Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-03-25
Bill Seeks D. {.
Treatment Of
Virginia Sewage
Measure Drown Up
BY Mogruder Is Sent
To Smith for House
By Mory Lou Werner

By Mary Lou Werner
a bill to authorize the District
to treat sewage from nearby Vir-
ginia communities has been sent
to Representative Smith, Demo-
crat, of Virginia for introduction
in Congress.
In second development yester-
day, the Arlington County Board
asked the governing bodies of
neighboring areas not to accept a
recommendation for a six-month
engineering survey of sewer prob
lens. Arlington wants three
month study made by another
firm. but apparently was reluctant
to be the first to withdraw from a
regional study plan which it was
the first to propose.
The District bill was drafted by
j. Maynard Magruder, Arlington
member of the Virginia House of
Delegates, after he conferred with
Representative Smith.
Seeks to Avoid Delay.
Mr.. Magruder said his ideas in
proposing the measure at this time
is to avoid further delay in case
an engineers survey shows that
it would be best for the areas
across the river to pump sewage
under the Potomac to Blue Plains.
The six-month study has been
recommended by Alexandria, Falls
Church and Fairfax members Of
an Interim Committee, while Ar
lington's members are holding out
for the shorter study by different
firm. The Interim Committee was
set up last December by the four
Jurisdictions to determine the best
and most economical method of
sewage disposal.
Fairfax County has agreed to
the siX-month survey and put up
$4,000 Thursday as its share of
the total cost of 100000.
This BILL" Mr.. Magruder said,
''would not compel anybody to do
anything" He emphasized that
it is permissive legislation.
Agreements Authorized.
Virginia communities already
have authority to contract for
sewage disposal at the District
plant. That power was granted in
the Virginia Water and Sewer
Authority Act which Mr.. Ma
gruder co-sponsored at the 1850
session of the General Assembly.
The legislation sent to Mr.
Smith would authorize the Dis
trict Commissioners to enter into
agreements with the State of Vir-
ginia or its political subdivisions
for sewage disposal.
The District would be reim-
bursed for the actual cost. Pay
ments would include sums to cover
the interest and amortization cost
to the District for providing the
service.
All costs of constructing sewers,
force mains and other facilities
necessary to put the plan into
effect would be borne by partici-
pating communities in the Old
Dominion,
Maryland Now Has Pact.
The bill also would make it DOS
sible for any one or combination
of Virginia political subdivisions
to use the Blue Plains plant.
Maryland already has such an
arrangement with Washington
An amendment to the District
Appropriation Act of 1916 per-
mitted agreements to be entered
into with the Free State to dis
pose of sewage within the water
shed of the -Anacostia River and
the Washington Suburban SAM
tary Commission now pumps into
the Blue Plains system.
Arlington County Board men,
bers, at yesterdays meeting, indi-
Gated that the county expects to
withdraw from the regiona
project.
Board members Daniel A. Du-
gan. F. Freeland Chew and ALFRED
E. Frisbie said they would never
agree to having Arlington sewage
pumped into the District plant
ct Blue Plains for treatment.
Dugan Denounces Kemp.
Mr.. Dugan denounced Harold A
Kemp, chairman of the Interstate
Commission on The Potomac Riv.
er Basin. Mr.. Kemp has beer
urging the Northern Virginia 10.
calities to take immediate step.
to abate pollution of the river.
Mr.. Dugan said that Mr.. Kemr
Ought to be told to take care OF
his business and We'll take care Of
ours The board member said hi
believes the county has too many
ties with the District already
He said the tendency of the county
to become part of the District
lis a thing I look upon with
horror"
Mr.. Chew said, II can't do any,
thing about Grant taking Rich
mond but can try to stop Kemp
from taking Arlington"
The board acted on a resolution
presented by Robert w. Cox
chairman of the interim commit
tee. A second resolution recon-
mended by Mr.. Cox called for a
report within two weeks or
another sewage study.
Rising Costs Cited.
This study, approved by the
board, would be conducted by
Alexander Potter Associates oil
New York and would review a re-
port of R. M. Writ, county director
of public service. Mr.. Writ said
that the county would be better
off if it developed it's own dis
posal system.
Mr.. Cox, referring to the area
survey. said that a study of longer
than three months might have no
value, regardless of it's conclusions
because rising costs would prob
ably increase the price of any OF