Evening star., 1934-12-17
Potomac Basin Development
FOreseen In Bid for Surrey
Potentialities of Study Include End of
Pollution in Stream and DeUelOp-
nent of PO,Uer at Great Falls.

the falls. At least officials close to
him have that impression.
Power Plant idea.
Congress stopped the Great Falls
power plant proposal some years ago,
but did not kill it in the event that
the needs of cheaper rates for elec-
tricity might require reopening of the
question at some future time.
Engineers pointed out today that
Congress, by joint resolution Of May
90, 1928, directed that the Federal
Power Commission be banned from
granting permit for the development
of hydro-electric power in what is
called the gorge of Great Falls. This
order protects the river from the
mouth of Rock Creek. near K street,
to a point miles above the intake
for the water supply system of Wash
ington. The intake is directly above
Great Falls proper.
While Congress itself reserves the
right to preserve Great Falls for de-
velopment in any way it finds ad-
visable, it threw a safeguard around
even this entering wedge. 1t requires
any plans affecting the area shall be
submitted in report to Congress by
the Federal Power Commission and
the National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission.
Congress next safeguarded the area
from commercialization in 1880 by the
passage of the Capper- Champion act
which reserves both sides of the Po-
tomac-G Great Falls area as part of the
George Washington Memorial Park
way. The falls would be the main as
set to the parkway development. No
land has as yet been purchased for
the parkway at Great Falls, but 1t
was said an amount would be in
cluded in the next District budget.
Held Key to Power.
Engineers say that Great Falls Is
the key to power development on the
Potomac because of its proximity to
Washington, the largest user of elec-
trcity.
Water Resources Committee imply
that planning the uses of waterways
resources should continue indefinitely
the committee pointed out that "it
does not imply that all construction
work relative to water should be post
poned to an indefinite future"
With respect to pollution In the
Potomac the proposed study fits II
neatly with plans being prepared fol
submission to Congress by conserva-
ton groups to tackle the problem or
q national scale. At recent con-
ference called by Senator Lonergar
| of Connecticut, plans were presented
| for the creation of Federal water.
sheds commission, with local com
missions to handle the problem direc'
through P. w. A. funds in the variou.
river basins.
Secretary of War Dern, membel
of the National Resources Board, at
tended the session.
Back of the proposal was the ides
of creating employment by financing
sewage disposal plants in municipali
ties lacking adequate facilities as {
means of preventing and eliminating
stream pollution.
Secretary Ickes is personally inter
ested in the pollution problem o.
the Potomac. It was his reason TO
initiating and putting through tn
present allotment for Washington
sewage disposal plant at Blue Plains
He did not conceal his disappointment
that the District Commissioners tool
only 100000 of the $8,000,000 LOAF
he first proposed.
| New Study Planned.
At that time Secretary Ickes sail
Washington's plant would meet tn
problem only halfway, due to lack o
control over pollution in the stream
fed by nearby Maryland and Virgins
sections. He encouraged steps bein
taken to bring these communities int
line with the Districts program. Fo
this reason he recently allotted $500
for q study of pollution In Rock Creek
two-thirds of the area of which
located In Maryland.
Correction of Rock Greek pollutio
is the next direct step to be taken L
the District.