Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-14
CITIZENS PROTEST
DRAINAGE ORDER
Burroughs Association 0p-
poses Connection With
Storm Sewers.

Vigorous protest against the recent
order of the District Commissioners,
made through the Health Office of the
District, requiring residents of Newton
street northeast, between Twenty-second
and Twenty-fourth streets, to connect
their surface water and rain water
drainage with the new storm water
sewer system, was made by the Bur-
roughs Citizens Association last night
at meeting in the John Burroughs
School. 1t was also brought out that
there is a difference of opinion be-
tween the Health and Sewer Depart
ments on the application of the order.
The matter was brought to the at
tention of the association by one of its
members, who had been served with
such a notice, but had disregarded it,
believing he was acting within the
law. The Health Department sought
to have the connection made through
the Office Of the plumbing inspector
of the District, and the cost of eXecut-
ing such work assessed against the
property owner.
Now I'm Hands Of Counsel.
The member declared that he took
his case to the peoples counsel and II
is now In the hands of the corporation
counsel.
The position taken by the Health
Department Is that 1t Is acting under
an act of Congress which requires that
all surface and rain water drainage be
connected with storm water sewers a.
soon as facilities have been installed.
The position of the Sewer Department
Is that there is no such law and that
residents are not compelled to comply
with any order of this sort. In the case
Of the residents of Newton street, j. B
Gordon, the sanitary engineer of the
District, said this morning the houses
were constructed in this section some
five or six years ago and at that time
all regulations with respect to sewerage
were complied with in so far as facil-
tiles at that time permitted.
The Burroughs group directed it,
committee on sanitation and its COM
mittee on streets to investigate the
matter and to protest against the order
Of the Health Department.
An informal opinion from the corpo-
ration counSels Office this morning was
that the ruling of the health office is
not in accordance with any law. It is
understood that the instance is the
first in which such ruling has been
away from his Office i'll today and could
not be reached for statement.
Another angle in the controversy Is
that of the Engineer Department, which
Is not expected to permit the tearing
up Of newly paved streets in order to
make these sewer connections. Except
under special circumstances this de-
partment does not permit newly-laid
cement to be disturbed inside a period
Of three years.
The cost of making the connection
with storm water sewers IT. each in
stance is to be born by the property
owner.
School Is Sought.
The association asked for provision
in the 1882 budget for an elementary
school at Twenty-fourth street and
Bunker Hill road northeast. It also
asked that funds be made available
for the construction of a new junior
high school on the site adjacent to
the Burroughs Recreational Park at
Eighteenth and Perry streets.
The civic group Endorsed the House
bill sponsored by Representative Hart
ley which would legalize amateur box
ing in the District.
Plans were announced for the pres
entation Of a benefit entertainment at
the Burrough School May %, the pro-
ceeds of which will go toward the
Fourth Of July celebration contemplated
by the association.
The next meeting Of the association
which will be held the second Tues
day of next month, will be the first an
niversary meeting. Plans for Celebra-
ton are being formulated.