Evening star., 1941-05-18
BY JAMES FREE.

Expanding defense activities in
Washington have brought d need
for expenditure of S17,700,000 before
the end of the year on community
facilities that include additional
Waterworks, schools, sewers and
street, according to a survey made
by District government and national
defense officials.
Listed in the first priority, or
most pressing, classification, was a
S500,000 project to assure protec-
ton of the city's water supply from
sabotage. Included in the project
was an item for screens and di-
version structures at the mouth of
the two conduits cat Great Falls
through which the Nations Capital
obtains its water.
This is desirable primarily for
protection against sabotage" an
official said. The diversion struc-
lures would be placed at close inter-
walls near the mouths of the conduits
with acknowledgements screens
between the structures. This would
effectively keep out any potentially
damaging objects placed in nthe
river by saboteurs."
He pointed out, too, that the
screens and other protective equip
ment would be very useful in keep
ing leaves and other debris-includ-
ing ice in winter-out Of the con-
duits.
Among other immediate steps
urged to assure adequate quantities
OF water in the event of sabotage
to parts of the Districts supply
system were provision of more pump
facilities to increase by one-third
the daily capacity of the Mcmillan
plant near Soldiers Home.
Larger Mains Required.
Installation of larger or more eff
cient trunk water mains was recon-
mended for several points in the
local water system, and later in the
year additional reservoirs at the
Dalecarlia plant on Conduit road.
Construction of these, along with
S8,500 in heavy fencing around reser-
voirs and plants, was suggested part
ly with sabotage protection in mind,
it was said.
But the recommendation for in
creasing the general water supply
and extending the water main sys-
tenn were prompted, largely, by the
anticipated necessity of furnishing
water to residential sections now
being built or with fast-growing
populations.
Heavy Needs for Schools.
Capital outlays of nearly S4O00,00O
would be required for already evi-
dent public school needs, it was
reported, while approximately
81 100000 more would take care OF
anticipated similar demands during
the remainder of 1941.
Specific school building construc-
ton urged Immediately in the re-
port included:
An eight-room elementary school
at Minnesota avenue and Ely road
Sc, near 300-unit Alley Dwelling
Authority housing project.
An elementary school at pennsyl-
vania and Alabama avenues s.e., in
a new residential section.
Eight-room additions to Randle
Highlands, Benning and Van Ness
schools, all of which are reported to
be already overcrowded with even
more students expected in Sep
tember.
A S915,000 junior high school at
Forty-ninth street and Washington
place NE. to relieve partly the over
burdened Brown Junior High School.
A Sl200,000 senior high school for
colored at Twenty-fourth street and
Benning road NE. to take care of
300 of an estimated excess 1900
students expected in the Districts
three colored high schools in the
next school year.
In the not-so-preSsing class, but
needed by the end of the year, was
the building of new eight-room
schools at Forty-fourth street and
Alabama avenue Sc, Forty-ninth
street and Haynes avenue NE. and
Nichols and Atlantic avenues Sc,
and S225.0Oo addition to Taft Jun
ior High School.
Hospital Expansion Essential.
Another first priority" local need,
attributable mainly to defense ex-
pansion, is a 100000 addition to
Gallinger for a maternal and child
ward, now situated in one corner
(see D. c. DEFENSE, Page A-l8.)