The Wilmington morning star., 1943-11-05
ALTERNATE NOTED
Hoods Creek Supply Said
To Be Adequate
For Needs
DECISION IS FINAL
Spokesman Says Action Ex-
pected To Last Until
War Ends
DECISION IS FINAL
By HOWARD SETTLE
Star-News Washington
CORRESPONDENT

WI SSPO@~
An unequivocal mo" was
the War Production Boards
answer Thursday to Whining
toms latest plea in a three.
year fight for extension OF
the city's pipeline to assure
a fresh water supply.
Russell Hogan, a spokes-
man for the War Production
Board in Washington, am
nounced Thursday that the
request by the city of Will
mington for the continuation
of the new water pipeline ex-
tension to Kings Bluff had
definitely been rejected at a
hearing in Washington We'd
nesday at which City Attor-
ney w. B. Campbell, City
Engineer j. A. Loughlin and
consulting Engineer w. c..
Olsen were present.
No justification Seen
Hogan declared that the WPBs
attitude was based on the premise
that the water at Hoods creek
was ample for the city's needs
and the board could see no JUST.
flcation for further extension.
Hogan said that the decision
was final and that there was no
indication or possibility that the
action would be reversed. If Will
mington is going to get a longer
pipeline, it will have to wait until
the war is over, Hogan declared.
The city attorney and engineers
went to Washington early this week
to lay before the board the urgency
of the situation relating to the
salt content Of the local water
supply and to urge that materials
necessary for construction be
granted.
City officials contacted reserv.
ed comment until the local re-
representatives. have returned with
detailed account of the boards
action. They are expected to re-
turn early Friday.
A committee of the Junior
Chamber of Commerce which was
recently appointed to investigate
the city's water supply said Fri.
day night that the Hoods creek
intake is not the permanent solu-
tion to Wilmington's water sup
ply and that it would be unfair
to the taxpayers to accept any
compromise. The Jaycees also plan
to appoint a committee to work
with the City Council and any
and all civic organizations and
civic-minded citizens to fight to
the end for the proposed extern
sion to Kings Bluff. it was learn
ed.
The campaign for extension Of
the pipeline began on November
l, 1910 when the city commission
ers made trip up the river to
inspect TONERS creek and make
a preliminary survey Of the Cape
Fear River for a long-range pro-
time to pump fresh water into
ject. 1t was necessary at that
the mains from deep wells AZ a
means of temporary relief from
the saltiness.
The commission ordered W. c.
Olsen, consultant engineer Of Ra-
leigh, to make survey. He was
later authorized to seek the aid
of federal government biologists
in finding a constant and reliable
source of fresh water. 1t was
ascertained from preliminary and
subsequent surveys that the ex-
tension to Kings Bluff would furn.
ish the most permanent solution
for the city's water supply prob
lem and funds were provided on
that basis including $600,0 bond
issue.
Brackish water has been a prob.
lem here since the city first be-
gan using the Cape Fear river
as a source of raw water. Prior
to 1921 the city water intake was
from the Northeast river at Hill
ton plant. From 1921 to 1922 the
supply was rendered unsatisfac.
tory as the result of sewage con-
tamination, high salt content and
discoloration of the wa
ter. After an exhaustive study it
was decided to extend the intake
to TONERS creek. TONERS
creek was selected rather than
Haynes because the water in the
latter contained a high rate Of
organic coloration and there was
no assurance that salt contamina-
CONTINUED on Pare II. coI ~