sys-
TENS and that their inhabitants realize
that something must be done to better
conditions there is said to be little
doubt Complaint of the condition OF
the Little Falls branch through sewage
have been made Dy the State po'fu u
health and conditions elsewhere are de-
clared to be potentially As bad.
The preliminary commission awaits
the action Of the Maryland assembly.
1t has held several meetings, has sub
mitted it's plan, and later will submit
the estimates for the probable cost OF
the necessary trunk lines. It's personnel
is as follows: William T. S. Curtis.
chairman; T. Howard Duckett, secre-
tary; Dr. ]. Dudley Morgan, DR.. John l..
Lewis, M. Tyler Fage. j. Dawson VII
liams Jackson IL. Ralston. J. Enos Ray,
jr., DR. Charles A. Fox. Louis j.. Dent.
Dr. Fulton. DIR. William Fl. Welch anJ
Martin Dodge. All but one of these men
are residents of suburbs which will be
benefited by the proposed plans.