Evening star., 1950-05-27
City Seeks $1,405,00(
First Water Loan as
Bill Goes 10 Truman
By Harold B. Roqers


The District plans to borrow
81 ,4o5, 900 from the United States
Treasury for expansion of the
water system, next fiscal year. if
President Truman signs bill sent
to him yesterday by Congress.
The loan would be the first of
a series authorized by the bill,
which would permit the city heads
to borrow up to $23,000,000 in
installments over a period of 10
years.
Since the measure had been
approved by the Budget Bureau
before being presented to Con-
gress, the signature of the Presi-
dent is confidently expected,
probably early next week.
Legislation for the loans was
approved by Congress, after warn
ings that the National Capital
might face a water shortage some
what similar to New York, unless
a long-range improvement pro-
gram is launched soon. Current
revenue from water sales could not
carry the necessary 30-year ex-
pansion of facilities without bor-
rowing. Congress was told.
Vote on Each Loan.
District Engineer Commissioner
Gordon r. Young said he plans to
work this week end on the official
report to be sent to Congress, ask
ing inclusion of the necessary
provisions in the pending 1851 city
supply bill. This measure, already
approved by the House, is now
pending before the Senate Appro-
priations subcommittee on the
District.
Each loan under the new water
loan bill must be specifically ap-
proved by Congress in the city
supply bill. The loan will carry
interest to be fixed by the Sec
retary of the Treasury.
Gen. Young explained the $1-
405.O00 loan would be part of
proposed $2,110,000 increase in the
capital outlay requested for the
next fiscal year for expansion of
facilities. The remainder of the
increase will be met by water
fund balances, and the sale of
clty-owned securities held in trust
by the Secretary of the Teasury
Makes $4,343,000 Available.
The pending appropriations bill
now carries a total of $2,233, 900
for permanent improvements to
the water supply system. This
will be increased under the pro-
gram to $4,343. 900, the entire gain
to be applied to expansion of the
Washington Aqueduct facilities.
David Auld, superintendent of
the Water Division, explained the
projects to which the increased
funds will be applied. They in
clude a new pumping station at
Dalecarlia, deepening of the Mid
die Falls Greek drainage channel.
"a new 13-million-gallon clear
water basin at Dalecarlia, a chem
ical building at the Mcmillan
Reservoir and Filtration Plant,
and engineering design for a new
dam across the Potomac above
Little Falls, in about the same
location as a present dam in the
vicinity of Sycamore Island.
Plans Made for Dam.
This big new dam, for which
plans will now be made, probably
will be started in 1852 or 1853,
and completed by 1856.
The water loan bill, approved
yesterday by the Senate and sent
to the White House, authorized
borrowing of the $23 million over
a period of 10 years. at interest
fixed by the Secretary of the
Treasury in line with the market
for such loans f1oated by other
municipalities. The city would
start repaying the loans in 1861.
and amortize them all by 1880.
Need for the loans was stressed
on the floor of both House and
Senate by District leaders in Con-
gress. They pointed to the danger
of this city facing a water short
age unless expansion of the sys-
tenn is started soon. under a long
range program.
The program for expansion has
been under study for many years.
Details have been worked out by
Mr.. Auld. and e. A. Schmitt, en-
gineer Of the water supply divi-
sion of the Washington Aqueduct,
which is a part Of the local office
OF the Army Corps of Engineers.