Evening star., 1949-08-06
Fight on Oil Base
AT Piney Point
Shifts 10 County
Attitude of St. Morys
Heads May Determine
Army Ruling on Plan
Special Dispatch to The Stor

Army kulIng on Plan
Special Dispatch to The Star
LEONARDTOWN, Md. Aug. 6.
Several hundred embittered cit
liens of lower st. Marys County
prepared today to shift their fight
against establishment Of an oil
tank base at Piney Point from the
Army Engineer Corps to the coun-
ty commissioners.
The commissioners attitude, it
was indicated at a meeting in
Valley Lee, near here. yesterday.
may determine Army action on a
plan submitted by Steuart Bros.
Inc. of Washington.
The proposal calls for construc-
tion of a wharf ! 1,102 feet into the
Potomac River, a pipe line across
Piney Point creek, and installation
of tanks on a farm on the shore.
Ocean going tankers would
pump their cargoes into the tanks
for distribution by barge and
truck to Washington and through
out Southern Maryland.
200 Citizens at Hearing.
More than 200 citizens of the
area packed into the Episcopal
Church Hall and got the cue for
an appeal to the commissioners
at the hearing conducted by Capt.
John w. Califf of the District En-
gineers' office. Capt. Califf was as
sisted by R. L. Wadsworth, chief
of the rivers and harbors branch
of the Office.
Asked by R. J. Koegel of Piney
Point, whether it was Army pol
icy to accede to wishes of local
governing bodies in such matters.
Capt. Califf said the Engineer
Corps had followed that procedure
for more than 20 years.
IF the commissioners go on
record against it, will you disap-
prove the plan?" Mr.. Koegel
asked.
1--WE would take that into con-
sideration." Capt. Califf replied.
Deeds May Be Reviewed.
The commissioners also prob
ably will be asked to review deeds
for property in the area.
Several members of the pro-
testing group said that their deeds
specify that no commercial en-
terprises could be started in the
Piney Point section along the
shoreline.
Mr.. Koegel's queries came i'm
mediately after w. B. Duke, jr., Of
Valley Lee, failed in an attempt
to draw an expression of opinion
from the three county commits
sioners. all of whom were present.
John H. T. Briscoe, their at
torney. explained that the county
heads had taken no official stand
and had come to the meeting Ito
hear what both sides have to say
before reaching a decision"
Only opposition arguments were
presented at the hearing yester-
day. Representatives of the Steu-
art Co., asked if they wished to
comment, said they "had nothing
to add to the record at this time"
Warren Tolson, property own
er of Piney Point, against whom
most of the feeling appeared to
be directed, took neutral stand.
He said he favored the proposal If
the company stayed within the
law" but would be among the
first to object if oil was dumped
overheard or the water otherwise
polluted.
Lease Aroused Feeling.
Feeling against Mr.. Tolson was
aroused, it was learned, because
he had leased to the Steuart Co. q
right of-way over his property for
the oil pipe line across Piney Point
Creek.
Capt. Califf explained at the
outset that the Navy and Coast
Guard had approved the project.
This brought a remark from q
retired Army engineer officer. 1t.
Col. Wallace w. Kirby. that I'm
amazed at the attitude Of both"
Col. Kirby, who lives in the
area. called the plan a money!
making scheme and predicted that
huge oil trucks soon would be
dumping us off on the roads"
He also showed Capt. Califf pic
lures Of ice formation in Piney
Point Greek and predicted that If
the wharf is built, lit will wind
up at Point Lookout"
Ralph Hammer. shell fish cul-
turist for the Tidewater Fisheries
Commission. said his department
opposed the project because Of the
effect of oil pollution on fish, crabs
and oysters.
Former Chief Judge William M.
Loker and his son William M.
Loker. jr., representing the opposi-
ton, presented petitions signed by
several hundred citizens.
Objections Outlined.
Judge Loker said the petitioners
objected chiefly because a part Of
the approach to the proposed
wharf now Is a prohibited area
under Navy regulations.
He said it also is a place where
at least four naval torpedo testing
barges always are anchored. Any
collision or unexpected contact by
a tanker with any Of the barges.
he contended, would imperil lives
and property within a. consider
able distance on land and water.
The petitioners also objected be-
cause they said the proposed
wharf will interfere with fishing
oystering-their chief sourcea Of
livelihood-and because leakage
and waste from the oil line is
sure Ito pollute the water in the
creek and around the Potomac
River shore" "
Objections from 20 or more
others who spoke against the FAN