The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1935-03-21
Would Regulate Flow Of Potomac
Thus Aiding Health COndi-
lions and Employment


and the material benefits Ito Cumber-
land and not to Garrett county or to
any of its citizens) that follow by rea-
son of it's construction.
The construction of this project, at
a cost of more than a million dollars,
would be of no benefit to Garrett
county in so far as revenue pro-
Queer is concerned, although the orig
inal draft of the proposed legisla-
ton authorizing the construction and
the maintenance of the project placed
upon the taxpayers of the county a
burden estimated at $4,000 per year
for it's maintenance with Allegany
county and Cumberland the sole bene-
ficiaries. In addition the original bill
sought to place every stream in this
county under the control of water
board created by the measure.
The article in the News reads as fol-
lows:
The future economic life of Cum
berland and the Potomac Valley area
depends, to a great extent. on the fu-
ture development of the Potomac
River and its tributaries, it was said
yesterday by officials in telling of the
need of the Savage River dam they
claim is an absolute necessity.
Due to the rise of the river in wet
seasons and the extreme low level in
dry seasons, the Potomac has failed
in past years to give any permanent
assurance to those factories already
built along its banks that an abundant
supply of water will at all times be
available. This uncertainty also stands
in the way of other plants locating
through the area because of the lack
of water at times and also the high
acid condition of the water at other
times.
In order to overcome this difficulty
that, to many, has almost become in
surmountable, the Upper Potomac
River Board has recommended the
construction of flood control dam on
the Savage River above Bloomington,
in Garrett county. The location for the
proposed dam is admirably situated,
they say, at the intersection of Garrett
and Allegany counties in Maryland,
and Mineral county, in West Virginia.
The purpose of the dam would be
to store a supply of water during the
wet seasons which could be released in
the dry seasons to give steady sup
ply of water at all times to factories
located along the Potomac. 1t is re-
ported by the river board engineers
that in dry seasons the Potomac has
daily minimum flow of little over
100000 gallons. This is hardly suf-
ficient to carry away the sewerage
from the Creek towns Of Luke, Bloom
ington, Piedmont, WesternpOrt, Key
ser and other cities bordering the Po-
tomac. When the sewerage of the City
of Cumberland is added to that of the
creek towns, it is pointed out that
good part of the flow Of the Potomac
River below Cumberland becomes
waste water and is of little economic
use.
Would ImpOund Huge Supply
The proposed dam would be 1856 feet
in height and would impound $780,
100000 gallons of water which would
be released in dry seasons to give the
Potomac River, at the junction of the
Savage River, daily flow of 60,000,-
900 gallons, or five times the aver
age daily flow in dry seasans under
present conditions. The cost of the
proposed dam is estimated at $780,
900. 1t would be made public works
project under the Federal Govern
ment.
Cumberland in the past took its
water supply from the Potomac River.
Because of the prevalence of disease
directly attributed to the condition of
the city water the city brought water
to Cumberland residents through a
series of pipes from reservoirs located
in Pennsylvania.
Since that time, the health condi
tions of the city have greatly improv-
ed. 1t has, however, had no effect on
cleaning up the condition Of the Poto-
mac in so far as its use as an open
sewer is concerned.
Not only do creek towns use the
river to dispose of sewerage, but Cum
berland as well, dumps refuge from
the city into the stream. Today cities
from Hagerstown to Washington still
take their water supply from the Poto-
mac. Added to the impurities directly
coming from city sewers, the Potomac
is also polluted by waste from the coal
mines, refuse from such factories as
the West Virginia Pulp and Paper
Company, Celanese Corporation and
Kelly Springfield Tire Company.
At the same time, these factories
are dumping their waste into the river,
they are using the water for various
III nufacturing purposes. Water is alb
sol"tely necessary in running a mod
prn fac+o,-u II ic naadnd for hni1arc