Evening star., 1952-03-24
100000 Asked
For Peace Cross
Flood Planning
Sanitary Group
Urges Start in '53
As Civil Defense Move

As Civil Defense Move
Congress Is being asked to stem
The periodic floods ct Peace Cross.
The request for 0O,000--was
put TO Capitol Hill on d civil de.
tense basis by the Suburban Sani.
tary Commission. Congressional
hearings on the civil functions Of
the Army made public today dis
closed. M
The testimony urged this be
done so work could be launched
next summer. The commission
favors permanent, plans of the
Army Engineers. rather than tenn
porary ones now being considered
by the Maryland Roads commis-
sion.
L. 8. Ray. commissioner or the
Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission. appeared before the
subcommittee and asked that the
appropriation be increased from
$4,000 to 100000.
$4,000 Is Needed.
Mr.. Ray told the subcommittee:
THE story is II we can get this
extra $4,000 now we can get this
thing away In the summer Of
1853. Otherwise It will be 1884,
He pleaded for the Army engi.
neerS' plan. which Would perma-
nently raise the area above flood
level. The commission said a plan
the Maryland State Roads is con.
sidertng Is temporary expedient.
The letter said in part: :" Il
Is imperative that United States
highways Nos. and SO out OF
washington. which intersect at
the Bladensburg Peace Cross, be
open at all times In the event it
is necessary for civil defense pur-
pose to move q large numbr OF
people from the National CAPITAL
quickly. In 1851, trafic here was
interrupted for 20 days by the
flooding Of the Anacostia. so the
likelihood Of the area being food
ed at time Of emergency is not
remote. Even though a flood may
not ocurr at such time, the move.
ment Of traffic would be materi-
ally expedited by the relocation
OF the roads and bridges incident
to the fiood-control project.
Asks Immediate Start.
"The first step in the food.
control project as planned by the
Army engineers is to build the
necessary roads and bridges 20 "a
to raise the road system In this
area permanently above Hood
level. This cannot be done too
quickly as we do not know when
Washington may be attacked.
The appropriation Of an addi.
tiOrlat $50. 1000 now may mean the
difference between orderly move
ment In and out Of Washington in
the event Of emergency and catas-
trophe. It would seem to be very
worthwhile insurance, and 1t Is
money used for permanent pur-
poses.
"The Maryland State Roads
Commission is now considering.
but has not yet approved. as far
as 1t Is kown, o plan estimated
to cost around $500, 900, for rails
ing United States Highways Nos.
] and so in the vicinity Of the
Bladensburg Peace Cross, a tenn
|porary expedient to get the high
ways above most Of the floods.
The plan will not otherwise
help the areas frequently mum
dated and might indeed aggravate
conditions. The plan may not
provide uninterrupted travel In
the event an attack was coinci-
dent with high waters. Il seems
but ordinary good Judgment to
prepare the permanent food
control plans which the increased
appropriation asked will permit
and get the permanent work
under way as quickly as possible
and not spend money for D tenn
|poraryN expedient.
People Demand Action.
\ "The situation has become so
aggravated, however. that the
Maryland people are properly de-
lmanding that something be done
to relieve it promptly. All that
appears to stand in the way Of
doing the job quickly and prop
Ierly Is the extra appropriation Of
$50. 900, which we are respectfully
requesting that your COMMITTEES
approve"
Mr.. Ray pointed out that the
proposed flood control plan and
navigation project on the Ana
costa consists Of constructing
llevees on both sides Of the river
from slightly south Of Bladens-
burg upstream to Brentwood and
Riverdale; reconstruction Of roads
and bridges: building four pump
ing stations behind the levees to
discharge drainage into the river
when In flood; widening and
STRENGTHENING the river channel
from the end Of the existing navi-
cation project at Fifteenth street
IS.E. to Bladensburg to q depth Of
8 feet and bottom width Of 80
feet and construction Of CONNER
|cial and recreational boat basins
near Bladensburg.