Evening star., 1939-09-16
Committee Formed
To Map Fight on
Street Floods
Residents in Vicinity Of
Arkansas Avenue and
Thirteenth Street Meet


Thirteenth Street Meet
Organized action was taken last
night by residents Of the area
around the intersection of Thir-
teenth street, Delafeld street and
Arkansas avenue NV. to spur off,
cials on toward preventing recurrence
of localized floods, committee OF
nine being formed to expedite a
solution to the problem.
The territory in question lies In
a natural basin which fills with
water rapidly after heavy rains. On
September waters rose to height
of over feet in some parts of the
basin, inundating cellars. threat
ening the first floors of some resi-
dences and alarming families. Wa
ter covered the yards of the area
to a depth of 2 feet. A severe
thunder and rain storm later in the
week brought further discontinue
and added to the damage.
Dexter Heads Committee.
The meeting last night. called by
Hugh V. Keiser in his home at 4807
Arkansas avenue NV, selected the
following men to serve as a general
committee for solution of the flood
control problem: c. H. Dexter, chair
man: A. M Ensor. Maurice Freed
man. Howard j. Simons. George L.
Haines, Frank M. Schertz, John R.
Lapham. c. H. Newell and Mr..
Kaiser.
The committee was empowered
to decide whether new citizens
association should be formed cen
tering about the basin. which is
within the boundaries of the Piney
Branch Citizens Association. The
committee will report back at the
end of 10 days, and in two weeks
another meeting will be held at
which residents will act on the deci-
sions of the committee.
Should new association be
formed, contact would be estab-
lished with J. B. Gordon, director
of sanitary engineering for the
District; the Commissioners and
the Congressional District commit
tees to secure funds for the con-
struction of adequate sewer systems
in the afflicted areas An alterna-
tive plan considers joining hands
with the Piney Branch Associa ton
and push the 15-year-old fight
waged by the group. at the same
time profting by the experience of
"older heads"
The District sanitary engineer
was represented as having said
original plans of the S5.50O.OOO sewer
program called for a relief sewer to
correct the flood conditions but that
the Pinev Branch project had to be
left until last because it would not
function until completion of the
Rock Creek diversion sewer, now
under construction.
Hopes Funds Will Be Available.
Mr.. Gordon has stated he has
hopes of retaining sufficient leftover
funds from the Rock Creek contract
to permit the addition to the Piney
Branch sewer This would prevent
the necessity of asking for another
appropriation. The District has
been slow to contract for the entire
Piney Branch project until a better
idea of the financial set-up is avail
able. He added, however, that bids
had been advertised for $500 feet
of the required $500 feet of sewer:
this new section is expected to al
leviate in part the flood problem.
The new section is scheduled for
completion in May, 1910.
Residents say 20-foot sewer,
run through Arkansas avenue sew
eral years ago, has failed to help,
since water in too great quantities
backs up in the sewer and will not
flow off.
longtime residents of the area
said floods had occurred every year
they could recall with the coming
of heavy downpours. The recent in
stallation of sewer was declared by
many to have added to the problem
rather than help correct it.
Advised Against New Group.
Capt. G. L. Shorey, president of
the Piney Branch group, attended
the meeting and advised those pres
ent not to branch into a new organ
ization. Most OF the so persons in
attendance said they had never
joined the Piney Branch Association.
The citizens demanded swift ac-
ton in the matter, although they
were divided as to who should take
the fight to the fore.
Mr.. Ensor said he had taken mo-
ton pictures of swirling waters
buffeting autos, and other scenes of
destruction, during previous food.
These films he said he would place
at the disposal of the committee.
The place of the next meeting, to
be held September 20, has not been
decided.