Evening star., 1948-08-29
.19 Trailer Families
Without Wafer ; DAYS
In Electrical Cutoff

Sixty residents OF Fairfax
County trailer camp. including about
20 small children, have been without
water, sanitary facilities or elec-
tricity since Thursday when the
county ordered the power turned off
because of wiring, which it said was
defective.
The residents, 10 families in all,
are in the Gum Springs Trailer
Camp on No. l highway, south of
Groveton. The camp, which was
started in 1899, is owned by Mrs.
Mary Vavala and leased to Peter
Dorser. Mrs. Vavala, a widow, lives
in cottage at the camp.
The county electrical inspectors
Office said Mr.. Dorser was given an
original 30-day notice to correct i'm
proper wiring and then two 15-day
extensions The final 15-day period
expired Thursday and because the
wiring had not been changed. the
current was ordered turned off. the
office said
Water Pump Stalled.
When the power was cut off, the
supply of water ceased because it is
drawn from a we'll by an electric
pump. The lack of water also rem
dered sanitary facilities imperative.
Fear of an outbreak of disease
was expressed by Miss Grace Gaff-
ney, trained nurse who has lived
at the camp since 1914. Miss Gaff-
ney pointed out that some residents
have continued to use the toilets
and that garbage and trash has
been dumped in large pile in a
field to the rear of the camp.
Some residents have moved from
the camp to the homes of friends
and relatives but most of them
have no place to 60
1T is virtually impossible to find
trailer camp in this area with
any empty space" commented Mrs
c. c. Cantrell. The Cantrells. who
have 2l-month-old daughter,
Vicki Regina. have only small
tank, part of their trailer's equip
ment, in which to keep water. Mr..
Cantrell is a civilian employe of
Marine Headquarters in the Arling-
ton Navy Annex.
Residents Carry Water.
Residents must carry water from
neighborhood houses. business estab-
lishmentS and other trailer camps
A few were able to fill all available
containers just before the electricity
was turned off but this supply was
about exhausted yesterday.
Among families affected is that of
Elmer Kits, carpenter, whose
Youngest child, Elmer, jr., 20 months,
was returned to the trailer camp
home Wednesday after recovering
in Alexandria Hospital from an at
tack of polio. The Kits also have
a daughter Darla Jean, 4.
Other residents include S Sergt T.
and Mrs. Alton Mcdowell and their
son. Alton, jr., 3. and Sergt. and
Mrs. Hayward Cutlip and their son.
Robert, 6 months. Both husbands
are stationed at Fort Belvoir. Mrs
Cutlip is native of Belgium where
she met her husband during the
war
Food Thrown Away.
Many residents have had to throw
away food which spoiled because
there is no current to operate refri-
gerators. Some families are fortu-
nate in that their trailer refrigera-
ton can be converted to use manu-
featured ice instead of electricity.
Neither Mr.. Dorser or Fairfax
County health authorities could be
reached last night and Mrs. Vavala
pointed out that the five-year lease
held by Mr.. Dorser provides that he
make all repairs.
I'm just as bad off as every one
else she asserted, but under the
lease l can't do anything"
DR.. Henry c. Bradford. county
health officer. said he had not
known of conditions at the camp
but would send a sanitation officer
there today.
He added an attempt probably
would be made to reach a temporary
agreement with the county to take
care" of the trailer camn residents