Evening star., 1948-09-12
West Virginia Order
Industries 10 Cease
Po||uting Potomac
By jones Birchfield
Stor Stoff Correspondent

Stor Stott correspondent
HAGERSTOWN, Md, Sept. IL
Full cooperation in a program to
clean up the upper Potomac basin
was pledged today by representatives
of the West Virginia Water Com
mission.
In a report to the Interstate Com
mission on the Potomac River Basin
naming the principal pollution Of
Tenders in the West Virginia Basin
K. S. Watson, water commission en-
gineer, said notices were being sent
out with instructions to make correc-
tions.
+ I'VE offer full cooperation to
Maryland in solving the pollution
problems of the upper river Mr
Watson said. I'VE are prepared to
go. ahead with an abatement pro-
gram of the rivers within our State
but shall proceed slowly in the main
stem of the river until such time as
Maryland authorities are ready to
act.
4 Must Wait for Maryland.
ut would be useless for West Vir-
ginia to act on the main river Mr.
Watson explained, until the Mary
land program is launched, since most
of the offenders in that area are in
Maryland territory
Citing the Martinsburg area as
one of the most heavily polluted
sections in the West Virginia basin
Mr.. Watson said pollution here
comes from city sewage and from
six industries.
These industries he listed as
Keller & Lambert slaughter house
National Fruit Products Co., Berke-
ley Woolen Mill Dunn Woolen Mill
interviewer Stocking Co., and the
Martinsburg Gas Co.
Other industries named by Mr.
Watson as sources of pollution in
the West Virginia area are the Kop-
pers Co., Green Springs, Keystone
Tanning and Glue Co.. Paw Paw
Pennsylvania Glass Sand Corp.
Berkeley Springs, Blair Limestone
Co., Balriton, Davis Coal & Coke
DdydTu, dIlO k1duIoWA dPCl oOoA
Cites Kanawha Basin Action.
Mr.. Watson said similar report
naming offenders was published for
the Kanawha River Basin. The re-
suit. he said, was that industry
rolled up its sleeves and went to
work to correct the condition"
In connection with Mr.. Watson S
report it was suggested by the COM
missions industrial committee that
Opequon Greek, which flows from
Winchester, Va, into West Virginia
to join the Potomac near Martins
burg, be made demonstration area
This would hinge on an agreement
by industries and municipalities in
this area to Cooperate.
The commission voted to request
the House Flood Control Committee
for a resurvey of an Agriculture
Department report on the Potomac
River Basin prepared under the
Flood Control Act of 1886.
This early report, it was recalled,
emphasized dam construction in the
Potomac rather than proper land
use in the upper watershed as a
means of reducing flood damage.
Soil Erosion Discussed.
The commission also voted to de-
vote full day Of its April meeting
in Cumberland, Md, to discussion
by soil conservation district super
visors of basin States of the relation
of soil erosion to river pollution.
Commission officers, all re- - J.
are Raymond v. Long. director of
the Virginia Planning Board. chair
man: Harold A. Kemp. District of
Columbia sanitary engineer: vice
chairman: DR.. Daniel L. Seckinger
assistant District of Columbia health
officer, treasurer, and Olive Gasch
assistant District of Columbia cor
poration counsel, commission coun-