The Washington times., 1918-01-28
RURAL SANITARY
BILL TIMES URGED
PRESENTED IN ND.

ANNAPOLIS, Nd. Jan. 2s.-The
Washington suburban Sanitary Com
missions bill: authorizing extension
of District OF Columbia water and
sewers to Maryland territory adja-
cent to Washington. as urged by The
Washington Times, and providing for
the creation OF single water and
sewer system in that territory. has
been introduced in the Maryland
house OF delegates by, Delegate
Charles W. cIagett. Of Prince Georges
county
The measure, was referred 10 the
Joint delegations from Montgomery
and Prince { eorgc's counties. which
will hold public hearing on the bill
at the state house on Thursday. Feb
ruary :, at $ p. m.
What MeaEure Proposes.
The measure creates the Washing
ton suburban sanitary district, and
places in the hands OF a commission
/: to be known as the Washington Sub
urban ISanItary Commission all ques-
tions OF water supply and sewerage
in the territory affected by the bill.
The present Washington suburban
Sanitary Commission. created by the
last session of the Maryland Iegisla-
ture as. n study board only. has no
permanent existence. The bill pro-
Vides for the creation of the commiS-
sion as a permanent body.
The commission is ready to make a
comprehensive report to the legisla-
ture contemplating a $500 900 water
and sewer system, construction OF
which is dependent upon the passage
OF the bill.
Area Of Nlnety-FOur Square MIIes..
The Washington suburban sanitary
district created by the bill and in
corporated for the purposes of the
bill is an irregular tract of Maryland
territory surrounding the District of
Columbia, the boundary OF which be-
gins at the western line of Glen
Echo AM encircles the District of
Columbia, varying from thru % nine
miles from the district line. The
area is nearly half as large again as
the District OF Columbia. covering
approximately ninety-four square
miles
In Montgomery county Il includes
the following municipalities: Takoma
Park. Chevy Chase, kensihgton. Gar
rett Park, Forest Glen, Wheaton,
Burnt Mills, Silver Spring. and Wood
, side.
In Prince Georges county I. in
cludes HyattsvilIe. Mount Rainier,
BlsdensbuIg, brentwood. Riverdaie,
College Park, Berwyn, Brsnchville,
and LandOver
All existing water and sewer sys-
tens in the area will be talsen over by
the commission under the bill and
operated as a part OF the general sys-
TEN, the municipalities affected being
reimbursed by the commission for the
systems taken, over.
To Organize by May1.
The commission is to organize on
or before May /, 1918, and is to con-
Eist OF three members, all of whom
must be residents and Taxpayers. IN
the Washington suburban sanitary
district. One commissioner is to be
appointed by the county commission
ers Of Montgomery county, one by the
county commissioners OF Prince
Georges county. and the third by the
governor of Maryland. The members
to be appointed by the county COM
missioners must receive the approval
OF the State board Of health. Terms
Of the commissioners are for four
years, and their salaries are fixed al
$1,000 per annUm-
The bill provides that the commits
sion shall be a body corporate with
power to sue and be sued and to
acquire land. structures. and build
ings by purchase or condemnation for
the purpose OF the act.
After dividing the Washington sub
urban sanitary district into drainage
areas, which work has already been
done. the commission is empowered to
prepare plans and estimates for the
construction OF water and sewer sys-
TENS.
FIfty-Yenr Bonds.
For the construction OF water and
sewerage systems the commission is
authorized to issue fifty-year 3 per
cent bonds. which. under the provi- |
sIons OF the bill. are to be guaranteed
by the county commissioners of each |
county and exempt from county tax
alton.
For retiring the bonds and paying |
the interest a general levy against |
all OF the assessible property in the /
Washington suburban sanitary dis
trIct is authorized.
For the purpose OF assessing ben
efits against property actually served.
property in the sanitary district is
divided by the bill into four classes,
agricultural. small acreage. indus
trial or business. and subdivision
property. The rate Of assessment
will vary according To the cIassifica-
tion OF the property benefited. Zen
efts will be assessed by the front
foot in each case.
The present commission has work.
ed out a complete method of financing
the construction OF the So 500. 600 sys-
TEN. According to this plan, District
water and sewer facilities can be ex-
tended at an average cost to each
user of but SIG annually.