Evening star., 1951-03-30
Failure Threatens q Fine Idea

The attempt to make common approach
to the sewage treatment and disposal problems
faced by our neighborS on the other side OF the
river-Arlington and Fairfax Counties, Alexan-
dra and Falls Church-is about to bog down
and come to nothing.
If this happens it will be tragic failure.
Present and future generations of taxayers in
those communities will be the victims. 1t seems
to The Star that success is so near and so
important, that failure must be avoided.
The problem of adequate sewage disposal
facing these four communities is common
problem. 1t is possible, however, that each
community should proceed independently and
build separate facilities. 1t is also possible that
joint facilities are preferable, less costly and
more practical from every standpoint. 1t is
possible that separate facilities are best for
Arlington and joint facilities are best for Alex
andria and Fairfax and perhaps Falls Church.
1t is possible that piping the sewage under the
river to the District disposal plant is the best
solution that there is some other plan not
yet explored
The trouble is that no attempt has been
made to determine which of these alternatives
is the wisest and the best in the long run And
without that determination, made in advance
of the heavy expenditures the taxpayers will be
called upon to make, it seems preposterous to
go ahead with plans that may be wrong.
Alexandria's City Council was the first to
propose joint survey to determine the best
solution. But Arlington, with a plant already
built, turned it down. So the four communities
proceeded along their separate ways. Fairfax
voters approved a bond issue to construct
plant. Arlington voters approved a bond issue
to enlarge their inadequate plant. Alexandria
voters doubtless would have approved a bond
ISSUE but there have been delays some of them
unavoidable in submitting the question to them.
In November Arlington County revived the
toint-survey proposal. committee, representing
the four communities, was created Everybody
is agreed on the principle of a joint survey.
But there are disagreements as to how it should
be made. Five of the seven members of the
committee voted to engage two engineering
firms already familiar with the general prob
lem, at cost of $4,000 for survey requiring
at least six months. Arlington favors an outside
hrm, promising to do the job at less cost and
in less time
That is the nature of the disagreement
which threatens failure of the Joint survey
proposal. 1t would seem that an outside firm,
promising quicker survey, would be the answer.
But Arlingtons representatives on the committee
are in the minority on this point. There are
advantages in having the survey made by firms
that have already studied the problem in some
yields on this point, the joint survey is probably
doomed
The Star believes Arlingtons representatives
should yield. Three or four extra months in
making the survey are not important, for the
communities are thinking ahead for many years
perhaps half century and more. There is
great pressure from the Virginia Water Control
Board and the Potomac River Basin Commission
to get started on eliminating dangerous and
disgraceful pollution from the river But, here
again, with everybody in agreement that this
must be done, the important thing now is to see
that it is done in a way that creates no reason
able doubt as to the wisdom of what is done
All of the members of this committee seek
ing agreement on the Joint survey idea are
sincere in their convictions and are anxious for
success in their undertaking. A great deal may
depend on that success If Arlingtons repre-
sentatives yield now on this minor point of who
is to do the survey, the survey will be made
If the survey is not made it will mean sad
defeat for common sense, responsible statesman
ship and the poor taxpayers.
In the friendliest sort of spirit, realizing
all the difficulties The Star respectfully suggests
that the committee members hold one more
meeting, lock themselves in room and stay
there until they reach the unanimous agreement
that seems so near, and go ahead with the joint
survey.
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