Evening star., 1950-05-05
Potomac Basin
Development
StudyS|ated
Nine Other Rivers
Also Chosen in U. S.
Guinea Pig Plan
By james BirchfieId

The Potomac River is among 10
American streams chosen for a
guinea pig" study of river basin
development by the Presidents
Water Resources Policy Commits
sion.
This was revealed today at the
Alexandria meeting of the Inter-
state Commission on the Potomac
River Basin. The commission was
requested to file a brief with the
Water Policy Commission, stating
its recommendation for develop
ing the basin.
Requesting that the commission
file the brief, the Potomac COM
missions land committee pointed
out that consideration be given
by the commission to the de-
velopment of land policy in the
Potomac area, to recreation pos
sibilities and to other policies of
basin development.
faV0rS Compact MetnOu.
1t was pointed out the commit
tee long has been on record as
favoring the interstate compact
method of basin development over
the valley authority method.
. The Potomac commission has
argued in favor of the compact
method on grounds that an inter-
state cooperative agreement pro-
vides the most democratic method
of developing river basins. Under
the compact, the planning and the
impetus for basin development
emanate from the people.
The Presidents policy commits
sion is headed by Maurice Cook
and is now receiving recommen-
dations from various governmental
and State agencies on water and
land policy.
The Potomac commissions new
Recreation and Wildlife Commit
tee, organized at this meeting, re-
ported that steps are being taken
to make an inventory of recre-
ational resources in the basin.
Pollution VioIators Warned.
This is necessary, it was pointed
out, before the group can deter
mine what its functions will be.
Bill Leetch, outdoor columnist
for The Star. and a member of
the commissions Wildlife and
Recreation Committee. told COM
mission members today that it
will cost $50 million to clean up
Rock Creek. 80
Accusing politicians Of pol
1uted thinking" Mr.. Leetch said
the Jefferson Memorial, on zone
of the finest cesspools in the
Nations Capital" was built dur
ing wartime when construction of
the Savage River Dam had been
stopped.
He said the Savage River Dam
project, now being completed, is
one of the greatest conservation
assets to the Potomac Basin.
At a dinner meeting last night,
E. Blackburn Moore, speaker of
the Virginia House of Delegates
and chairman of the State Water
Control Board, gave warning to
chronic violators of Virginia's pol
luton laws to expect vigorous"
action by the board.
Pollution Discussed.
Mr.. Moore's talk followed a
round-table discussion by repre-
sentativeS of Arlington and Fair
fax Counties and Alexandria on
pollution conditions in the Vir-
ginia area.
j Maynard Magruder, member
of the House of Delegates from
Arlington, urged that a study be
made of the possibilities of joint
action in sewage treatment.
Mayor Frank Backus of Alex
andria said his city probably will
consider treatment facilities as
soon as the uncertain problem
of annexation is settled. He said
that, in his opinion, three treat
nent plants may be necessary to
serve the entire Virginia area.
= James j. Corbalis,, Fairfax
County sanitary engineer, said
the county after approving a So
million bond issue, soon will have
the cash on hand to construct a
treatment plant and to provide