Evening star., 1940-05-12
Proposed Sewer
Through Park: Area
Vetoed by Official
Gi|Ien Rejects Project
To Suve One Of D. C.'s
Finest Forest Areos'

To prevent future destruction Of
the natural beauty of National
Capital Park areas by sewer con-
struction projects, Acting Superin-
tendent F. F. Gilien yesterday de-
MED the request Of the District
Government for permission to ex-
tend a sanitary sewer from Ari-
zona avenue into Glover r-Archbold
Park and Foundry Branch in West
Washington.
In an explanation for refusing
the permission, Mr.. Gillen author
ized the following statement: These
areas contain one Of the finest
stands of trees and other native
flora, in or near Washington and
they would suffer irreparably from
excavations and the construction
OF access roads necessary for the
hauling of materials and equipment
across park lands"
Mr. Gillen informed the District
officials that the proposed sewer
could be located along streets bor-
dering the park and that 1T was
illegal to route the project through
the wooded valley. bringing certain
destruction to the fine forest areas" J"
Advisors in the National Park
Service declared the savings effected
by routing the sewer through the
park areas would be totally in
adequate to compensate for the
park values destroyed.
Not Imminent.
District ofdcials hastened yester-
day to explain that the proposed
sewer project had not advanced
beyond the study stages, and Mai.
John B. Gordon, director of sanitary
engineering said, mo funds are
available for it, nothing is imminent
and there has been no controversy
over the matter" He had not
been apprised of the park super
intendent,s action when questioned
about the sewer project yesterday.
In view of the many complaints
that have been heard about the
temporary unsightliness caused by
the huge Rock Greek diversion sewer
project. financed with P. w. A.
funds, yesterdays order was inter-
preted as being a stop" order
against any further spoilation of
park areas.
Some years ago, when Col. U. s.
Grant, 3rd, was superintendent of
parks here, he requested the Dis
trict Sanitary Engineering Depart
ment to make studies to improve
conditions in the West Washington
area. The sewers now being built
on both sides of Rock Greek for the
abatement Of pollution comprise
perhaps the largest undertaking Of
its kind in the District. They were
authorized under the p. w. A. pro-
gram and Secretary Of the Interior
Ickes, as p. w. A. administrator at
the time. was chiefly responsible for
the project. Mr.. Ickes also has
supervision over all the National
Capital Park areas.
No Immediate Danger.
The proposed plan to divert the
Arizona avenue sewer through the
two parkways offered no immediate
danger to the parks, it was said,
since it is all on paper. There has
been no more than conversations
with park omcials but when the
proposal was brought to the ,atten-
ton of Mr.. Gillen he promptly
vetoed it.
Maj. Gordon said at present big
concrete combined sewer runs along
Arizona avenue, 1lanked on both
sides by the park lands. It is partly
above ground, he explained, and
unsightly in appearance. Problems
under study by District oficials u,
the area contemplate getting rid Of
Arizona avenue utilities at some
future date. The sanitary engi-
neers also intended ultimately to
divorce the sanitary flow from
storm sewers and thus restore the
Foundry Branch to = more normal
condition. It is one OF the tribu-
taries of Rock Greek.
Now that the park superintend-
ent has voided the plan to extend
the sewer through the two small
mark areas, District omcials are
faced with the problem Of locating
the sewer along the bordering