Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-08
Potomac River Investigation.

The Potomac river is to be investigated
again. Investigation is one Of the lead
ing Industries OF the age. The Potomac
river IS Of absorbing interest to the lover
a. good scenery, the angler. the 1dier,
. alI-aruuud waterman and 1T has re-
Ceivcd a good deal of attention from ex-
plorers and biologists and from men OF
other scientific pursuits. In The Star OF
= late issue ii was published that 1.-The
examination of the waters OF the Potomac
river. from its source to its mouth, being
made by the public health service, &C
cording 10 announcement of the officials
of the department today. is to be one of
the most exhaustive studies of the kind
ever undertaken by the federal govern
ment" 1t was announced that the ex-
animation would require year or long
cr TO complete, will be conducted by
means of tests of water taken. daily
during that period and it is expected
that the results will clear up the question
OF whether Potomac river oysters are pol
luted.
one of the statements given out in
connection with this undertaking is that
''the public health service has determined
upon an investigation which. in point of
magnitude, will set a new record for the
States for government work of this char
acter" This investigation may tell the
f.n story of Potomac pollution. story
that has been told before, but perhaps
is in need OF retelling.
In 1907 the United States geological
survey, with the cooperation of the bu-
eau Of forestry and the bureau of fish
cries completed what was considered
then a most thorough and exhaustive
study of the Potomac river and the Po-
tunac river basin This investigation in
GUIDED a study OF the geographic history
IT the basin; the determination of the
drainage area with respect to sources Of
pollution; study in the prevalence Of
typhoid fever in the District Of Columbia
nd at other points, and investigation Of
tie quality of surface water as shown by
ued assays and sanitary and mineral
analyses of water taken at many points;
study by the bureau OF forestry Of the
effects of the soils and forest cover on
the turbidity Of the water and the flow
Of streams. and the preparation of a map
showing the forest conditions. and. final
L. a study by the bureau of fisheries of
the effect of industrial wastes on fishes.
The resulting report the work Of Ho-
ratio y. Parker, Bailey Willis, r. H Boil
ster, w. w. Ashe and NJ. c. Marsh, was
one of the very instructive and interest
ing works on the subject of the Potomac
river. BY way of Introduction the report
said that hardly a river basin in the
country is of more Importance from the
point of view OF the utilization of water
resources than that of the Potomac. The
water power developed in this area drives
the wheels OF many mills and the waters
OF the streams are used in the processes
OF diverse industries. The beauty of the
stream and the supply of fish have made
a large portion of the basin a recreation
ground for thousands OF people, while the
Potomac itself furnishes drinking water
for the National Capital"
The pollution of the Potomac by savage
and manufacturing wastes along the IN.
per courses of the river and along the
numerous creeks and their feeders flow
ing into the Potomac was q startling con-
triout1on to the official literature Of the
tina The present Investigation Of The
Potomac may show marked improve
Inent Of conditions in the country north
and west OF Washington. against which
so much complaint was raised a few
years ago. and against which condition
Washington has In a measure protected
itself by the installation of the filtration
plant.