Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-27
MR.. bAKERASKSA|D
F. FOR WATER SUPPLY
Urges $4,000 for Potomac
River Survey-Cites Star
Articles.

Recommendation for the appropria-
ton of $4,000 for a comprehensive
survey of the upper Potomac river
with reference to the water supply OF
Washington and possible power sta
ton, is made by Secretary of Wal
Baker in 2 letter addressed to Senator
Sherman. of the Senate committee or
the District of Columbia, and Chair
man Carl E. Mapes of the House COM
mittee on the District of Columbia
made public today.
dunn from Mai. Gen. w. NJ. Black. CHIEF
of Army engineers. which says. in part:
Il also inclose herewith copy Of an
article which appeared in the Sunday
Star Of June 18th, which expresses my
views accurately on the water supply
situation Of Washington; also an edi-
torial comment which IL very fair or
this subject"
Mai. Gen. Black Comments.
Commenting on the water supply
Mai Gen. Black adds:
THE thing of the utmost impor-
lance in connection with the water
supply of Washington is duplica-
ton of the existing supply line. so as
to safeguard Washington against q
shortage of water due to the failure
of either Of the two conduits. which
form the single line from the supply
to the distributing reservoir.
while do not consider the exist
ing conduit in a dangerous condition
its condition is such as to cause me
very great uneasiness. The emerg-
ency measures which have been pro-
posed would place an extra burden on
the conduit and filter plant and dc
not reach the root Of the trouble
Also. In seeking to increase the water
supply, the source from which such
increase is obtained should be as free
as possible from contamination
either present or future. The Po-
tomac below Great Falls receives the
drainage from a section Of increasing
population and cannot escape con-
taminat:on."
Mr.. Bakers Letter.
In his letter to the chairman Of the
two District committees in Congress
Secretary Baker says:
The War Department has from
time to time caused surveys to be
made of the navigation and water
power possibilities of the Potomac
city of Washington. particularly with
reference to the suggestions which
have been made as to the necessary
increase in the water supply of the
city of Washington and the power
possibilities which might be devel-
ored in and about the Great Falls.
These surveys have never been com
prehensive, and have led to no definite
determination of project which
might be recommended to the Con-
gress, and yet with this great river as
a storehouse of energy the possibility
of economic power development fol-
public and industrial uses in the dis
trict of which Washington is the cen
ter is obvious. The chief of engineers
tells me that the sum of $4,000. il
appropriated for the purpose, would
permit a thorough survey to be made
including the storage possibilities in
the upper waters of the Potomac and
its tributaries.
II believe that the public interest
can be served by such a survey, and
l respectfully recommend that the
provision. which I herewith inclose
be incorporated in the District of Co
| lumbia appropriation bill or in some
deficiency measure, so that the work
can be imm ediately undertaken and
the results laid before Congress for
it's consideration at an early day"