Evening star., 1952-10-25
Pollution Nears
Menace Stage,
Engineer Warns
1856 Critical Yeur
For Potomac, Kemp
Tells Trade Board

Potomac River pollution win
reach a critical stage by 1856.
changing from a dangerous to q
condition unless some
hing is done about it, the WASH
ngton Board of Trade was warned
asst night.
Statistical facts were used to
describe river conditions by Har-
Did A. Kemp, chairman of the
Commission on Pollu-
ton Abatement and director of
sanitary engineering for the Dis
trict. Speaking at the first meet.
ing Of the boards Rivers and Har-
Dor Committee at the Corinthian
Yacht Club, his principal target
was the stretch between Key
Bridge and Mount Vernon.
Despite all abatement measures.
Mr.. Kemp said, present pollution
is the equivalent of dumping 275.-
600 dead Missouri mules" year
into the river. He singled out
the Missouri breed. he said, be-
cause a Missouri mule weighs an
average Of 1900 pounds instead
of a normal 1000 pounds.
1856 Held Critical Year.
While the river is now in q
dangerous condition, the sanitary
official said, it isn't menacing yet
to general recreation, except for
swimming. "We can continue
boating and the regattas for sew
eral years." but 1856 is the critical
year, he warned.
Upstream Maryland and Vir-
ginia communities are cooper
ating in pollution abatement, Mr..
Kemp said. Above the District,
at Winchester, Hagerstown and
LeeSburg. secondary as well as
primary treatment plants are in
operation. The District has only
primary treatment at the Blue
Plains plant now, he noted, in
referring to a $13.5 million pro-
gram recommended for future
improvements. Washington even-
tually will add a secondary treat
ment plant, he said. which should
provide water treatment for q
population of is million.
Mr.. Kemp said no suspicion has
been attached to Washington 8
drinking water as a disease car
rier in the last 20 years, nor can
the drinking supply be associated
in any way with Potomac River
pollution. Referring to the pres
ent chlorine treatment, about
which there have been complaints,
he added that Washington resi-
dents can thank their lucky
stars" that they can taste It in
their water.
Soil Pollution Worse.
While industrial pollution in the
Washington area is negligible, he
said, the worst menace to the
river comes not from sewage but
from soil pollution. About IL mil
lion tons of topsoil flow by WASH
ington in year, he said, killing
more fish than ordinary pollu-
Ition and causing about $500, 900
yearly damage to the paint and
hulls of water craft.
Mr.. Kemp called upon citizens
to support the efforts of the Board
Iof Trade in pollution abatement.
With proper treatment locally and
with cooperation of nearby Mary
land and Virginia communities.
he predicted that the river from
Key Bridge to Mount Vernon
eventually would be suitable for
swimming.
j. Ebert Tune, chairman Of the
Rivers and Harbors Committee,
presided at the buffet supper
meeting attended by about SO
members and guests.
1t started with a discussion by
Brig. Gen. Bernard L. Robinson.
Engineer Commissioner, of the
1919 million backlog public
works program recommended by
the Citizens Advisory Committee.
Loan Stumbling Block.
Washington's chief difficulty in
financing the program, he sug-
gested. is the need for a 50-year
loan from the Federal Govern
ment.
There is an urgent need, Gen.
Robinson said, for a new approach
to Congress in trying to win it
over to the idea of mutual CO.
operation in solving the public
works program. Decline of the
Federal lump sum appropriation
to a new low of only nine per
cent, and increase of the low-in-
come group in population add to
the yearly fiscal problem, he noted.
Washington is at crossroad, +"
Gen. Robinson warned. 1T must
either deteriorate or do something
about the situation"
Col. Alan j. McCutchen, United
States district engineer, said a
$400, 900 item is recommended in
the 1854 fiscal year budget to
initiate construction of a new
police and fire department pier
on the waterfront. This would
replace pier No. S, which he said
not only is inadequate for proper
river protection but should be re-
turned to its original purpose as a
commercial pier. "We ask your
cooperation in reaching this goal
for an improved waterfront" he
told the committee.
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