The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-12-22
Take Lead In Advocacy Of Com
mon Sewerage System for
District and Suburbs.
TAk0MA MAYOR SPEAKS
Praises Publicity Given Move
ment by The WASH
ington Times.

that Maryland has really taken the
lead In the proposed reciprocal sew.
erage relations with the District was
brought out last night by 8. w. Will.
Jams. mayor OF Takoma Park, Md.
He pointed out that already In the
Takoma section there were houses
within the District line whose own.
srs, with the consent OF the Takoma
council. were using the Maryland
sewers
The proposed extension OF District
water and sewers to adjacent Mary.
land communities and the publicity
which The Times Ia giving to the
Jteps in the negotiations between the
District and the Maryland authorities
were heartily indorsed by Mayor win.
Jams.
Takoma Park In the largest munic.
fpality In Montgomery county. and
viii be one OF the first communities
to be served when the extension IN
made. At present IL has In opera.
ton one OF the best water systems In
the state, the source OF the supply be.
Ing Sligo creek. However. the vol.
ume Is limited.
Favors Extension.
~ am heartily In favor OF the con.
templated extension OF District water
snd sewers to Maryland communities
bordering upon the District line" said
Mayor Williams. washington and It's
suburbs must be considered as n unit
from all but n political standpoint.
From health and topographic aspects
there cannot be anything but q nat.
ural line OF demarcation, and the only
rational method for arriving at the
solution or this question In through
the present cooperative efforts par.
ticipated In by the authorities OF both
jurisdictions.
AS a matter OF fact. Maryland has
taken the lead In actual cooperation
with respect to reciprocal sewerage
arrangements, and n number OF TIA.
\, IA houses within tho District OF
Columbia are now discharging sewage
Into the municipal sewers OF the town
OF Takoma Park, Md. This has been
going on for more than a year with
the consent OF the Takoma Park coun.
ell.
THE District sewers were at too
high an elevation for use by the
houses In question, and a water. power
pump was Installed by the District
some years ago at the intersection OF
= Oak and Eastern avenuea The pump.
however. never worked In a sstirfsc-
tory manner. and an emergency con.
ncction with the Maryland sewers.
which the Takoma Park council had
previously authorized, was utilized.
shows Liberal spirit.
$50 far as I am advised. the Dis.
trlct OF Columbia plans to continue
Its use OF the Maryland sewers until
the large sewers now being construct
ed for the service OF this whole sec.
ton have been completed.
II think this Ii AN illustration or
that liberal spirit which must ulti'
nately govern the whole matter with
regard TO both the sewer extension
and the water extension. II IL impos.
sibls TO consider the question OF drain.
age and water supply except from a
broad. metropolitan viewpoint, just as
Il has been considered In other cities
such as Boston. where very compre'
hensive system has been devised, In
GLIDING all OF the important suburbs.
"Takoma Park, Md. Is growing so
rapidly, and the present consumption
OF water here IL so near the maximum
available, that we are peculiarly In |
terested in the negotiations now go |
ing on between the District Commits
sioners and the members OF the Wash
ington Suburban Sanitary Commits
sion. IL IL TO be hoped that an agree
ment will be reached at an early date,
and that the District Commissioners
will recommend legislation TO Con-
gress which will meet the situation.
"Takoma Park, Nd, will gladly
bear Its share OF the expense Incl
dent TO the extension. A bond Issue
for additions to the present water
system was authorized some time ago,
when the council was considering tho
construction OF a $500 900 gallon res
ervoir and settling basin, and feel
sure that the public sentiment here
will be equally favorable TO whatever
additions to the present system are
necessary In order to secure the Dis
trict water.
Sentiment Widespread.
"AII OF the communities adjacent
to the District and likely to be bene'
nted by the extension should appre-
ciate the efforts which the Washing
ton Times IL making to further this
important movement"
That a widespread public sentiment
exists In favor OF the project Is
shown by inquiries being received at
the office OF The Times. offers OF
cooperation come not only from rest
dents OF Montgomery and Prince
Georges counties within the WASH
ington Suburban Sanitary District,
but from residents OF the District
OF Columbia as well.
Among those who praised the pub
licity being given 20 the question by
The Times was J. =. Gorsuch, resi-
dent engineer OF the Maryland State
hna rd of health a HNAffaVilIa MA