Evening star., 1953-12-01
MckeIdin Asks
Water Mains in
Bid for Votes
Support for Small
Cited by Governor in
Comp Springs Action
BY J. L. Michoel
Stor Sioff Correspondent

Stor Stott Correspondent
ANNAPOLIS, Dec. l.-Water
mains and political lines de-
signed to guSh forth votes for
Representative Small, Republic
can. of Maryland and other 1854
G. o. p. candidates soon will be
laid simultaneously in the Camp
Springs area of Prince Georges
County.
Republican Gov. McKeldin Of
Maryland yesterday ordered the
G. o. P. dominated Washington
Suburban Sanitary Commission
to step lively with the water
mains. He took over the polit.
ical engineering himself.
The Governor. a probable as
pirant for reelection, spoke with
political keenness and indicated
that the Sanitary Commission
might do well to sharpen its
thinking along vote getting
lines.
Prince Georges is a very i'm
portant county," he said.
Vain Battle.
Representative Small, who
lives in southern Prince Georges,
told the Governor that the
Camp Springs community had
long tried vainly to get water
mains extended from Branch
avenue and st. Barnabas road
to Allentown road, a distance
of about 3 miles.
The Fifth District member Of
Congress headed a delegation
from the Southern Prince
Georges Board of Trade. The
board recently struck out force
fully for water, after a sharp
prodding by the sections 600
housewives.
Gov. McKeldin listened closely
while the delegation recited that
all the homes in the neighbour
hood have often-empty wells,
and nearby septic tanks threaten
water contamination. Besides,
they claimed, development of the
area is retarded and fire hazards
are high.
They're using the money in
the northern section of the
county" said Prince Georges
County Commissioner Daniel A.
Abbott, who lives on the south
side. Every time a big de-
veloper up there wants to build
1000 houses they run the lines
to him. But they just can't
get around to the short Camp
Springs stretch"
Planned Next Year.
Mr.. Abbott told the Governor
that Sanitary Commissioner Ray
mond w. Bellamy said recently
that the Camp Springs extension
would be laid next year.
you'll be in office then" he
told me-" Mr.. Abbott remarked,
land I told him, I expect to be
still there in 1882"
IF you don't get that water,
you won't" the Governor
chuckled.
Turning to an aide, the Gov
ernor directed, Get Mr.. Bellamy
on the phone. or get Mr.. Ager."
The aide tried. They're gone
for the day." he reported. Well"
said the Governor, find them
somewhere, find somebody"
Listening in.
Here's Mr.. Ager on the
phone" the aide interjected.
The Governor talked with Mr..
Ager. The conversation went
like this:
Mr.. Ager-"What's up? Is that
delegation on your neck? Is
Dan Abbott there?
The Governor-"Yes, and Dan
Abbott is looking right in my
face"
Mr.. Ager-"well run that
line next year."
The Governor-"Why wait un-
til 1882"
Mr.. Ager-"Well, it would cost
$600,OOO."
| The Governor-"But these
folks say it can be done for
/ $278,00O."
I Mr.. Ager-"If we can get a bid
for that amount, and a bond,
we'll start work tomorrow"
/ The Governor Now, see here.
Mr.. Ager, l want that water
there. I'll call the other COM
miSSioners and the engineer and
tell them that. We've Just got
to get that water down there"
Frank Small" said the Gov
ernor. "is too important man
for us to lose"