Evening star., 1938-09-11
ENGINEERS RUSH
POLLUTION STUDY
IN DISTRICT AREA
Surveys by P.W.A. and D. C.
to Determine Course
on Problem.
CONNECTION IS SEEN
between PROJECTS
Additional Federal Funds Nav
Be Made Available to
Clear Streams Here.

Ofacials Of the District government
and the Public Works Administration
may decide this week whether any
further steps should be taken immedi-
ately by the District to eliminate pol
luton from the streams running
through the National Capital, by use
OF P. w. A. funds, as a result OF cur
rent surveys OF the District pollution
problems.
1t was revealed yesterday that the
p. w. A. last week had two special
engineers making q personal survey
OF the pollution problems in the Dis
trict and in communities Immediately
adjoining the Districts boundaries.
At the same time it was revealed
that the new District Engineer Com
missioner, 1t Col. David McCoach, jr..
has called on the District sanitary
engineer, Maj. John Blake Gordon, to
give him q report early this week on
the pollution problems OF the District.
Whether there was any direct rela-
ton between the two independent
studies WAS not announced, but it ap-
peared that the subjects were related
since pollution project proposals be-
fore the Washington Suburban Sani-
tary Commission were before both
District ofdcials and P. W. A.
spokesmen.
Hasty Action Necessary.
Hasty action will be required if anv
additional pollution programs are to
be incorporated under the present
P. w. A. fund since the deadline for
the submission Of requests under the
present act will be reached Septem-
ber 80.
Judging from an outline Of the Dis.
tricts problems given yesterday by
Maj. Gordon-similar to an official
outline which he will give tomorrow
or Tuesday to Col. McCoach-Dis-
trict engineers have been aware for
years OF the Districts pollution prob
lens, have planned to meet them year
by year as funds become available,
and are prepared to engage in such
projects at short notice, should p w.
A. decide at late hour to incorporate
any Of the pollution projects under
the presently available P. w. A. funds.
There are no indications at the Dis
trict Building that the Commissioners
will reverse their recent decision not
TO seek P. w. A. funds now for any
expansion Of the operation or facilities
Of the Districts $4000,000 sewage
treatment plant, or to seek funds for
correction of the pollution Of Piney
Branch Valley, which drains into Rock
Creek due to the excessive $1,000 900
cost of any solution Of the Piney
Branch Valley problem.
Application Is Possible"
However, it appeared possible" that
District officials. If inspired by P. W.
A. officials, even at the late hour,
might apply to the P. w. A. for funds
for correction OF some of nearly a
dozen admitted pollution problems
within the District which might be
solved by currently available P. w. A.
advances This will be subject to de-
termination by Col. McCoach in con-
ference with Maj. Gordon and other
District officials.
The P. w. A. has been represented
in the survey by Leroy K Sherman
and ]. L. Phillips. What these two
ofacials have recommended to Ad.
ministrator Ickes is not known.
According to information reaching
the District Building. the Washington
Suburban Sanitary Commission is pre-.
pairing to suggest two nearby project.
as start toward elimination of pol
luton which drains into the Distric
from nearby Maryland areas
One OF these involves propertie!
near Lutte Falls Branch. between
Massachusetts, avenue and Condui
road. beyond the District line ant
near the Dalecarlia reservoir. Sub
ject to provision Of sewers on tn,
Maryland side. these could be con
nected with the District sewer system
For the service the District would b.
! forced 20 make charge of roughl,
81 per day for each house served.
At the extreme northern tip o
. the District. on the Western avenu
side, Maryland pollution enters tn
District through Fenwick Branch
: which drains into Rock Creek Ac
. cording TO the story at the Distric
: Building. . proposal will be made b.
+. (See POILUTTON. Page B-30