Evening star., 1937-04-12
HUGE LONG-RANGE
WATER RESOURCES
PROGRAM URGED
National Committees Plan,
Involving $4,000, 900, 900,
Before Roosevelt.
POTOMAC RIVER BASIN
OBJECTIONS ARE LISTED
Restoration Of c. & o. Canal, Ex-
tension of George Washington
Memorial Parkway Advocated.

A long-range water resources pro-
gram, affecting l18 drainage basins
and calling for an ultimate expendi
ture of more than $4,000 900 900 TODAY
was before President Roosevelt as a
result Of study by the National Re-
sources Committee.
The report advocated immediate
undertaking Of one group of projects,
estimated to cost 81 ,72O, ,0O0C COO; asked
later start on another group whose
cost was fixed at s,1034, 100000 and
proposed later list involving ST.
100000 900 that would be gotten under
way at some indeterminate time.
The recommendations for a CO.
ordlnated development that also
would combat floods and stream pol
luton supplemented the general
public works planning report the
President sent to Congress February
3. The outline included many prof.
ects for which appropriation already
has been made, as well as others that
are in early stages.
Potomac Basin Objectives.
restoration of the Chesapeake &
Ohio Canal as a recreational water
way and extension of the George
Washington Memorial Parkway. at
an estimated cost of S9,10O.OOo, and
already authorized in part BY Con-
greSs were incorporated in the pro-
gram for immediate undertaking.
Chanel and waterfront work. also au-
thorized, are likewise a part of the
national scheme.
In the Potomac River Basin, the
report said, the principal immediate
oblectiveS of g water plan are abate-
ment of pollution, control of foods,
soil conservation, enlargement of sup
plies of water for various communi-
ties and promotion of the recreational
value OF streams and their border
lands
THE outstanding current need of
the district Middle Atlantic) is for
sewage-treatment plants at small and
medium sized communities" the re-
! port said. In most basins, there
| are towns which lack public water
/ supplies. sewers or sewage disposal
facilities. A few of the larger urban
areas-notably Cumberland and the
suburban areas of Washington and
Baltimore-require extensions of pres
ent water supply systems"
1t was said. too, that "all possible
power developments in the Middle
Atlantic district and contiguous areas
should be examined in relation one
to another, and in relation also to
competing steam plant generation and
to prospective markets for power"
The report proposed a cooperative
investigation by State and Federal
agencies of drainage problems in the
upper Chesapeake Basin at an esti-
mated cost of $4,000 and a $4,000
pollution study to be undertaken at
once. Water front work here already
authorized by Congress was incorpo-
rated as part of the national program.
Among the projects most needed in
the lower Chesapeake Bay area, en-
bracing the Rappahannock and York
River basins, the report said, are
drainage for mosquito control. install
latlon of sewers and sewage treatment
plants and navigational improvements.
Pollution Not Yet Serious.
Pollution of streams In that area is
not yet serious, the report said, but a
number of towns are without suitable
sewer and sewage treatment facilities.
Drainage problems involve both ma
larla control and cleaning stream beds
cIogged with windfalls and sunken
logs. Water supply is inadequate in
some of the smaller communities. and
navigation can be improved in some
places.
Abel Wolman, chairman of the Wa
ter Resources Committee which pre-
pared the study for the parent or
ganization, said waiting list of prof.
ects such as his committee proposes
should tend to replace the haphazard
approach of the past with program
OF orderly development"
Wolman said listing of projects
which are primarily of local interest
did not indicate a feeling Federal
funds should be used for their con-
struction. He pointed out the COM
mittee emphasized the Importance of
Keeping an equitable balance" be-
tween Federal and local payments in
line with how benefits accrue.
The committees recommendation,
Wolman said, appear modest and
consistent" in view of past spending
on water use and control.
He said the committee "did not
venture to suggest what the exact
yardstick should be for measuring
such benefits and payments"
The broad bases for definite ma
tional policy on all phases of the prob
lem OF financing water projects have
not been established. The committee
has set in motion activities which it
hopes will contribute to the develop
ment Of such bases. At the moment,
however, this important and contro-
versial field remains open as an arena
for the battle between expanding ma
tional interest and declining local
responsibility"