Evening star., 1945-09-21
Planners Back
Wafer
And Drainage
Group Of Technicions
Will Be Selected
To Prepare Report
BY NELSON M. SHEPARD

Planning Commission is sponsoring
early activation of group of tech
nicians to prepare a comprehensive
study Of water. sewage and drain
age problems in the rapidly grow
ing Washington Metropolitan Area.
AS recommended by John Nolen,
director OF planning, the announced
purpose Is to assist the Interstate
Committee on the Potomac River
Basin in preparing its forthcoming
regional study of water resources.
The local group will be known as
the Washington Regional Water Re-
sources Committee.
Action was taken after Mr.. Nolen
reported late yesterday on the re-
cent meeting of the Interstate Com
mittee in Pennsylvania, which he
attended as representative of the
Planning Commission. This COM
mittee has overall supervision of all
planning in connection with the Po-
tomac Basin water resources.
Technicians representing the Dis
trict and adjoining Maryland and
Virginia counties will be named on
the local group. It's activation is
expected SOON
One OF the chief concerns of the
study, it was said, is the problem of
providing some measure of effective
control of local watersheds outside
of Washington. That is necessary,
it was believed. to eliminate or re-
duce the pollution nuisance of the
Potomac and its tributaries through
out tine Metropolitan Area. New
communities are being developed
and others have undergone wartime
expansion in the adjoining counties
without proper attention being given
to local sewage, officials claimed.
The Planning Commission also ap-
proved the submission of a plan to
Col John M. johnson, United States
district engineer, for the orderly de-
velopment of the Washington water
front. The engineer Office is to con-
duct public hearings at an early
date.
Included in the plan, 1t was said
will be some additional proposals
made by the Once of National Cap
ital Parks with respect to Roosevelt
Island and East Potomac Park along
the Anacostia River. 1t was suggest
ed that the grade of the low areas in
East Potomac Park be raised suf-
ficiently to prevent flooding That is
serious problem, officials said, and
the golf links are frequently affected
after steady rains.
The establishment OF ferry service
connecting Columbian Island with
Roosevelt Island, which is being pre-
served as natural park in memory
OF Theodore Roosevelt, has long
been under study. Revised plans are
being made for the location of the
ferry. ~s.,-. #
Fred w., Tuemmler, director OF
planning for the Maryland National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion, attended the session. He was
assured Of cooperation in the plans
Of that group to continue an orderly
waterway development from the
District line to Bladensburg. He ex-
poets to present plan to the United
States Engineer Once.
The Maryland Commission has
long been interested in deepening
and widening the Anacostia channel
for pleasure boating. The plan in
cludes the dredging OF a small har-
Dor at Bladensburg.
Norman c. Brown, land purchas-
inng officer of the Federal Commits
sion, announced that condemnation
had been authorized on an unim-
proved site of more than an acre of
ground needed to insure completion
of the Kalorama Park project at
Columbia and Kalorama roads NV.
The desired ground fronts on Kalo-
rama road and the park project, he
said. is now approximately two
thirds completed.
Its completion Is badly needed,
Mr.. Brown said. for the young, the
inflrm and Older people living in the
thickly populated neighborhood The
area already acquired through pur-
chase is now in use.
The commission also authorized
condemnation proceedings to insure
acquisition of commercial lot situ-
ated on Champlain street NV,
north of Florida avenue, to insure
completion of a needed addition to
the Morgan-Happy Hollow School
Playground. The acquisition of this
intervening lot, which contains
garages and service stations, will
make possible a more useful de-
velopment of the play areas already
owned.
Mr.. Brown reported further prog
ress in continuing acquisitions in the
Cardoza Playground area in the
vicinity of Ninth street and Rhode
Island avenue NV. This Is one of
the largest colored play areas in the
city.
The Planning Commission "ap-
proved in principle" the proposal for
the transfer of War Department.
owned land at Great Falls to the
National Park Service for the de-
velopment of automobile parking
areas. 1t directed its staff and the
Park Service to draw up a detailed
plan for the areas to be transferred
as a preliminary to negotiations.
Following their visit to the White
House yesterday morning, members
OF the commission reported that
President Truman had shown a sim
cere interest in the comprehensive
long grange plans for the develop
ment of Washington and its en-
virons.
The visit had been arranged by a
veteran member of the commission.
j. c. Nichols of Kansas City. Mo-.
who has known the President for
many years. Before Mr.. Truman
was elected to the Senate in 1884
he and Mr.. Nichols had been closely
associated in regional road planning
In the st. Louis area.
Jobless Compensation
Rises in Maryland
BY the Associated Press.
ANNAPOLIS, Md, Sept. 2l.-A
total of $344 .1O3 was disbursed nv