Evening star., 1923-04-30
FLOOD SHOWS NEED
| OF CONSTRUCTION
OF STORM SEWERS
S1,25O,OOO Could Be Used,
Says Sanitary Engineer.
100000 Available.
TROUBLE is BLAMED
ON BLOCKED CULVERT
Gordon Declares Congress Heights
Washout Followed Clogging
at Nichols Avenue.

Need for larger appropriations for
the construction of storm water
sewers in all sections of the city was
emphasized by the downpour of Sat
urday night. which inundated parts of
the Congress Heights and Benninc
neighborhoods.
Ihe sewer department could easily
spend $l,250.00 900 in one year on subur-
ban sewers urgently needed. j. B. Cor
don, sanitary engineer, stated TODAY
He made the same statement in tes-
tifying before the District subcom-
mlttee of the House appropriations
committee less than a year ago
Since all agencies of the CITY gov
eminent are restricted in the amounts
they may ask for annually. the sewer
department requested SS30,000 for
suburban sewers.
Small Sums Voted.
While the actual amount appropri-
ated for the year beginning July l is
only 100000. that figure is substan-
TALLY more than the Commissioners
have had for suburban sewers in any
year during the last decade During
the twelve months just drawing to a
close the allotment for this purpose
was but s125.O0O.
The average of appropriations for
suburban sewers during the past ten
years has been S173.0O0 With the
increased sum of $4,000 made avail
able for the forthcoming year, Mr..
Gordon expects to make some prog
ress toward meeting accumulated
needs
AS TO the situation in Congress
Heights Saturday night, Mr. Gordon
stated today that, in his opinion. the
back-up was due to a culvert which
carries Stickfoot branch under Mich
OILS avenue becoming blocked by
debris.
Denies Sewer Failed.
The sanitary engineer said there is
no evidence that the eight-foot sewer
into which the stream discharges was
overtaxed Observations IN that sewer
yesterday disclosed. he said, that the
water did not rise to the top of the
sewer.
Tie extension of this sewer through
the Barry farm section will be taken UP
at some future time, Mr.. Gordon said.
1t has not been done in the past. he
explained because the roads in the
Barry farm have not yet been dedi-
Gated as public property. Condemnation
proceedings to dedicate Sheridan road.
where one of the floods occurred, are
now pending in court, according to Mr..
Gordon.
Mr.. Gordon said there also is need
for additional storm water sewer fa-
cilities in the vicinity of Benning In
the near future, he continued. the
ScaEgs branch trunk sewer will have
to be extended under the railroad at
Renning and across the tbattoir.
This neighborhood also was inundated
Saturday night.
Needed in Other Sections.
But. according to the sanitary en-
gineer. Congress Heights and Ben
ming are only two of many localities
all over the District where storm wa
ter sewers are needed to catch the
flow from open streams.
A person. he said, cannot drive
through any of the outlying suburbs
of the city without crossing one or
more of these open streams which
should be adequately connected with
sewers.
Washington. Mr.. Gordon pointed
out, is growing rapidly in all direc-
tions into suburban areas, where
sewerage is an important factor. He
expressed qualification for the in
creased appropriation granted his de-
partment for the new fiscal year and
CONTINUED on Page ., Column A.