Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-08
BUTu7TLEBETTER
THANOPENS SEWERS
Supt. Phillips Directs Atten.
ton to Pollution. of Streams
Entering District.
HIS ANNUAL REPORT
AN ELABORATE REVIEW
Disposition Of Maryland Sewerage
Awaits Action Of Legislature.
Statistics Compared.

With the statement that some OF the
streams entering the District OF Co.
lumoia from Maryland are but little
better than open sewers Asa Il. Phil
lips. superintendent of sewers of the Dis
trict. in his annual report, submitted to
the Commissioners today. again directs
attention to the Importance of steps be-
ing taken to remedy the condition which,
he alleges, is fast becoming a serious
menace to the health of Washington.
The District official suggests that in
asmuch as this matter is to come before
the Maryland legislature in January. no
definite recommendations can be made by
the local authorities at this time looking
toward an abatement Of the nuisance.
II is known to be the policy OF Mr.
Phillips, however, that II Maryland VIII
build sewers 10 the District line to con-
vey the waste material that Is now drained
from communities in that state into
streams entering the District the loca
possi OF the sewerage thus delivered
10 IL.
Will Make Recommendations.
should the Maryland legislature agree
TO an arrangement of this character 1t is
believed Mr.. Phillips will Immediately
recommend 10 the Commissioners that the
local government undertake TO dispose on
the Maryland sewerage that is deiVereu
into its interceptors at the Ds,rie. hnu,
In his report the local superintendent
stems that already have been taken
looking toward cooperation petWeen
Maryland and the District or Coiumpla
in handling Maryland sewerage tnat
now drains into streams entering the
District. principally by way OF ROCK
creek and Anacostia valleys.
Work was continued during the year
on a study of the condition OF the
streams Moving into and through the
District as to the extent OF their pres
emf pollution by the discharge OF sew
age therein from neighboring Maryland
towns" states the report. AS THESE
comparatively small streams now Tor
miles through the great public PARIS
the prevention of their serious pollu-
ton Is necessary. Within the District
sewage is not permitted to enter these
streams, but this result obtained oy
constructing costly lines of sewage In
terceptors, viii be largely nullifed II
the discharge OF sewage from exterior
sources is permitted to continue.
Pollution Increasing.
The pollution Of these streams is
now very apparent and Is steadily in
creasing. One or two are little better
than open. sewers, actually carrying a
larger amount of filth than Is carried
by some of the suburban combined sys-
tenn sewers within the District. Hardly
less than ten years must elapse, even
with Immediate efforts directed there
10, before this condition can be ade-
auately remedied.
with; the. constant growth of popu-
lation thamediateIy- outside of the Dis
trict the subject T. one OF Inc. .nsre ssa g
OF health IN understood to be prepar.
ing a report on these conditions and
their remedy, which Is to be submit
ted TO the state legislature meeting In
January. 1914. under the provisions OF
the act passed by the legislature In
1912.
In advance Of action by, the state
of Maryland on this subject no definite
recommendation can be made toward
abating these conditions. which. it is
believed, within comparatively short
period will constitute nuisance"
Reviews Work of ONCE.
The report Of Mr.. Phillips. which covers
twenty-seven typewriter pages. elabo-
rately reviews the work of. his office
during the fiscal year which closed June
30 last. There are now 6i428 miles OF
sewers In the District, while 5,173 catch
IL is stated.
An idea Of the development Of Wash
1ngtons sewerage system is furnished by
tabulated statement, filed with the re-
port, which shows that In 1894, the pop-
ulatior of the city was $4,000, and $220,
944 was appropriated for constructing
sewers, the number of miles constructed
being 1463.
Last year, with washington's popula
ton given as as 900. the amount OF $50,
900 was appropriated for sewerage con-
struction. 1852 miles Of sewers being
built In 1894. the average cost of con-
struction per mile was Si5s I02- l., where
As last year the average cost Der mile
was but sl3, 60S ~