The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1942-12-10
WORK ON SAVAGE RIVER
DAM TO Be SUSPENDED
UPRC Had Expected Stoppage
Order In Line With Policy OF
Closing Non War Projects

Closing NOn-War Projects
Word on the Savage River dam will
be suspended for the duration as soon
as possible, consistent with minimum
safety requirements, according to
Chairman John j. McMullen of the
Upper Potomac River Commission, in
charge Of the big project few miles
east of Swaton in Garrett county.
A stop order from the War Pro-
duction Board came last Thursday
following thorough review of the
situation by U. S. Army engineers,
the W. P. b., the Works Projects
Administration and the T. P R. c.
j. Warren Belcher, il, WPA ad-
ministrator for Maryland and the
District Of Columbia, in a letter re-
ceived by Mr.. McMullen Thursday
morning, writes, 1--WE are issuing in
structions to our project representa-
tives to bring the operations lat Saw
age River damn to an orderly conclu-
sion as soon as possible"
The Savage River dam project is
one Of the last non-war operations to
be stopped by the WPB. Work on a
$45,G00000 manufacturing plant in
the Midwest was stopped a couple
Of weeks ago and other projects in all
stages of construction have been
halted ahead of the Savage River
operation.
To Resume After The War
In announcing the stoppage order,
Chairman McMullcn said:
The commission has been advised
that construction will be resumed
when the war is ended, and while the
interruption in the work is deeply re-
GREETED, we feel that our first duty is
to comply with the War Production
Boards request and release all man
power and equipment for the war
effort"
Facts Carefully Considered
In a letter from Col. T. F. Farrell
L. S. Army Corps of Engineers, chair
man Of the Facility Review Commit
tee, to Perry A Fellows, assistant
commissioners and chief engineer of
the WPA in Washington, it is stated
that the Facility Review Committee
has given careful consideration to the
facts presented in your letter and a
comprehensive report received from
the L. E. Engineer Office Based on
the facts presented, the committee has
found that the project is not essen
tial to the war effort and construction
should, therefore, be stopped as soon
as possible, consistent with minimum
safety requirements
While stoppage Of work on the big
carthen dam on the east slope of the
Allcganies has been regarded as more
or less to be expected during the war
the Upper Potomac River Commission
has been especially interested in pro-
tecting the work already done and in
having operations cease in an orderly
manner.
Mr.. Becker, in his letter to Mr.. Nc
Mullen, following a conference We'd
ncsday in Baltimore, states that. ac-
cording to the report Of U. S. engi-
neers, minimum safety requirements
do not necessitate special protective
measures heretofore planned for the
closure section for this winter"
Expect No Adverse Results
Acct yding to 1t. Col, D. A. Phclan
Cps If Engineers, U. S. District
Engineer, "as regards safety of the
structure, extensive damage there
to, and the possibility of increased
drainage downstream over and above
that in prospect with the dam left
uncompletcd, as at present, it is the
opinion Of this office that no par
ticularly adverse conditions should
result"
Col. Phelan also paid tribute to the
Thorough manner in which the de-
sign Of the dam was made. and of the
conscientious compliance with all
specifications during the construction
thus far"
There was a disposition to have
the work stopped last spring, but
the commission succeeded in having
the project continued, and marked
progress was made last summer and
into the current fall season. With
manpowcr and material shortages
reaching the critical stage, the sus-
pension of the Savage River dam
operations is Just another inevitable
result of the war effort.
The work stoppagc will be brought
about in orderly fashion and with
due regard to safety and protective
requirements, Mr. McMullcn said.
----N--