Evening star., 1916-04-04
Provides Commission to Study
Conditions Between Mary
land and D. c.
SEWERAGE COOPERATION
is LIKELY TO BE RESULT
Cost Statements to Be Submitted
Following Comprehensive Investi-
cations Authorized.

The Waters bill was passed by tha
Maryland senate last night in tho
closing house. providing for a com-
mission to study sanitary conditions
between Montgomery and Prince
George counties. in Maryland, and the
District of Columbia.
The bill passed the house Saturday.
The bill. a revision of the former bill.
has been approved by the authorities
of Takoma Park.
What is known as the Washington
suburban sanitary commission Is
created. with authority to study sahi-
tary conditions in both Prince Georges
and Montgomery counties and with
instructions to submit its report to
the legislature in 1918. The question
of water and drainage also VIII be
taken into consideration.
The commission is to be composed
of three members, one from each of
the two counties. to be appointed 10y
the county commissioners upon the
recommendation of the MARYLAND state
board of health. and the third by the
governor of the state. The members
of the commi sson from the county are
to be residents of the area covered
by the commissions study. Each VIII
receive a salary of $500
In addition to the investigation work
the bill gives the commission full power
and authority to negotiate with the pro-
per authority of the District OF Column
bia, with regard to the connection or the
proposed sewers Of the two counties with
those of the District. or with regard to
any other matter necessary for the proper
construction or operation of the water and
sewer systems by them designed.
Covers 100 Square Miles.
The area to be studied by the commits
sion covers slightly more than 100 square
miles in the two counties. with total
popula ation' of 10000 people. The bill
provides that the commission shall be or
ganized on or before June Is. 1916 and
that the members shall serve for term
of two years.
The board is directed after being or
ganized to cause the necessary surveys
to be made and to divide the Wash
ington sanitary district into water.
sewerage and drainage districts, fol-
lowing natural drainage areas. After
this is done the commission is directed
to make field Investigations. which will
include borings, and to prepare studies.
plats. plans, diagrams, estimates and
specifications for the water supply.
sewerage and drainage OF each district,
together with cost statement for
each.
The commission is charged with tha
duty of explaining to the public the
advantages and necessity of construct
erage and drainage systems, and is au-
thorized to hold public meetings for
the discussion of the legislation neces-
sary by the next legislature. The CONF
mission has authority under the Wat
ers bill to employ a chief engineer and
clerical force.
In order to provide funds for the
work of the new board the county
commissioners of each county are di-
rected to issue bonds not to exceed
S.. 900 in each county. The cost OF
these bonds is to be assessed against
all property in the sanitary district ly-
ing within the county issuing them.
The county commissioners also are to
pay to the commission before July /.
next, the sum of $1,000 to be deducted
from the proceeds of the sale of the
cretion to place to the credit Of the
commission S2.500 or any part thereof
before July l and October l of each
year.
Boundaries of the District.
The boundaries of the Washington
suburban sanitary district" are de-
scribed as follows:
"All of the drainage areas of Little
Falls branch and Oxen run and all of
the territory draining to Rock creek.
south of a point one-half mile north Of
the bridge spanning Rock creek on the
road running northeast from Garrett
fdTk anu ali VI tHc "
the Anacostia river md its tributaries
south of the confluence of Indian creek
and Beaver Dam creek. south of the
confluence of Paint branch and Little
Paint branch and south of point one
half mile north of the road crossing
Northwest branch at Burnt Mills"
The portion of the Washington sub
urban sanitary district in Montgom--
cry county includes the towns of
Takoma Park. Chevy Chase. KensinS
ton, Garrett Park. Silver Spring. Forest
Glen, Wheaton and Burnt Mills In
HyattsviIle, Mount Rainier. Bladens-
burg. Brentwood. Landover. Riverdale.
College Park. Lakewood, Berwyn and