Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-10
BETHESDA BROOK
HELD TOBE MENACE
Montgomery Civic Federation
Told of DiSease-Breed-
ing Stream.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY,
staff Correspondent of The Star. &

BETHESDA, Md, September TO-
Prevalence of disease breeding pest
holes in Willett Brook Valley, west OF
Wisconsin avenue, from Bethesda to the
District of Columbia line, was called to
the attention of the Montgomery County
Civic Federation last night in report
from the committee on sanitation and
public health, delivered by Aubrey B
Carter, it's chairman. Conditions in this
valley were described as the worst in a
quarter of a century. and were pointed
to as q potential breeder of epidemics,
carrying as it does the sewerage from a
large area.
The report, which was accompanied
by resolution sought to give the Wash
ington Suburban Sanitary Commission
a trouncing for its alleged neglect to
pipe this sewerage, precipitated a
long debate, during which number Of
the delegates came to the defense Of the
commission.
Sewer Work Soon to Begin.
On behalf of the commission Emory
H. Bogley, Chevy Chase, delegate and
a member of the commission, pointed
out that work would be started on the
sewer within the next three weeks, and
would be carried this construction sea-
son to point below River road. He
pointed out that the commission was
cognizant of the conditions and wanted
to alleviate them as quickly as possible,
but there had been other work which
took precedence, and the engineering
force could not prepare the plans. He
added that the money market was a
factor in the delay also, as the commits
sion could not sell its bonds at par,
whereas before they had always sold at
premium.
Both Mr.. Bogley and j. Donald Cla-
gett a majority of the commission, and
both from Montgomery County, said
that they were whole heartedly for the
improvement which would give the resi-
dents the desired relief.
Moves to Recommit.
Robert E. Bondy, Edgemoor, moved
to recommit the resolution and the re-
port. pointing out that it did not
carry out the spirit of cooperation
with the governmental bodies which
had prevailed in the federation. In
seconding the motion, E. Brooke Lee
said that it was unfair as drawn. Mr..
Clagett said that although a member
of the committee he had never been
informed of meeting on the matter.
The federation finally adopted sub
stitute resolution of J. B. Matre, of
North Woodside, pointing out the i'm
perative need of the sewer and asking
the commission to complete it during
the present construction season.
The report pointed out that what
was once a sparkling brook, with fish
in 1t, "has now become pest hole Of
such a character that the cattle be-
longing to the Government had to be
fenced away from it to prevent en-
dangering their health"
Against Rezoning.
The federation voted to ask the
county commissioners not to rezone
the area on the west side of the Rock
Vile Pike, near Halpine, from resi-
dental to commercial, in order to per-
NIT the Congressional Airport, Inc. to
construct an administration building
and gas station there. The motion
was introduced by George H. Lamar. OF
Rockville, as an emergency measure,
as the county commissioners are TO
conduct a public hearing in Bethesda
Friday night on the rezoning petitions.
Mr.. Lamar pointed out that the IN
ter-federation conference had passed
resolution urging that the road ap-
proaches to the city be kept free from
commercial developments, and his res
olution was in line with that. He
said that the executive committee OF
the Rockville Chamber of Commerce
had voted against the rezoning. The
resolution was referred to the advisory
committee, which met and Immediately
reported it favorably.
Mai. Lee pointed out that the reso-
luton dealt only with the land on
the pike, and not with two other petit
lions for change of coming from resi-
dental to industrial of lands along the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, about a