Evening journal., 1915-08-14
State ASKS HALT
IN WORK ON DAM
Pennsylvania Attorney Gen
eral Takes Steps in
CoateSville Squabble
BOROUGH SOLICITOR
URGED TO MAKE PLEA

COATESvILLE. Pa. Aug. 14.-At-
torney-General Brown has injected
The States legal machinery into the
coatesville dam agitation. preliminary
to appearing next week before the
State Water Supply Commission in
Harrisburg 10 argue that the COM
mission is vested with power TO re-
woke a permit granted TO the borough
to build huge dam above the town.
Mr.. Brown wrote TO Colonel A. NJ.
Holding. attorney for Borough Coun-
ell, asking him to request the Coun-
cllmen to halt work on the filtration
plant until the hearing. The letter
was received by Colonel Holding at
his Office in West Chester. He is ex-
pected TO come here 10 confer with
the four majority Councilmen, who
have overridden the objections Of
Burgess w. L. Jones and three minor
ity Councilmen In pushing the con-
crete impounding wall project.
Business interests working harmon
iously 10 prevail upon Council to
abandon the Rock Run site, because
OF the dangers from flood should the
dam burst, are confident that Gov
ernor Brumbaugh will heed their ap-
peal to intercede. The business men
sent a letter 70 the Governor yester-
day urging him TO attend a mass
meeting and hear the pleas OF the big
business interests against the dam.
William Worth, OF Worth Broth
ers. owners OF several steel and iron
mills. with $500 men on their pay
rolls: II Graham Rambo, coal and
lumber merchant and owner OF 300
houses. and Jesse shallcross, former
Burgess. and a prominent business
man. are planning for a demonstra-
tion. The arrangements, however,
will not be completed until after the
hearing.
II Is realized the outcome OF the agi-
tation depends largely on the ability
~ the Attorney General 10 show that
the state Water Supply Commission
has a legal right to revoke a permit II
granted TO the Council. II the permit
Is revoked. then the majority Councli-
men cannot 60 ahead with the prolect,
Work has been suspended for eu
days by state Health Commissioner
Dixon. but his order is being Ignored.
The dominant Councilmen are eager
10 complete the filtration plant before
their terms expire on Jan AIRY 1.
While the taxpayers and business
men fghtlng to prevent the building on
dam to hold s60,OOO,0O0 gallons OF
water continue their agitation more
aeeressivelv each cty. overtures were
made today TO the four obdurate
councilmen. They we're besought tc
reconsider the dam problem, and e
use the power in building a water
works that will be a credit 10 them al
public servants and one that woul'
aot be q constant menace.
Mr.. Rambo declared that property
values in the valley have deprecated
greatly as the result Of the determine
ion of the four Councilmen TO build
the vast wall to back up the water in 0
natural basin, situated in the hills
about two miles northwest Of the
borough.
mo property is changing hands,
he declared "and no one would con
slider building a house for a minute
with the town ready TO place huge
dam above them. Should the dam b'
built in the face of an almost unani
nous sentiment against IT, Coates
villes industrial life would be chang
ed considerably. There would havl
TO be a readiustment of insurance ol
the mill properties and dwellings
The workmen who have invested
their savings in comfortable home
in the valley would be constant.
menaced, and would always think .
their families az home who would b
The first victims Of the avalanche O
water n the impounding wall brok,
"Coatesville is eager for a suppl
of pure water. The business men
not begrudge the money TO be ex
pended We raised S125.000 in ST
days for a Young Mems Christia
Association building and the bushes
men quickly raise big sums 10 attrac
new industries here. We do not war
to check Coateville's growth. as "
will do II the borough builds the dan
The big millowners have said the
Will never spend a dollar for in
provements or build new plants
their investments of s25.OOOOOO al
N jeopardy from a food"
HARRISBURG. Pa. Aug. 14.-Fo
lowing protests against the propose
dam across the Rock Run Cree
gorge at Coatesville, a session Of a
State Water Supply Commission prol
ably will be held next week IN
commission will hear the protestant
and decide whether the license
build the dam shall be revoked.
II was said at the Attorney Gel
erals Department here that the d
partment is prepared 10 test in n
Dauphin county court any action q
commission may take No intervei
ton is planned unless the commi
sion acts