Evening star., 1950-05-01
Panel 10 Meet
This Week on
River Pollution
Alexandra Session
Will Hear Views of
Izook Walton League
By jones BirchfieId

BY james BirehfieId
Potomac River pollution prob
lens in the Washington area will
come under discussion this week
at Alexandria.
Highlighting the spring meet
ing Of the Interstate Commission
on the Potomac River Basin
Thursday and Friday at the
George Mason Hotel, a panel
made up Of leaders of the Virginia
metropolitan area communities will
discuss their common pollution
problems.
Heading the panel as moder-
ator will be Oliver Gasch. COM
mission counsel and District as
sistant corporation counsel. Mem
bers will include w. T. Ellis,
chairman of the water and sani-
tation committee of the Northern
Virginia Planning Commission,
who will discuss the overall pic
ture of pollution in the Virginia
area: j. Maynard Magruder, Arl-
ington member of the Virginia
House of Delegates, and Mayor
Frank Backus of Alexandria. The
Arlington, Alexandria and Fair
fax members will discuss local pol
luton problems.
Walton League to Be Heard.
In addition. DR.. George Leme-
shewsky, chairman of the pollu-
ton committee of the Alexandria
chapter, Izaak Walton League,
will discuss the problem as his Or
ganization finds it. Other men,
bers of the panel will be r. w.
Writ, director of the Arlington
County Public Service Depart
ment. and James j. Corbalis,
Fairfax County sanitary engineer.
Following the discussions, E.
Blackburn Moore, speaker of the
House of Delegates and chairman
of the Virginia Water Control
Board. will address a dinner meet
ing of the commission Thursday
evening. Mr.. Moore will outline
the work of the board.
Pollution problems arising from
Virginia communities near Wash
ington have been considered by
the board for more than a year.
Two weeks ago Arlington County
was advised to take steps to de-
crease the pollution now being
flushed untreated into the Po-
tomac.
"CeSspOol" Danger Cited.
The Washington area has long
been considered the chief pollu-
ton problem in the lower Potomac
basin. Harold A. Kemp. District
sanitary engineer and commission
chairman, and Ralph E. Fuhr-
man, superintendent of the Dis
trict's sewage treatment plant,
recently told the Senate Appro-
priations Committee that the Po-
tomac below the city would "be-
come a cesspool" unless funds
were made available for addi-
tional treatment facilities.
On the Virginia side Of the
river, both Arlington County and
Alexandria have plans for addi-
tional treatment facilities. A bond
issue to provide funds for a
treatment plant for Fairfax
County recently was approved by
the voters.
Public knowledge Urged.
Commission Director Edwin r.
Cotton said the work of the COM
missions standing committees
probably will be focused on the
panel discussions. He said he
hopes residents of the area will
become better advised on the pol
luton problems.
The commissions sessions Fri
day will start with discussions by
DR.. w. B. Holton. national direc-
tor of the Izaak Walton League,
and by Bill Leetch. outdoor COL
umniSt for The Star. DR.. Holton
will discuss pollution in its gen.
eral relationship to wildlife. while
Mr.. Leetch will discuss pollution
as it affects fish and wildlife in
the Potomac area.
Raymond Eaton. vice president
Of the Red Cross. will outline the
accomplishments that may be ex-
pected from the commissions new
committee on recreation and wild
life. The committee was an
nounced at the January meeting
by Chairman Kemp.