Evening star., 1938-09-28
|CKES' PRESSURE
SPED %,61S,53O
POLLUTION FUND
Personal Insistence Held
Reason for Approval of
Rock Creek Work.
COMMISSIONERS URGED
TO TAKE THE PROJECT
Allotment to Be on As Per Cent
Grant and IS Per Cent Loan
Basis From P. w. A.

Personal pressure brought to bear
on the Commissioners by Secretary
Harold L. Ickes, 1t was made known
today, was responsible for the speedy
approval given a $4.6ls,530 P w. A.
loan and grant to finance dual sewer
construction for the removal Of all
pollution from Rock Creek and its
basin.
This was disclosed by officials of the
Izaak Walton League, leaders in the
local war against pollution, as they
left a morning conference with the
Secretary Of the Interior.
Welcoming the P. w. A. loan and
grant to the District as an outright
victory in their campaign, De Witt
Harry, president of the Washington
chapter, with the concurrence Of
others, announced:
Secretary Ickes told us that he
had insisted that the District Com
missioners take this sum-"
The allotment will be made on a
45 per cent grant and IS per cent
loan basis. It will mean that the
District will have to repay approx
mately $2,540,000 for sewage work
which never was contemplated when
the Commissioners filed their original
application for $18,125,O 900 with which
to finance urgently needed municipal
) construction.
Ickes Called Farley.
pnck Crook pork hnunvnr iS under
the Jurisdiction of Secretary Ickes.
For this reason he was said to have
felt fully justified in urging the Com
missioners to cooperate in effective
measures against pollution Of the creek
y from Piney Branch and other tribu-
taries. The Districts system Of COM
bined sewers, overflowing in heavy
rains, is responsible for a great deal Of
the Rock Greek pollution.
Eleven days ago Secretary Ickes
summoned the Commissioners to his
ONCE for strictly private" confer
ence on the pollution problem in the
metropolitan area Of Washington.
This was followed by the announce
ment Of q 100000 Federal grant for
sewage construction at the Navy
Yard.
1.-The conference with Secretary
1kes today was for the purpose Of
reporting to him on all matters affect
ing the pollution problem in and near
Washington.
Other Requests Considered.
The conferees were Abner L. Roe,
chairman Of the Pollution Committee
Of the Region Council of the Izaak
Walton League and member also Of
the board Of the Potomac River Valley
Conference; DR.. Lewis Radcliffe. presi-
dent of the Regional Council; Mr..
Harry, president of the local chapter,
and D. w. B. Holton, president of the
Bethesda Chevy Chase Chapter.
It was reported later by them that
Mr.. Ickes said several other requests
from Army and Navy engineers for
anti-pollution work in the vicinity
Of Washington were being considered
by P. W. A. These requests were not
identified.
The conservation leaders feared that
the Alexandria (Va.) Council would
, not apply to the P. w. A. for funds
to combat stream pollution in sum-
cient time to meet the regulations.
They said Mr.. Ickes intimated the
city should file the application now
II the Council is prepared to do any
thing about pollution. It was said
the members Of the Council do not
wish to do this until they know how
much it would cost to build q sewage
treatment plant. An expenditure of
$1,000 for an engineering survey was
voted by the Council last night.
The situation in Rock Greek was
fully discussed at the recent session