The Wilmington morning star., 1943-11-16

11oou NASSh' AS d result OF tnlS,
no work was begun by the con-
tractors until May, but there has
now been constructed approximate
ly eight miles of the main line
leading toward Kings Bluff. When
this portion of the construction
had been completed and it would
become necessary for the contrac-
tor to construct the offset line from
the main line to the proposed pump
ing station at Hoods Creek, the
City representatives again confer
red with the appropriate War Pro-
duction Board officials in Wash
ington on November 3 and 4, again
seeking permission to complete
construction of the line to Kings
Bluff as originally planned and
twice approved as above outlined.
At the conclusion of such hear
ings the City representatives were
advised that the supplemental data
presented and the re- statement of
the need for the construction of
the entire line to Kings Bluff
would be further considered, and
the City would be notified of the
| further action of the War Pro-
duction Board after such consid-
Grafton, and when these officials
had given study to the facts and
supplemental information supplied.
1.-THE City officials have not re-
ceived any official advices from
the War Production Board or Fed
eral Works Agency of its approval
or disapproval of this last request
to complete the construction of the
pipe line, and the only information
received is the report appearing
in The Morning Star of November
4.
"The city officials will make
contact with the appropriate Off
Gals of the War Production Board
and Federal Works Agency to de-
termine the official action upon
the reconsideration which has
been promised the city, and if
the action of the federal authori-
ties is unfavorable, it will be the
purpose of the city council to
pursue it's efforts to obtain con-
struction of the entire pipe line
to Kings Bluff by appeal and make
every effort to insure fresh
water supply for the City of Will
mington.
During each period OF salt
water, commencing October, 1910,
to date, the city has caused sam
pies to be taken and tests made
and the quantity of salt content
ascertained, and up to the pres
ent time the salt water has not
extended up the Cape Fear river
beyond the point between the 12-
and 13-mile posts on said river in
any quantity which would affect
the water or make it unsuitable
for all uses. Hoods Creek enters
the Cape Fear river at the 49,
mile post, and the location OF the
proposed intake on said creek
would be about one and a half
miles up the creek from the point
of its entry into the Cape Fear
river. and thus the federal authori-
ties assert that the location of the
water intake eighteen miles up the
river, with no record of salt
water beyond the point between
the r. and 13-mile posts up said
river, is sufficiently safe during
the existing emergency to locate
pumping station and is point
where water may be safely taken
for use of the city. This position
was taken by the federal govern
ment because of the asserted need
of steel and other metals for the
war effort, which needs they as
sert are more vital and of greater
importance than the need to allot
sufficient materials to complete
this pipe line to Kings Bluff,
though the federal officials are
still agreed that it is a desirable
project and necessary to insure a
safe fresh water supply for the
city if salt water continues to ex-
tend up the river, but having al
lotted sufficient materials to con-
struct line to Hoods Creek and,
as they say. to a point at least six
miles above the point of infiltra-
ton of salt in the water, and at
least until the war demands for
steel are more adequately provid-
ed, they are unwilling to allot an
additional quantity of 1923 tons OF
steel necessary to extend the pro-
ject beyond Hoods Creek to
Kings Bluff.
'"Ihe city believes that with salt
water already within six miles
Of the proposed pumping station
supply; with reports and affidavits
from people living along the river
that it gets salty even above
Hoods Creek; with around 1850
tons of critical materials already
used there should be no stopping
short of a source that can be def
initely depended upon at all times
for palatable, salt-free water.
The side line to Hoods Creek
temporary pumping station will