Evening star., 1938-07-10
By II. 4. LvOn.

- -
~ UCKS and many other species
of wild birds will find safe
harbor within a short dis
- tance Of Washington in years
to come because Patuxent Refuge,
not far from Laurel, Nd, is nearing
completion
The 475-foot Cash Creek Dam,
which will form lake upon and near
which hunting and shooting is for
hidden, and brick laboratory build
ing are almost finished. Visitors by
the score are inspecting this latest
project Of the wild life research unit
Of the U. S. Bureau of Biological Sur
vey each week.
Attracting great deal of attention
are evenly spaced pens housing mink.
ferrets, rabbits. quail and foxes.
The sluice gate in the dam will
be closed by August l, and water will
begin rising in the 60-acre lake. BY
way OF preparation. every tree and
stump has been removed to prevent
acid water, which would preclude the
growth of aquatic plants.
The 2,20o-acre refuge has become
q show place, so rapid has been the
development of these and score of
other projects. including the restora-
tion of historic Snowden Hall This
former plantation center is at least
200 years old and its hand-miXed
brick, brought by boat from England.
have been left standing in the ma
tn
part of permanent refuge head
quarters.
Bureau and department officials
point with pride to the speed and
efficiency OF w. P. A. labor from
Washington and nearby, and of men
from the c. c. c. camps located at
the Departmental Center at Beltsville
1t is only an hours ride to the
refuge from the Capital over good
roads. Several large picnic and
supper parties have been held in the
shade of its whispering trees.
In addition to headquarters con-
etruction projects-laboratory and
Snowden Hall living quarters, and the
impressive Cash Creek Dam-numer-
Gus other projects have been COM
pleted or are being rushed along.
Headquarters and dam are approxi-
mately one and one-half miles apart
A wide. graveled road has been cut
through from headquarters to the
Laurel-Bovie road. reducing the dis
tance over the old road by fully a
mile
AT HEADQUARTERS near giant
tree, which in former times marked
the halfway point between the man.
sion and slave sheds, excavators have
uncovered an abundant supply of
spring water for the laboratory unit.
1t was once SnoWden's sole supply
and has not failed for centuries Work
men will install an underground tank
storing 10000 gallons of water, to-
gether with pressure pump and
auxiliary tank to handle 1000 addi-
tional gallons. The pump will be ca
pable of delivering IS gallons minute.
8 2-mile power and conlmunica-
lions hook-up will be made from head
quarters to the National Agricultural
Research Center. While this expense
will be a considerable item now, off,
cials estimate the savings over long
period of time will make the invest
ment worth while
When the laboratory and Snowden
Hall are finished, funds may be avail
able to push on with other proposed
structures at headquarters. These in
clude one residence. possibly two. and
a combination service and garage
building. The houses will be occupied
by the project director and his assist
ant Snowden Hall will house single
employees and graduate students doing
research. Plans call for a road to link
headquarters with the departmental
center at Beltsville
A quarter-mile distant from the
laboratory shaded glen has been con-
verted into a recreation center for
families living on the refuge. soft
ball diamond has been cleared Other
facilities include spring and orna-
mental channel, picnic tables and a
barbecue pit. There may be wading
pool for children
A farm cottage on the acreage when
originally purchased has been remod-
eled into temporary office but later
will be used as residence One other
house and several unwanted or dilapi-
dated sheds have been razed A large
frame barn is under construction and
another house will be built on the site
Of the one torn down.
A MODERN carpentry shop, COM
pletely equipped for milling fin
ashed lumber, is an all-important