Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-18
safeguarding a Priceless Gift.

Washington is nearing the end of an
other Summer, an extraordinarily hot
and dry one at that, and is still making
good resolutions about the fine system
of municipal bathing pools that some
day will be built. But as far as the pools
are concerned, Washington is not much
better off now than it was when Con-
gress decided to legislate the Tidal Basin
beach out of existence and to build, in
its stead, large bathing pools located at
strategic points throughout the city.
The bathing pool program has been
amended and knocked about between
the various agencies concerned with the
Capital, and while it is still in existence
it is only on paper.
The pools should be built. Their con-
struction is expensive, and when the
system is completed it will be made
quate. But they should be built, never
theless, to take care Of the small pro-
portion of the citys population that can
enjoy them.
In the meantime it is interesting to
speculate on why the city must spend
over million dollars on an inadequate
system of artificial pools instead of
making full use, for bathing purposes,
OF the beautiful river that forms one of
Its great natural assets.
Back in 1890 a group of engineers
investigated pollution of the Potomac
and decided that unpurif1ed sewage
could be discharged into the river from
the city without causing offense, even
though the city attained a population
OF 100000 Washingtons population
in 1890 was 100000. Even the 100000
who live here now probably seemed, at
that time, a long way ahead. And
while the city proper is still more than
100000 below that dead line" set in
1890, the population of Washington
and contiguous Washington that sends
sewage into the river is nearing the
mark fast.
Pollution of the river may not now
be offensive. It is probably not dan
gerous, in so far as it affects public
health. But it is obviously growing
worse as the population using 1t for
drainage increases. It is now con-
sidered unit to battle in. And If river
pollution Is regarded as a condition
found everywhere, there is no reason
to regard it as condition that must
continue to exist end to grow worse.
Washington is not, Of course, the only
offender. BY construction of an ex-
pensive disposal plant, this city could
eliminate the impurities, the source of
which is IN the District and the suburbs.
But that Is not the question. Even
If eventual removal of pollution requires
the combined efforts of Maryland and
Virginia and of the District for the next
quarter Of a century or longer, the
time TO begin is now.
The proposed survey of river pollu-
ton, TO be undertaken by the United
States Public Health Service, is the
natural first step in gathering the facts
regarding the actual degree of pollu-
ton now existing. Opinion seems to be
divided on that question. But, with the
facts in hand, the Federal agencies now
planning the future of the Federal City
should take the lead in the conferences
between the jurisdictions involved, and
in the formulation of a program for the
elimination, for all practical purposes,
Of harmful pollution.
The river is a priceless gift. It's
value will increase with the years. In
telligent and organized effort should be
directed toward making full use of it.
The time will come when dumping sew
age in a river will be regarded as
medieval custom, surviving by a few
years the now not so ancient practice
Of relying on the pigs that roamed the
streets to keep the cutters free OF gar
bage.