Evening star., 1946-06-21
For Potomac Flood
Control Projects

Potomac River Hood control prof.
ects at a total cost of more than
$1i 900 900 in Washington, Cumber-
land, Md, and Waynesboro, Va, and
including the Savage River Dam in
Allegany County Md, are included
in a 5000, 900 900 national program
measure which the House passed
yesterday and sent to the Senate.
The legislation, which makes nc
specific appropriations. authorizes
estimated outlays of $4,000 900 fol-
flood control work elsewhere in Vir-
ginia, notably for construction OF
the multiple purpose Salem Church
Dam to protect the city of Fred
ericksburg which has an annual
flood damage of about $1,000.
The Washington project consists
of construction of a flood gate
mounted on a roller path so that il
could be thrown cross Seventeenth
street NV. INN .ediately south OF
the Navy Department to stop the
Potomac's waters from entering the
city In time of severe floods. Army
engineers indicate that construction
which is not contemplated before
1948 at the earliest, must await re-
moval of the buildings now housing
the Navy Department and other
agencies in that vicinity.
Cumberland Branch Project.
The largest of the Potomac Basir
projects in the pending bill is &
s7,420,O00 authorization for the
north branch at Cumberland ant
West Cumberland. Md, and Ridge.
ley. w. Va. 1t would consist of con.
struction of levees, retaining walls
and other works along Wills Greek
above the B. & o. railroad viaduc1
at Cumberland and for channel i'm.
provements on the north branch
and Wills Creek.
Local interests would be required
to pay costs of land acquisition ane
damages estimated at $1,520OO0
The plan also calls for removal anc
reconstruction of an industrial dam
rebuilding of highways and railroad
bridges and provision for interior
drainage and pumping facilities.
The Waynesboro project, with 9
81 ,431 900 authorization, consists ol
construction of levees, walls, chan.
mel excavation. pressure conduits
pumping plants and bridge changes
to protect low-lying sections of the
town from river flow of $4,000 feet
second which is equivalent to q
stage s feet higher than the max
imum of record" Local interests
would be required TO provide $297 900
Savage River Dam.
The $l,900.000 authorization for
the Savage River Dam would be
combined with 100000 offered by
the Upper Potomac River Commits
sion to complete the structure on
which work was halted in 1912. The
dam is about 65 per cent complete
and almost $4,000,000 was spent or
it by WPA.
In other Virginia areas the bigges
project is the $17,755, 900 for the
Salem Church Dam in the Rap.
pahannock River Basin to protect
FL ACOCL lChSUuls. Inc leRlSldtlOI
does not fix the height of the pro.
posed dam. but Chairman Whit.
tington of the House Flood Contro
Committee promised Gov. Tuck
that a recommendation for a 900.
| foot structure will be carefully con.
sidered. The plan originally called
for 240-foot dam. Gov. Tuck con.
tended that this would cause seriou.
objections from land owners whose
property would be inundated.
Other Virginia projects in the bill
include an $l1,0000 900 authorization
for construction of the Gathrigh
Reservoir and the Falling Sprin1
regulation dam on Jackson River, {
tributary of the James River. Thi.
is designed to protect Richmond ane
other communities from frequen
flood damage. The bill also author.
ICES $267. .125 for local flood protec.
ton works on Chestnut Greek Al
Galax, Va.