Evening star., 1949-08-30
Voting Is Light
On Sewer Bond
Issue in Fairfax
1000 BoIIots Expected
On Referendum in
Sanitary District !

Early voting was light today in
a. referendum to decide whether
So, 900 900 in bonds should be is
sued by Fairfax County to finance
a sewer improvement program for
the county's Sanitary District
No. i.
Only residents Of the sanitary
district, which is a 30-square-mile
strip adjacent to the cities OF
Falls Church and Alexandria and
County, are eligible to
vote in the referendum.
BY II am, the total Of votes at
six Of the sanitary districts eight
precincts was as follows: Grove
ton, SO: West End, 20; Bailey's. 81:
Falls Church No. /, "a; the Lick,
Is, and Falls Church No. 2. 8.
It is estimated that about 1000
votes will be cast before the polls
close at 1880 o'clock tonight. The
polls opened at $3.50 am. About
3 500 people are eligible to vote in
the sanitary district, where the
estimated population Is $4,000.
Confusion Blamed.
Observers blamed the light vote
on confusion over the bond issue
and the proposed 100000 sewer
program, causing many people to
stay away from the polls because
of indecision.
The proposed bond issue became
the center Of controversy be-
tween Fairfax County and Falls
Church. The issue would finance
county purchase Of the Federally-
owned Holmes Run trunk sewer.
About IS per cent OF Falls
Church homes are served by the
Federal facility and the city is
concerned over higher sewer
charges the county plans to put
into effect II it acquires the sewer.
The city unsuccessfully tried to
get the Government to refuse to
sell the sewer to the county.
Fairfax Sanitary Engineer
James j. Corbalis, jr., has accused
Falls Church of trying to defeat
the bond issue because Of its an
nexation hopes. This has tended to
line up supporters and opponents
of annexation on opposite sides Of
the bond issue referendum. Falls
Church residents have no vote in
the referendum, however, because
the city is not within the sanitary
district.
Committee Opposes Plan.
Voters at the last minute re-
ceived circular opposing the bond
issue signed by Robert s. Hensel,
who identified himself as secretary
Of the Citizens Protective Com
mittee.
The circular asked county resi-
dents not to buy pig in poke"
1t claimed that a map had not
been published showing where the
proposed sewer line extensions
would be located. Such a map
with proposed sewer extensions in
dicated was shown by Mr.. Cor
balls during talks in support OF
the bond issue, however.
The circular also declared that
residents could be required to hook
up to the sewer, although they
have been led to believe that con-
nection with the sewer will be
voluntary.
Strongest Supporters.
Probably the strongest support
ers Of the sewer program will be
residents in areas where the coun-
ty proposed to install A miles Of
new sewers. In many instances
septic tanks have become unsatis-
factory, particularly in the Grove
ton area, where overflowing tanks
have created a health menace.
Failure of the bond issue could
result in ban against any further
sewer extensions in the county.
This is because the county super
visors have been warned by the
State Water Control Board that
no additional raw sewage can be
emptied into the Potomac River
where the Holmes Run trunk
sewer now flows.
Without the treatment plant
that the bond issue would pro-
vide. the only way to prevent addi-
tional sewage from emptying into
the Potomac would be to prohibit
further connections. The super
visors have indicated they would
be forced to take this step II the
bond issue fails rather than risk
imposition Of a $500 daily fine by
fha otar h0ard