Evening star., 1945-08-11
Potomac Commission
Approves IVA Plan
To Develop Basin
BY JAMES BIRCHFIELD,
Star Staff Correspondent.

HERSHEY, Pa, Aug. 1l.-A pro-
gram calling for the future develop
ment of the Potomac River basin
along the general lines of the Ten
neSsee Valley Authority, was ap-
proved here today by the Inter-
state Commission on the Potomac
River Basin, meeting at the Hotel
Hershey. The program was recon-
mended by the commissions Exec
utive Committee.
Under the proposal, future prob
lens Of pollution and flood control,
soil conservation, reforeStation,
hydro-electric power and general
economic development would be
handled through the interstate COM
pact method rather than through a
special Federal authority.
Working Plans to Come Later.
The commission pointed out that
its action is one of policy and that
working plans for development of
the river basin will be formulated
later. They will then be presented
to the various State Legislatures for
approval.
The policy, It was said, is an sffir-
nation by the commission that the
State compact or cooperative
method will be superior to the Fed
eral authority method of developing
the resources of the river basin,
since the compact method will pre-
serve intact the rights of the indi-
vidual States.
Senator Issues Warning.
Maryland State Senator L. Har-
old Sothoron, Brentwood, who was
elected commission chairman, sue
ceeding former State Senator
George H Williams, Romney, W.
Va, pointed out that plans must be
worked out for cooperative con-
troll of the basins development or
the Federal Government would un-
doubtedly take over.
Mr.. Sothoron said it is to the
interests of the people of Mary
land. Virginia, West Virginia. Penn
Sylvania and the District. the areas
represented on the commission, to
control the development of the Po-
tomac Valley rather than to have
only a superficial voice in its de-
Velopment
Mr.. Sothoron said the commits
sion must plan not only for pollu-
ton abatement but for flood con-
troll, soil conservation and eventu-
ally for power development
Since these problems cannot be
separated in the areas development,
the commission intends to obtain
funds for basin development
through appropriation from the
various States and through aid
from the Federal Government.
State Legislation Needed.
It's powers to enforce measures
deemed necessary for the control
of pollution must be received through
cooperate State legislation.
1t would be the commissions idea,
1t was said, to plan for the normal
development of the basin rather
than TO plan program of river
projects, such as power develop
ments and to attempt then to in
dustrialize the area to keep step.
The latter, it was pointed out
would have been the policy under
the recent Army Engineers plan for
IA dams in the Potomac basin.
Among the first definite actions
toward plan for the basin will
be the setting up of water quality
crfteria. These criteria will range
from pure drinking water in the
mountain streams to water which
will be kept merely pure enough
to prevent its becoming a nuisance
in the highly induStrialized sections.
This water-type plan will be sent
first to the various State health
and planning divisions for approval.
Other New Officers.
In addition to Mr. Sothoron, other
new officers include:
Raymond V. Long of the Virginia
Planning Board. vice chairman; DR..
D. l.. Seckinger, assistant District
health officer, treasurer. Members
of the Executive Committee are:
Mr. Sothoron, DR.. Seckinger, M. r.
Williams. Harold A. Dimp, District
director of sanitary engineering,
George F. Hazelwood, Cumberland:
r. Long and C. C. Burger, jr., of
the Office of the Chief of Army
Engineers, representing the Govern