Evening star., 1934-04-18
SEWAGE DISPOSAL
BILL INTRODUCED.
Cochran Presents Measure
Authorizing So, 900, 900
for Erection.

Representative John J. Cochran OF
Missouri yesterday introduced a bill
to authorize $4,000 900 for q sewage
disposal plant in the District and fol-
lowed 1t with a denunciation of the
evils of Potomac River pollution from
the standpoint Of public health, eco
nomics and recreation.
Mr.. Cochran appealed to his col
leagues to support the measure in
view of the fact that river pollution
Is "a menace to the health of every
one residing here. from the President
down"
With regard to the economic disad-
vantage of this condition. Mr.. Cochran
said: stop this pollution and Sum-
mer resorts will spring up overnight
on the shores of the Potomac. The
land abutting the river will increase
in price far above the cost Of the
project.
The people of Washington will
spend their money at home rather
than travel miles to find a suitable
place for bathing Where there is
one motor boat on the river now you
will find q hundred, and a thousand
fishermen will angle in the river where
one fishes now"
Only Hardy Fish Survive.
Mr.. Cochran, one of the most en-
thusisstic fishermen and nature lovers
in Congress. pointed out that:
Here at our very door we find one
OF the greatest streams in the coun-
try, from a recreation standpoint. pol
luted by the sewage OF the Nation's S
Capital to such an extent that 1t prac-
tically Is devoid Of FISH life. only the
more hardy fish finding 1t possible to
survive"
As a personal friend of the three
District Commissioners, Mr.. Cochran
discussed the unwelcome duty that
Congress has in legislating on a null
titude Of more or less important mat
tiers Of municipal administration, and
Norton and other members of the Dis
trict Committee
Despite the conscientious work Of the
District Committee. Mr.. Cochran said
that legislating for the District ''is a
responsibility which I do not feel Ii
welcomed by the national lawmakers.
but at the same time one We cannot
shirk."
Mr.. Cochran said he had referred to
this condition as Justification for
consuming time today on q subject
OF great importance, not only to the
District, but also to residents OF nearby
Maryland and Virginia"
Informed Of Dangers.
Mr.. Cochran told how in his Quest
for information on sewage disposal
he was informed of the dangers Aof
the situation by an old friend, Mai.
Gotwals. District Engineer Commis-
sioner.
This opinion was confirmed in q
report made by the surgeon general
of the Public Health Service.
Mr.. Cochran stated that II the men
who made the report are called before
congressional committee to testify
their oral statements Of conditions
will be far stronger than those written
'AASO bAS ASPOil WllCIl dSkeO W0Y
these views were not embodied in the
report, he continued. Il was advised
the Investigators did not want to
alarm the people OF the city.
AS q result Of the recommends
ton made in the report I Just referred
to and under a grant of $40 900 by
public works authorities, a board of
sanitary engineers was appointed to
determine the need for q treatment
plant and to fix the type and ca =
pacity Of such a structure. This board
found the Potomac River SO polluted
with sewage as to be unattractive and
at times OF low flow in the warmer
months offensive in appearance, low
In dissolved oxygen, highly contain
mated with sewage bacteria. and as a
result OF these conditions unsatisfac- :
tory for recreation and some other
purposes for a distance of more than
20 miles downstream from the Ana
costa River.
Cost Is Put at $4,000. 900.
To remedy these conditions the
board recommended that sewage from
the city be purified to high degree by
the activated sludge process during the
SIX warmer months of low river dis
charge and during the si1 cooler
months to a lesser degree by plain
sedimentation, and that the sludge OBJ
tanned from this plant be proceSsed
and used to provide fertilizer and
humus for the farm lands of the penal
institutions at Lorton, Va. 1t was pro-
posed to construct this plant on Dis
trict-owned property at Blue Plains,
D. c.. at an estimated cost Of $4,000
900. and to operate it at an annual
estimated cost of S400. 900 from Dis
trict revenues under congressional ap-
propriations.
"A bill was presented by the Com
missioners to the Bureau of the Budget
for submission to Congress authoriz-
ing the construction outlined above,
but was disapproved as not being in
accord with the financial program of
the President However, just prior to
this diSapproval and In response to a
request from the Public Works Ad-
ministration, the Commissioners sub
mitted as second in priority of four