Evening star., 1936-10-21
Fourth Hearing on Flood
Control Is Conducted
at Luke, Md.
LOCATED AT JUNCTION
OF MOUNTAIN STREAMS
Narrowing of North Branch by
Paper Companies Brings
Added Peril.
BY LESTER INSKEEP,
staff Correspondent Of she Star.

LUKE, Md, October 21.-Walled In
by swift mountain streams the towns
of Luke, Piedmont and Westernport
are subject to swift inundations and
as quick recession of flood waters.
according to detailed information pre-
sented here yesterday to Acting Dis
trict Engineer w. J. Matteson and his
assistants during the fourth of series
of food control hearings authorized
by the last Congress.
This section escaped the worst Of
the flood of 1886, but due to vast dew
astation from the 1924 food has AL
ready proceeded with safeguards
which aided in the more recent flood.
Had the rains been as high above
here as they we're below, however, the
concrete walls already constructed
would have been insufficient in height
to save the towns from widespread
destruction, Federal officials were told.
Little Warning Of Flood.
OF the four communities IN the
Potomac River Basin in which near
ings have been held, this faces the
greatest danger from sudden floods.
Located at the junction of the North
Branch and Savage Rivers, with
Georges Creek slightly below, all OF
which flow swiftly from the mountain
passes, the people here have little
warning. Consequently they must be
protected at all times, Lieut.. Matteson
was told by Mayor D. M. Mellor OF
Piedmont, only one of the three towns
located in West Virginia, and S. w.
Widmer, engineer for the town OF
Westernport and the West Virginia
Pulp e. Paper Co.
Large portions Of each OF the three
towns have encroached upon the oa-
sins of the streams and are subject
to damage from sudden rises In the
water. An added peril is in the mar
rowing of the North Branch by the
paper company.
These are conditions, it was said,
which effect the current OF the river
as far as Washington, adding to the
| ever-increasing danger from Hoods In
the National Capital
Losses from the 1924 food here
amounted in the towns and paper
plant to $750,OO0. Since that time
nearly S250,000 has been spent or au-
thorized In the construction of retain-
ing walls. In Piedmont. however. the
work has not been completed, hence
there are gaps through which the wa
ter flows, to be imprisoned within
the town and covering approximately
so per cent of the assessed valuation.
Retaining Wall Cost s11,5oo.
H. K. Marshall, superintendent Of
the Shall Marr Mining Co., said the
1924 food washed away the railroad
siding and other Improvements. Con-
seouently, the company replaced these
at a cost of $4,000 and then built a
retaining wall, at a cost of Sll 500.
This wears flood washed away the
retaining wall and all of the improve
ments. Owen Hutchins of the Upper
Potomac River Board said the pro-
posed Savage River Dam, the survey
for which has been provided for by
a $40, 900 Federal appropriation will be
of benefit in retarding flood waters and
will also provide valuable reservoir
for water needed in this vicinity dur
ing dry spells.
Widmer and others expressed the
opinion more can be done here by
removing large boulders from the
stream and using them for wall con-
struction, thus accomplishing dredg-
ing and building project in one.
Reports of losses and recommends
tions for flood Control projects were
the most complete yet received by
Federal officials during their pre-
liminary survey.