Evening star., 1938-09-30
Pollution
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Continued From First Page.)
into the District plant is dependent
upon the willingness and ability Of the
Commissioners OF the District to estab-
lish connection with an outfall sewer
at the District line and carry it to the
local treatment plant.
He stated in the letter that the
Maryland commission would be willing
to pay "a fair charge" for the DISPOSE
tlon OF the sewage from its line
Others attending the conference
were Emory H. Bogley, a member OF
the suburban commission, and Harry
H Hall, chief engineer of the agency.
Cost of $500, 900.
I'VE are not going to agree to any
such expenditures on the part OF the
District-unleSs we are forced to-" said
Mr.. Hazen.
The question under discussion was
whether the District should spend
large sums to lay new and larger trunk
sewers along the eastern side OF the
Anacostia River from the sewage
treatment plant at Blue Plains, D. c..
to the Maryland line to permit the
connection of Maryland sewers there.
Rough estimates given Commission
er Hazen indicated that the cost to the
District would run to more than ST.
100000.
Chairman Duckett said in his letter
to the P. w. A. that the personal in
terest Of President Roosevelt and Sec
retary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes
in the pollution problem OF the Poto-
mac River Basin. and especially in
the Metropolitan district. had played a
leading part in the commissions de-
cision to file the application.
Text of Letter.
THE most difficult part OF the pol
luton problem" ne wrote. exists in
the valley OF the Anacostia River and
1t is about this that We are most
concerned and to this We have given
the greatest time and attention. The
Anacostia River and its tributaries
not only take the sewage of the numer-
Gus towns of the Prince Georges County
as far north as Berwyn. but its drain
age area extends for a considerable
distance into Montgomery County and
includes the rapidly developing areas
of Takoma Park and Silver Spring.
1t, therefore, follows that a solution
of the pollution situation Of the An
will %NI~ -
than one-half of the total sanitary
district.
For year or more We have fully
appreciated the necessity OF some
prompt action in the disposition of
the sewage of the Anacostia area, and
about six months ago secured the serv-
ices Of an engineer for the purpose OF
designing treatment works to be To-
Gated near Bladensburg. A disposal
plant, within the sanitary area and
operated by the commission appeared
to be the most practical solution of the
existing condition, but a careful review
by our chief engineer Of the whole
problem has led us to the conclusion
that the quickest and simplest solu-
ton is by direct connection with the
sewage system of the District of Co.
lumbia. The element of time, the pos
sibility of grave error in designing a
plant OF this type rapidly, the present
status of the flood control survey and
the park development all indicate that
costly mistakes might possibly be made
in the location and construction Of the
plant. 1t is apparent that further delay
would jeopardize any possibility Of con-
tribution by your administration from
Government funds. The location and
design of a satisfactory trunk f1ne
sewer from the terminus of our present