Evening star., 1941-01-07
Anacostia River
Improvement Plan
Partially Approved
Army Engineers Also
Urge Flood Control
Work at BIodensburq

The War Department Division
Engineers Office announced today
its partial approval of a proposal to
improve the Anacostia River basin
for flood control.
At the same time, the division
Office recommended the local works
be provided for protection of the
area consisting of Bladensburg
Md, and the section of Edmonston,
Md, located on the left bank of
the Northeast Branch of the river.
The recommendation was subject
to the condition that local interests
bear the cost of modification of
drainage system, highways, sewer
system. telephone, telegraph and
electric lines and railroad lines,
furnish easements from the rail-
road company as required and
furnish right of way exclusive of
areas to be furnished by the Park
Commission.
The report added that more
extensive flood protection in the
basin has not been recommended
for the reason that the benefits
would not be sufficient to justify
the cost.
Another proposal, to improve the
Anacostia River to make navigation
possible up to the Bladensburg,
Md. bridge, was reported on un-
favorably.
In announcing the report, Col.
Jarvis j. Balm, division engineer,
said that the adverse conclusions
were based on the grounds that
two fixed bridges across the stream
would restrict its navigability. If
improved, and that the large amount
of silt brought down would make
the maintainance of the improve
ment so costly that the small pros
pective benefits would not justify
the expenditure.
Will Cost S50O,O00.
officials of the Board of Engi-
neers for Rivers and HarborS said
here today that the projected Ana
costa flood control work would cost
a total of about s5OO,O00. of which
about $4,000 would have to be
provided by local interests-includ-
ing the Bladensburg and Ed
monston, Md, municipal govern
mentS.
If the local interests agree to fur
nish their share of the costs, the
plan would be submitted to the
chief of engineers. If approved by
the chief of engineers. the mat
ter would then be referred to Con-
gress for possible inclusion in flood
control appropriations.
About l mile of the river left
bank would be affected and the
flood control would be by means of
local protection levees.
Both reports of the division engi-
neer's Office we're generally in ac-
cordance with the wishes of civic
groups in nearby Maryland. who
have been working on the proposals.
Much Land Purchased.
Fred w. Cast. chairman of the
Prince Georges County Federation
of Citizens Associations Committee
on Flood Control and Parks and
Waterways, said that the federation
had been striving for the flood con-
troll project for about eight years
With support OF other civic bodies
that have been enlisted in the cause,
including the Prince Georges Cham
ber of Commerce. appropriation of
about 100000 have been obtained
from the State of Maryland for pur-
chase of land along the river which
would be needed for the project.
Much of the necessary land has been
purchased Mr. Cast said.
The federation has opposed the
Improvement for navigation project
on the ground that industrial de-
velopment would conflict with park
way Developments This factor was
given also by the division engineers
office in announcing disapproval of
the navigation improvement plan.