Evening star., 1938-12-02
Sewage Plant
To Be in Road
Development
BIodensbure Project
Can't Be Put Anywhere
Else, Officials Soy

4, SASAoA PAuALiCAo SdlO IOQdy Cllat
the sewage disposal plant which
the Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission is to build directly
southeast Of the Bladensburg Peace
Cross with the aid of a p. w. A.
grant would be located in the midst
OF the proposed extension of the
Anacostia parkway They explained,
however, this has been known for
long time and nothing can be
done about it."
Presidential approval of a $44O,37O
grant to the Sanitary Commission
TO help defray the cost of a $978, ,66l
antl-pollution program in the Ana
costa Valley was announced. last
night by Administrator Ickes. It is
part of a $5,477 900 anti-pollution
campaign financed by the P. w. A.
and the District to rid the Potomac
and its tributaries within the metro
politan area of foul water.
Plans for the Bladensburg sewage
plant had been considered long ago.
1t was explained today, with the
Maryland National Capital Park
and Planning Commission in con-
nection with the proposed Anacostia
parkway.
Plant Won't Interfere,
Congress advanced $500 900 last
year to extend the Anacostia park
way to Bladensburg and up the
three tributaries of the Anacostia-
the Indian Greek. Eastern and Sligo
Branches-with the understanding
then. 1t was said, that a sewage
plant probably would be erected in
Bladensburg.
william S. Settle, secretary of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, explained today the
commission was not exercised over
the fact that the Bladensburg plant
would be in the midst of the pro-
poed parkway development. 1t
would have been avoided he point
ed out, but for the collapse of ne
gotlationS with the District Com
missioners for the piping of sub
urban sewage to the Blue Plains
disposal plant.
The Washington Suburban Sani-.
tary Commission was unwilling to
finance the estimated $1,000, 600 cost
OF improvements which the Com
missioners said would be necessary
to treat the sewage in the District.
OmclalS here said the proposed
treatment plant would not interfere
with the roadways or landscaping
IN the park area. Plans for it have
been co-ordinated with those Of the
Maryland park officials, and since
the treatment plant would have
TO be erected on low land to pro-
vide for satisfactory pumping no
other location presented itself.
Bond Issue to Raise S53s,26l.
The Sanitary Commission will
raise its share of the cost, $538, ,264,
by bond issue. 1t was estimated
the sewage plant alone would cost
about 100000. The expenditures,
including the cost of laying S miles
OF new mains and three pumping
stations, will eliminate the dump
ing Of raw sewage into the Ana
costa River.
!. More than half of the people
served by the Sanitary Commission
flive within the Anacostia Valley.
Washington residents will benefit
from the treatment of raw sewage
because the Anacostia River has long
been a source of complaint. It is
probably the principal pollution
source in this area.
A dozen or more communities in
Montgomery and Prince Georges
Counties will benefit.
The $440397 P. w: A. grant ap-
proved last night eliminates a series
OF allotments made by Mr.. Ickes
for the most comprehensive program
In the local war on pollution ever
undertaken. It began several years
ago with the construction of the s4.-
10000 sewage treatment plant at
Blue Plains.
Flood Control Study Progresses,
With the elimination of stream
pollution in the Anacostia basin
now virtually assured, Col. r. S.
Thompson, Army engineer, an
nounced that the flood control sur
vey OF the upper valley was approxi-
mately 60 per cent complete. The
War Department allotted 100000
for this purpose last June.
In Prince Georges County the
sewage system will eliminate pollu-
ton in Bladensburg, Cottage City.
Colmar Manor. Mount Rainier,
Hyattsville, Riverdale, Brentwood,
North Brentwood, West Riverdale
and EdmonSton. In MONTGOMERY
County the principal areas affected
are Silver Spring and Takoma Park
Work must start before January
under the P. w. A. regulations. One
OF the three pumping stations vii.
De built on Grape street, in Hyatts-
vile, at a cost Of $42, $50. Another
WIZ be built on Highland avenue.
In Hyattsvllle, at cost of s19,O5O
and the third on Lenox avenue. in
Colmar Manor, at a cost of sl4285
The location of the new sewage
treatment plant will be near River
road about mile from Bladens-
burg. The sewage system for the
BIadensburg area was described by
the p. w. A. as "the essential kew
stone IN the co-ordinated plan to
minimize stream and river pollution
In the vicinity Of Washington"
Other Projects.
Most important and largest Of the
p. w. A. allotments for this purpose
IN Washington Is a loan and grant
Of $5,377,000 for improvements to the
sewage system. principally in the
Rock Greek area. The Washington
Suburban and Sanitary Commission
had previously resolved q grant Of
So 900 toward q $4,000 sewer-im-.
.pfovement program in Montgomery
County.
In the District, also, a grant of
$lo0, 900 was made Tor the treatment
OF sewage at the Navy Yard, among
the smaller items.
Other p. w. A. expenditures will
improve conditions at the Lorton
~ a l.