Evening star., 1935-11-23
|CKES SATISFIED
WITH GLENN DALE
WATER SITUATION
Secretary Regards Inquiry
Into Hospital Supply
as Closed.
P. w. A. REPORT BACKS
THAT OF D. C. OFFICIAL
Difficulties With Old Well Are
Held Not Unusual and No
Cause for Alarm.

Secretary Ickes was represented to-
day as being satisfied with the pres
ent condition Of the water supply at
the Glenn Dale tuberculosis Hospital,
and unless unforeseen difficulties arise
to give some reason for alarm, it was
said he regards the matter aS q closed
incident.
His view was based on a report from
the P. w. A. Engineer Department,
after an investigation Of conditions at
the site, which substantiated in every
detail the previous assurances given
P. w. A. by Capt. r. e. York, Assist
ant Engineer Commissioner of the
District, as to the ultimate water
supply.
The p. w. A. report was prepared
by Allan T. Ricketts,, engineer, who
inspected the old and new wells on
November u after published reports
stated that the water supply at the
hospital had failed again and water
was being carted to supply present
needs. With reference to the old well
and well No. 3, now in process Of
drilling. he reported that "the work
appears to have been directed in an
intelligent manner and I thoroughly
approve of the plans"
p. w. A. Cash In Reserve.
Secretary Ickes' position In the
matter was fortified by statement by
Capt. York that P. w. A. money is
being held in reserve to connect
mains with the Washington Suburban
Sanitary Commission lines in event
the water is found to be inadequate.
Ricketts, reported the work being
done with p. w. A. funds on the new
well was progressing as well as could
be expected. Evidence in the form
of samples from the well, he said, in
dicate an entirely satisfactory supply
would be provided at the proper
depth.
The difficulties with the old well, he
reported, were not unusual and gave
no reasons for alarm. They were a
common ailment of worn out wells,
the report stated. In recent use it
had begun to yield abnormal quantities
OF sediment which could not be han
died satisfactorily with the existing
liberation plant.
Carriage Seemed Best.
Emergency measures could have
been used to correct the trouble,
Ricketts, reported, but with the Dis
trict's water available by carriage 1t
seemed worthwhile to augment the
supply in that manner.
Hospital authorities, he said, are
blaming to discontinue carting water
as soon as the old well Is ready for
use.
The day Ricketts, made his investi-
CATION the water from the old we'll
was said to be satisfactory in quality.
Hospital officials advised him they
have had positively no indication Of
any contamination throughout the
whole period in which the well has
been used.
Assuring the Engineer Department
that In his judgment the District and
hospital authorities have handled the
matter "in a most competent and in
telligent manner" Ricketts, expressed
confidence that no further difficulties
would be encountered.
Depth at $50 Feet at Visit.
The new well was at depth of $50
feet when he visited the site, but
P. w. A. officials today would not
reveal any recommendation he might
have made as to its ultimate depth.
Geological Survey officials, he said,
are advising in the matter.
In all inspection of p. w. A. pro-
jects for the District of Columbia, it
was said today, Secretary Ickes has
relied on the District Engineer De-
partment. There had been no init
nation Of recent water trouble at
Glenn Dale until printed reports indi-
Gated failure Of the old well.
Secretary Ickes will keep in close
touch with the situation, it was said,
in anticipation of any emergency
which might arise later. For the
present he is satisfied.