Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-24
RURAL SANITARY
BtlsOON TO BEAW
Measure Creating New Dis
trict on Third Reading in
Maryland Senate.
WHAT PLAN PROPOSES

ANNAPOLIS, March 23.-Delegate
Charles W. Clagett's bill to create
sanitary district in portions of Mont
gomery and Prince Georges counties.
lying contiguous to the District of Co
lumbia, is on the third reading files
Of the senate. having passed the house
Several days ago
Senators Williams of Montgomery
and Metzerott of Prince Georges are
favorable to the project. The bill VIII
become a law.
The enactment as prepared by the
sanitary commission was amended in
several minor particulars before 1T
passed the house and will be passed
without further amendment in the
The Washington suburban sanitary
ninety.fve Square miles. Fortyeone
miles are within Montgomery and fifty
four within Prince Georges county. The
about seventy square miles, SO that
1t can be seen that this is no "piker'
proposition.
Townships Included.
Included in the sanitary district are
most of Bethesda, a large portion of
. Wheaton and small part of Rock
willie, election districts in Montgomery
all of Chillum, Hyattsville, Riverdale.
Bladensburg and Seat Pleasant, to-
gether with parts of Evansville and
Kent districts. 1t is estimated that the
population in the district is at present
approximately $4,000, and that in 1850
it will be 10000.
While there is a large amount of
sparsely settled rural territory in the
populated. particularly along the steam
and electric railways leading out Of
Washington. Most of these sections are
growing rapidly. With adequate and
1rxdA
y is believed that within a few years
there would be no physical line of dis
trict.
II is estimated that the total as
sessable basis for the sanitary district
IS $50. 200. and that in 1920 this basis
VIII have increased to $4,000. II is
nsured that there are 5000 houses
with water ana sewerage service undel
the proposed plans
only about one-fourth of the popu-
s s Is served by public water and
tine habitants have to rely upon pri-
houses.
about s per cent of the population
- served by a regular garbage colIec-
ton system. The rest of the garbage
Y. burned. fed to chickens or hogs on
the premises. buried on the lots or
thrown on offensive dumps Only about
Ing access to public sewerage system.
- served by regular night soil scay-
enger system.
Commissions Statement,
IN the report of the sanitary COM
mission to the legislature. the stat
ment is made:
mat more than half of the private
MeIis Tor Supplying residences in the
Sanitary district probably deliver an
UNSAFE drinking water This is indi-
Gated by the results from nearly one
I nundred samples taken from random
State Department of HeaftbN s,are
more than half OF them could NOT ,neet
tne standard for safe drinkine, wafer
promulgated by the United States
Luouc Health Service for common car
Nearly one-half of the public wat ic
supplies of the sanitary district de,iver
Weter which Is unsafe for human CON.
sumption, OF suspicious hygienic quail
ny. or else the SURROUNDINGS of the
standpoint s"i'3S
The report. comprehensive doom.
ment treating infinitely every detail of
sne proposition, concludes in this Ian
"a comprehensive water sunn,v on,
sewerage system. constructor and on.
Grated by central authority. can he
provided for all of the closely built
sections or the sanitary district, afYord-
. ns pure water, excellent fire protec-
conditions. at least cost to indixiduajss
tnan the majority of the inhabitants
now having access to public water ana
MefdSe systems are paying for in
somclent, impure. or unattractiye water
healthful and offensive methods ~ se,n
etage disposal" 70 Se