Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-03-13
Arlington Seeks
FundstoPress
Pollution Fight
Applies for State
Aid for Towns to
Garry Out Order
By Robert c. 'RoIlinas

lag x1l 4A4SCSAL SS0A3VJ ASSAA =
yesterday agreed to ask the Statt
Water Control Board if funds arr
available to help communitie!
comply with an anti-pollutior
order.
The Water Control Board re.
Gently notified offending com
munities to go ahead Immediately
with a program to bring about 6
substantial reduction in the
amount of untreated sewage
emptied into Virginia waterways
The State body asked for re-
port by May / on the steps taken
and specified that further reports
be made every three months.
Yesterdays action by the County
Board stemmed from discussion
which arose with the reading OF
an invitation to members to a
meeting at 8 pm. Thursday OF the
Northern Virginia Regional Plan
ming Commissions Water Supply
and Sanitation Committee.
Will Consider Situation.
Weldon T. Ellis, a member of the
Arlington Planning Commission
and chairman of the regional
groups committee, wrote that the
sewage situation would be con-
sidered at the Thursday meeting,
which will be in the Arlington
Courthouse.
On suggestion of Board Member
Daniel A. Dugan, County Manager
A. T. Lundberg was instructed to
ask the Water Control Board if
it is aware that Arlington is treat
ing at least half its sewage while
all the eff1uent from Alexandria
and Fairfax emptied into the
Potomac River is untreated.
This county is the least to
blame" Mr. Dugan declared.
F. Freeland Chew. acting board
chairman. commented that other
communities farther up the river
contribute to the pollution.
Mr.. Dugan then requested that
the State board be asked about
funds. Arlington has plans for
an addition to its sewage treat
ment plant which would increase
its capacity five times and enable
1t to serve a population of 200, 900.
The current population Is about
$4,000.
Gas Rate Cut Sought.
Arlington emptieS more than
5000, 900 gallons of untreated
sewage daily into the Potomac.
Alexandria is responsible for
about the same amount while
Fairfax contributes appropri-
mately 1,250.000 gallons,
The County Board yesterday re-
ceived a recommendation from
the Public Utilities Commission
that it ask the Federal Power
Commission to order reduction
in wholesale rates charged the
Rosslyn Gas Co. by the Washing
ton Gas Light Co. so that rates
to Virginia consumers may be cut.
The report, prepared by j. Paul
Blundon, consulting engineer
employed by the board, and PUG
Member Albert A. Carretta, de-
clared that apparent excessive
charges by the parent Washing
ton company to its Rosslyn sub
sidiary amount to least S279 ,533
annually.
In addition, the report noted
that the Rosslyn company. which
serves Arlington, Alexandria and
part of Fairfax County, appar-
entity is earring $66,988 above the
accepted 6 per cent rate OF re-
turn"
No Action Urged Now.
The report recommended, how
ever, that no action be taken at
this time to brig the matter
before the virginia State Corpora
ton Comrrim:.on which has juris-
dictior yxer the net earnings OF
the EtNNy. Such a move should
avs It the conclusion Of the pro-
ceedings before the EPC, the re-
port said.
Action on the recommendations
was deferred by the board because
of the absence of two members.
Mrs. Florence Cannon is i'll and
Chairman Basil M. DeLashmutt is
on vacation. The three members
present, however. indicated the
final step would be favorable.
Mr.. Lundberg was authorized to
seek permission from Gov. Tuck to
put daylight saving time in effect
In Arlington this summer. The
county manager also was au-
thorized to advertise the necessary
ordinance If the permission is
granted, provided the District OF
Columbia also decides to use day.