Evening star., 1940-10-27
Are Laid
To Guard D. {.
Wafer Supply
OutIoy Of S95,500
Will Be Requested
By Commissioners

The Commissioners will act soon
to protect vital spots in the Dis
trict's water and sewer systems
against possible sabotage. city off,
cials revealed yesterday. The pro-
gram, to be financed partly out Of
current funds and partly out OF
1912 appropriations. calls for the
outlay of nearly 100000.
Sturdy metal fences. eight feet
high and topped with barhcd vie
would be erected at pun7~i-g
stations and reservoirs. heavy r'e-h
grills would be placed over first
floor and basement windows, and
armed guards would be posted at
KEY positions. Visitors would be re-
stricted.
The greatest expenditure would
be made for protection of the
Washington Aqueduct. the supply
system for which the Commits
sioners are planning to request an
item of s65 900 in the 1912 District
budget. During the first World War,
the entire length of the main water
supply line was patrolled.
Maj. Gordon Drafts Program.
The protective program. drafted
by Mai. John Blake Gordon. DE-
trict sanitary engineer. who super-
vises both the water and sewer &C.
partments. has been approved by
the Commissioners.
Similar steps have been taken in
recent months By the Potomac
Electric Power Co. and other key
utilities of the District, after con-
sultation with officials of the War
Department.
The District already has provided
some protection for its new fire
alarm headquarters in Mcmillan
Park, by having the building flooded
with spotlights.
Mai Gordon recommended that
the Commissioners at once order
abandonment of the tennis courts on
the roof of the north reservoir at
the Reno station so that the gate
to the reservoir and the door TO
the pumping station might be kept
locked. This move would requlre
the closing of Donaldson place to
traffic. Tentative approval for clC5-
ing the street has been given by
the Department of Vehicles and
Traffic and the Highway Depart
ment. Also at the Reno plant, the
plan calls for fencing unprotected
areas.
Plans for Anacostia Station.
Anti-sabotage measures for the
| Anacostia pumping station of the
Water Department include installa-
ton of grills on all windows Of the
pumping station and erection of an
additional fence. The Commission
ers also are considering additional
guards
At the Anacostia second-high
tower, on the grounds of the STAN
ton School, the Commissioners plan
to inclose the structure with
; fence. While this is designed as
protection against saboteurs it was
explained a fence also would pre-
vent children from climbing the legs
of the tower
The Anacostia f1rst-high reser-
voir would be inclosed with a fence.
The new $4,000 0O0- gallon reser-
voir on the grounds of Soldiers
Home also would be protected by
| fence.
In addition. the Police Depart
ment would be instructed to give all
possible attention to protection of
the Anacostia reservoir in Fort
Stanton Park. Maj. Gordon said
the Water Department will provide
identification passes to its employees.
The Commissioners plan to spend
sl3,267 for Water Department pro-
lection and about $1,000 for the
sewage pumping station out of cur
rent funds but officials suggested
| the unforeseen drain on current
funds might be so heavy as to ne
cessitate a deficiency appropriation
! this year. The remainder of the
/ S95,500 program would be financed
out of appropriations for the next
! fiscal year.