Evening star., 1950-01-13
Basin WiIdIife
And Recreation
.Unit Formed
Commission Urged
To Develop Rivers
Full PotentiuIities

Full PotentIulItIes !
In step to broaden the active
tiles of the Interstate Commission
on the Potomac River Basin,
Chairman Harold A. Kemp an
nounced today the formation of q
Wildlife and Recreation Com.
mittee.
Mr.. Kemp's announcement fol.
lowed an address last night by
Frederick Gutheim, author Of
THE Potomac, in which he urged
the commission to "aim at the full
development of. the potentialities
of the river"
The formation of the new COM
mlttee was announced at the
closing session of the two-day
commission meeting in the Hotel
Washington.
Members of Committee.
Members will include Senator
Robertson, Democrat, of Virginia,
who has long been active in the
conservation of wildlife; DR.. Will
liam B. Holton of the Atomic
Energy Commission and a member
of the Medical Board of Basic
Science, D. c.; Raymond Eaton,
vice president of the American
Red Cross; Horace Walker, editor
OF Masthead and secretary of the
Fourth Regional American Power
boat Association; Harold LEIGH.
president of the Dartmouth Club,
and Bill Leetch, outdoor columnist
for The Star.
Mr.. kempt, who is District sani-
tary engineer, said the new COM
mittee will complement the com.
missions Land Committee, work.
ing in the development of rec
reaction and wildlife resources
throughout the basin.
In urging the commission to
broaden it's activities, Mr..
Gutheim said the organizations
earlier concerns with stream poll
luton must be extended, if the
Potomac is to have planning
worthy of its potentialities.
The stimulation of local re-
gional planning. which already
has borne fruit in the upper
Potomac must be greatly strength
ened," he said.
Central Planning Unit.
Asserting that the commission
should become the central plan
ming agency for the Potomac
basin, Mr.. Gutheim said no great
changes in the interstate COM
pact authorizing the commission
would be necessary.
What is needed" he said, "is
a fresh perspective on the part OF
the commission and more gener-
Gus budget than the paltry $2e 900
now available annually"
He pointed out that the Fed
eral Government, for all it's in.
terest in the Potomac, contributes
only the "meager" sum of $1,000,
The commission is asking that
these sums be increased.
Mr.. Gutheim said the new plan
for Washington, which has not
yet been disclosed by the National
Capital Park and Planning Com
mission after two years, was
obsolete before it was completed.
He said the Washington plan
is not adequate because it fails
to consider regional development.
Other Cities Affected.
plans for the cities of the
Potomac, notably Washington, are
vitally affected by what you plan
for the river and it's develop
ment," Mr.. Gutheim said.
Mr.. Gutheim said the chief de-
mands Of the Potomac River area
in the future will be made by ths
Federal Government, which should
expand its activities throughout
an area close to the National
Capital.
1T would be tragic" he con-
tlnued. If Federal activities, which
should be located here, are moved
to other parts of the Nation, solely
because suitable sites, water sup
ply. transportation and communi.
cations were lacking because Of
failure to develop them.
The task Of planning and de-
veloping the river will not be
quick and easy, but it is the work
OF our age as the knowledge Of
our time has revealed it to us.
I'VE must meet the challenge
OF this new frontier if our best
hopes are to be fulfilled