Evening star., 1947-09-07
Potomac Commission
Seeks Participation
OF All Areas in Basin
By james F. Birchfield
sfor Stoff Correspondent


STAUNTON, Va, Sept. 6.-The
Interstate Commission on the Po-
tomac River Basin took another
step in its program of cooperative
planning for the Potomac water
shed today by authorizing estab-
lishment of a committee represent
ing municipalities and county gov
ernments within the basin.
The committee, to consist Of Is
members, will be named by the
commission chairman after consul
tations with representatives Of
member states, the District OF Co.
lumbia and the Federal Govern
ment.
In setting up the new committee,
the commission pointed out that a
program of cooperative action in
developing the Potomac area calls
for the active participation of all
segments of the population.
Expect Wider Interest.
The coinnaittee will bring into the
cor4fi1issicnx N program the problems
of the small political units Mrough-
out the basin. 1t Is expected that
it will result In wider interest In
basin problems. @s II
Commission officials said that ap-
pointment of the committee follows
the commissions policy that a river
basin can be planned and developed
more democratically through the
cooperative compact method than
by the valley method.
Raymond v. Long, chairman OF
the Virginia Planning Board, was
elected commission chairman to
succeed State Senator L. Harold
Sothoron of Prince Georges County.
Harold A. Kemp, District sanitary
engineer, was elected vice chairman.
Other Members.
Members named to the Executive
Committee included Mr.. Long, Mr..
Kemp, Senator Sothoron and Clar-
ence c. Burger, jr, of the Army En-
gineers, representing the Federal
Government. Executive members
from West Virginia and Pennsyl-
vania will be named later.
Mr.. Long, who has served as COM
mission vice chairman, has been di-
rector of the Virginia Planning
Board since 1912. From 1914 until
his appointment to head the plan
ming board. he was attached to the
State Board of Education.
Mr.. Kemp, who lives at 1921 North
Huntington street, Arlington, is q
native of Frederick, Md. He designed
and was in charge of construction
of the Districts sewage disposal
plant built between 1884 and 1896.
From 1888 to 1910 he was depart
ment sanitary engineer in charge of
Rock Greek diversion sewers. Before
becoming sanitary engineer in 1914,
he served with the Army Engineers
and was in charge of engineering
at airport projects.
Asks Federal Funds.
The commission again urged the
Federal government to provide
funds for the completion Of the
Savage River Dam in western Mary
land. The dam, abandoned when it
was about half completed, was de-
signed as a. flood control porject.
1t would also provide an even flow
of water during the dry summer
months.
The commission directed that the
resolution calling for the compile
ton of the dam be sent to the legis-
latures of member States. It was
reported that the chief of the Army
Engineers is expected this year to
complete specifications and make
estimates for the dams completion.
The Federal Government, which
is a signatory to the compact estab-
fishing the commission but which
has never made an appropriation
for the commission, will be request
ed this year to provide $10,500 or
third of the body's operating ex-
penSes.
May Turn to Agencies.
The group said that if the Federal
Government again fails to provide
its share of the funds, attempts will
be made to obtain appropriations
through some Federal agency such
as the Department of Agriculture,
Public Works Agency or Public
Health Service.
In another resolution, the COM
mission approved bill by Repre-
sentative Kee, Republican, of West
Virginia, which would permit in
dustries to deduct from their income
tax returns money spent on waste
treatment plants.
The commission postponed ap-
pointment of members of a new
Land Use Committee until further
consultations can be held with rep
resentatives of the Department of
Agriculture. The Fish and "Wildlife
Service and State agencies. The new
committee will study soil erosion
and pollution, and will seek means
of establishing better agricultural
practices within the basin.