Evening star., 1925-08-07
WATER AND SEWER
CHARGES DEFENDED
Suburban Sanitary Commits
sion Chairman Explains In
Creases at Takoma Park.

The recent increase in water ana
sewer rates in suburban towns border
ing the District line was defended by
T. Howard Duckett. chairman of the
Washington Suburban Sanitary Com
mission. at mass meeting Of resi-
dents of Takoma Park, Md, last night.
held in the Takoma Presbyterian n
Church. He explained the operations
Of the commission and the necessity
for the increa Sc The meeting was un-
der the auspices of the Takoma Park
Citizens Association and the rakoma
Park Community League. DIR. Guy
Clinton. president of the former or.
Eanization. opened the meeting and in.
troduced Charles r. Stark, president
OF the Community League. who pre-
sided. Howard s. Fisk was elected
secretary.
Mr.. DuCkett spoke of the publicity
which had been given the increases
and stated no requests had been made
Of the commission for an explanation
or hearing until invited by the resi-
dents of Takoma Park. He empha-
sized that the Washington Suburban
Sanitary Commission is not a semi
private organization. as many believe.
but State corporation, controlled.
directed and guided entirely by acts
passed by the Maryland Legislature.
He amplied that the commission was
not operated for profit. bat for the
benefit of the taxpayers.
Tells of Expansion.
During the past six years he said
the commission had constructed 10
miles of water and sewer lines. The
bonds outstanding on July totaled
81 $50 900. all of which amount. with
the exception of between 100000 and
$500 900, has been expended for water
and sewer lines. The annual charges
for carrying on the activities of the
commission amount to S225, 900. which
must be met annually by the commits
sion. This money, he continued, must
he collected either by increasing the
tax rate or by direct charge on the
front foot basis, against abuttinc
property on the systems lines. The
tremendous growth of the suburban
communities necessitates expansion of
the systems. the speaker added
He stated that the reservoir at
Hyattsville. by way of example, had
maximum capacity of 200 600 gallons
per day and that one day in June
the town consumed 1.lS3.000 gallons.
which brought the commission to the
realization that prompt measures
should be taken to augment the sup
ply. To prevent water shortage.
being constructed. \ reinforced main
was connected up with Takoma Park
and is now part Of the general sys-
tenn and will carry 100000 gallons
daily. The commission has recently
completed a reservoir of 415.000 gal
Ions at Alta Vista, while trunk lines
will be constructed from Burnt Mills
to the Brookville pike to Chevy Chase
and vicinity. The Sligo. Takoma Park
and Silver Spring trunk lines cost
more than originally estimated by rea-
son Of large amount of rock encoun-
tered at Burnt Mills 1t was. there
fore. with view to bringing the en-
tire system up to point of safety
and a the same time give adequate
facilities TO water users that these
additional expenditures. amounting to
more than $500, 900, have been made.
Rate at 81 Monthly.
Chairman Duckett answered uueS-
tions in detail. He said the taXpay-
ers would find that none of those af-
feCteG by the increase would pay
more than SO per month. which he
considered fair charge for water