Evening star., 1946-01-10
Army toDraft
Flood Control
Benefits to Area
Cited by Officials,
Residents at Hearing

ing appeals yesterday by more thar
a score of Prince Georges County
residents for prompt remedial action
approximately 100 persons, includ-
ing representatives of county, Dis
trict and Maryland agencies, at
tended the hearing in the County
Service Building, Hyattsville.
Col. Donald G. White, District
engineer, who presided at the meet
ing, told reporters the proposed
solution to the problem probably
will call for the construction OF
levees averaging 10 to Is feet high
along the streams and dredging ano
widening the channels. He en-
phasized, however, that this was
tentative" pending completion OF
his rpeort to 1t. Gen. Raymond
Wheeler, chief of engineers.
Further Parleys in Prospect.
He explained that the proposed
plan, as developed, will be discussed
with representatives of the com
munities affected. After they are
submitted to Gen. Wheeler, the pro.
posals will be referred to the Boarc
Of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors
which may hold another hearing
Col. White said. The report ther
will be returned to Gen. Wheeler.
T. Howard Duckett, county civic
leader and banker and attorney tc
the Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission, set the keynote of the
hearing when he declared that the
constant flooding of the area during
heavy rains has become a blight
on the reputation of the county ano
has hampered its development.
He added that two of the prin-
cipal entries into the District-the
Washington Baltimore boulevard
and Defense highway-meet at the
Peace Cross in Bladenspurg, and
that the flooding of the road at
this point results in the reroutlng
of thousands of vehicles
Asserting that the Maryland Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission has acquired about soc
acres of land along the Anacostia
Valley as a future park system
representing an investment oil
s750,000, Mr.. Duckett asked the
Army engineers to study the pos.
si5le re-establishment of the Ana.
costa River as a navigable stream
thus paving the way for construc-
ton Of a yacht basin at Bladens.
burg.
Sees Values Raised.
He pointed out that If the river
were made navigable as far as
Bladensburg 1T would mean the
addition of millions of dollars worth
of business to Prince Georges
County and would aid in the 1ec.
reational development of the area.
Harry B. Shaw. deputy chief en-
gineer Of the Sanitary Commission
said the proposed flood control anc
navigation project could be readily
co-ordinated with the commission.
storm water drainage system.
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III, chair.
man of the National Capital Parl
and Planning Commission, described
the Potomac and Anacostia River.
as one of the best boating areas ir
the country. He added, however
that lack of facilities in Washing.
ton prevent the full development
OF Potomac boating, although il
has great possibilities" if it car
be shifted to the upper Anacostis
at Bladensburg.
John Nolen, jr., director of plan
ming for the commission. expressed
the hope that the engineers plan
would eliminate the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad crossing on the De-
fenSe highway in Bladensburg.
Although sentiment at the meet
ing was Overwhelmingly in favor
OF any measures taken by the Army
engineers that would eliminate
floods, Col. White read a letter
from the B. & o. Railroad oppos-
ing the construction of levees on
the ground that they would reduce
the sight distance" of locomotive
engineers,
When asked by Col. White whether
the county could contribute any
funds toward the flood control
project, William A. Carson, pres
ident of the Board of County Com
missioners, explained that the
county must depend on authorize
tion from the State Legislature be-
fore taking such action. He added
that I'VE would have to know the
total cost involved before we could
contribute" He emphasized, how
ever, that the board has indorsed
any plan to prevent floods in the
area.
Others pledging their cooperation
included William A. Duvall, Mayor
OF College Park; A. Murray Cover
Mayor of Hyattsville; Judge Vincent
A. Osterman of the County Orphans
Court, Albert c. Dunn, representing
the Public Roads Administration
Wilson T. Ballard, chief engineer OF
the Maryland State Road Com
mission; State Senator L. Harold
Sothoron, Representative Sasscer
Democrat, of Maryland; Irwin I
Main, chairman of the Maryland.
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission; Arthur w. Tayman
county engineer; Andrew F.. Gasch
chairman of the Bladensburg com.
missioners, and Col. Joseph Aman
representing the Advisory Board tc
the county commissioners.