Evening star., 1951-06-09
Interstate Body
IoConsider New
Parkway Plan
ConoI Route Highway
TO Be Studied by
Potomac Basin Group
BY jones BirchfieId
Star Stcff corYesnandact


FREDERICK, Md, June g.
The Interstate Commission on the
Potomac River Basin will consider,
at its fall meeting, the plan of the
Park Service to construct
a parkway along the Baltimore 81
Ohio Canal in Maryland, between
Great Falls and Cumberland.
The commission was requested
to study the parkway proposal by
the Industrial and Technical
Committee at the closing session
OF its spring meeting here yester-
day.
The committee said industry in
Western Maryland feared that a
parkway along the canal route
would close the upper river to
further industrial development.
Frank Wachter. a member of
the Industrial Committee and a
representative of the Hagerstown
Chamber of Commerce, said the
acquisition by the Federal Gov
eminent Of land between the
canal and the river would prevent
access to water needed for future
Industrial development.
Closed OFF From Bay.
He pointed out that Maryland
is closed off from Chesapeake Bay
in many sections by Federal hold
ings and that the parkway plan
calls for shutting off the Free
State from the Potomac River.
At its fall hearing, which will
mark the 10th anniversary of the
commission. symposium will be
held on the parkway plan. Rep
resentatives of the Park Service,
sportsmen's organizations, indus
try and Maryland and Virginia
State governments will be asked to
in the discussions.
The fall meeting will be held
on September s and Z at Bed
1orQ springs, ia.
Julian Patrick, member of the
commissions industrial commit
tee, told Of the death Of a trout
stream in the mountains of West
ern Maryland.
Mr.. Patrick said Laurel Branch,
a clear stream in the mountains
near the headwaters Of the North
Branch of the Potomac, has been
ruined from acid mine wastes,
draining from an abandoned mine
at Kempton. Md.
Even Beavers Move.
He said there are no longer
trout in the branch and that even
the beavers, which had con-
structed dams along the stream,
have moved to the upper portions
of the creek.
He said the town of Kempton,
once containing 200 families, is
being abandoned as fast as fami-
lies can find other places to live.
The problems of Laurel Branch
are being considered by the Mary
land Water Pollution Control
Commission.
In discussing pollution abate-
ment programs in the Washington
area. Commission Director Edwin
r. Cotton reviewed the findings Of
the Virginia Interim Committee,
which recommended a study Of
sewage treatment problems in the
Virginia area. The committees
recommendation of a joint erlgi-
neering study to determine the best
of treating sewage from
Arlington and Fairfax counties
and the city of Alexandria is be-
ing carried out.
Mr.. Cotton said the District has
been enlarging its plant to provide
more adequate treatment to Dis
trict sewage and sewage from
nearby Maryland.
Complete by 1880.
He said present plans cali for
an enlarged district plant. which
will provide complete sewage
treatment by 1880.
He said the Maryland Suburban
Sanitary Commission is continu-
ing to construct interceptor lines
to bring its sewage into the Dis
trict plant and that bond issues
have been passed in Arlington and
Fairfax Counties for treatment
facilities.
Mr.. Cotton said that, In the
Cumberland area, the city of
Cumberland, despite a ruling by
the Attorney General that the
city is not within the Jurisdiction
Of the State Pollution Control
Commission, plans to construct a
treatment plant that will cost
about SIS million.
He said Cumberland is to be
congratulated on its move toward
correcting its pollution in the
upper streams.
Mr.. Cotton also reported that
West Virginia has paid its s., 800
dues to the commission following
> Supreme Court ruling on the
legality OF the interstate COM
oacts.
West Virginia had withheld
payment to the commission after