Evening star., 1945-04-01
1000 Foes of Potomac Dams
Plan Protest Here Tuesday
Landowners From Three States Declare
They Are Going to Clog Capitol Streets
BY JAMES BIRCHFIELD.

BY JAMES BIRCHFIELD.
Between 800 and 1000 irate land
owners in the three-State area in-
cluded in the Army Engineers pro-
posed Potomas River basin flood and
power control project will descend
on Washington Tuesday to protest
reconstruction of the projects pro-
posed IA dams.
Farmers, businessmen and home
owners from the Valley of Virginia
the eastern section of West Vir-
ginia and the Potomac River area
in Maryland, backed for the most
part by their congressional repre-
sentatives. will appear at 9 am
Tuesday In the main auditorium in
the new Interior Building to tell the
Army Board of Engineers for Rivers
and Harbors why they think the
elaborate $235, 900 900 flood control
and power project should not be
built.
The Engineer Board, after the
hearing, will make report which
will combine testimony taken at
the session with the findings Of the
engineers survey which proposed
the dams. This report will be sub
mitted to the governors of the af-
fected States for their considera-
ton. After the governors make
their recommendations, the full re-
port will 60 to Congress with the
recommendations of the chief of en-
gineers-probably by fall.
The land owners. arriving here
Tuesday, will be directed by spe-
cial signs reading ITO Virginia and
West Virginia Delegation Parking
Area" which has been marked on
by park police on independence
avenue, between the Tidal Basin
and Twenty-third street in West
Potomac Park. All routes leading
into the city will be marked, and
police will be on duty at principal
intersections to give delegates fur
ther directions.
Heading the West Virginia group
will be Representative Randolph
Democrat, who has estimated a loss
Of approximately II per cent OF the
total income of each Of six counties
| in his district in the area to be
flooded
virginia's Spokesmen.
Speaking for the Virginia group
will be Senator Byrd and Represent
atives Robertson and Smith, Demo-
Gratis, ali OF whom have character
lied the proposed project as un-
necessary and wasteful.
Representative Beall. Republican
of Maryland, has remained silent on
the project and has not indicated
his intention to attend the hearing.
Representatives Simpson, Republic
can, and Snyder, Democrat, OF
Pennsylvania, whose districts ad-
Join Maryland and might be affected
by the proposed power facilities, are
out of the city during Easter and
are not expected back in time Tor
the hearing. Neither has made
statements on the project.
The National Capital Park and
Planning Commission has opposed
the project because it would destroy
the natural beauty of the Great
Falls, above Washington. Maj. Gen.
U. S. Grant, III, chairman, said the
commission would not favor the
project unless it becomes an eco
nomic necessity.
Several civic groups here have
expressed their opposition to the
dams. A representative Of the COM
mittee of 100 for the Federal city
will be at the hearing.
The engineers proposal, which
calls for orderly completion OF the
IA dams on the Potomac and its
tributaries during the 20 years fol-
lowing the end of the war has won
support from only two groups SO far,
Waynesboro to File Brief.
The Waynesboro CVa) City Coun-
Gil has authorized its manager, I. G.
Vass, to file a three-page brief with
the Engineer Board committing the
city to participation in the project.
A Washington group, headed by
Mrs. Clifford Durr, Alexandria, wife
of the Federal Communications
commissioner; Clifford Pinchot. for
mer Forest Service chief, and Henry
Beitcher, president of the District
Council of United Federal Workers
CLIO, will seek construction OF dam
at Chain Bridge, one of the IA pro-
posed.
In Maryland, Frederick County
whose board of county commission
ers yesterday adopted a resolution
opposing the project, is expected to
be represented at the hearing, while
| in Virginia delegations from LOU
doun, Clarke, Warren and Fau-
quicr Counties will attend. West Vir-
ginia counties sending delegations
are Jefferson, Berkeley, Morgan,
Hampshire, Mineral and Grant
The Cumberland (Md) area has in
dicated that 1t will remain neutral
on the issue.
The engineers plan, briefly. calls
for the construction of dams at the
following points beside Chair
Bridge: Riverbend, Harpers Ferry
Rockymarsh Run, Bear Island, Or.
leans end Pinesburg on the Poto.
mac; Millville on the Shenandoah
and Brooks Gap on the north forl
Of the Shenandoah, Springfield ane
Royal Glen on the south branch
LOT the Potomac, Keyser on the
north branch Of the Potomac. EIDE.
Fort on the Cacapon River and thu
Patterson Creek dam on Patterson
Creek.
| The dams would range in height
from 78 feet for the Keyser dan
Ito 776 feet for the Edes Fort dan
/