Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-10-23
County and Civic Leaders
Map An-Out Pepco Battle
Moss Protests
Seen on Site
OF Power PIunt
BY CHARLES L. HOFFMAN

by CHARLES 4. HOFFMAN
Montgomery County oficials
and civic leaders are preparing
an all-out fight to get the Po-
tomac Electric Power Co. to drop
Its plans for new plant in
Loudoun County, Va.
Montgomery County Manager
M. L. Reese yesterday said he
expects mass protests against the
plants location In Virginia on
the part Of consumers.
The 500 million installation
that would provide service for
PEPCO customers, chiefly In
Montgomery. Is proposed on q
500-acre tract on the Virginia
side Of the Potomac about two
miles above the mouth Of Seneca
Creek.
Tax Rate Cut Predicted
Montgomery residents feel
that, since they viii be paying
the taxes on the PEPCo prop.
erty through their electric bills,
the taxes at least ought to 60
to Maryland authorities" Mr..
Reese said.
A member Of the Virginia Syn
dicate which bought the L,oudoun
tract q few months ago and now
has q contract to resell it to
PEPCO has reported It's con-
struction In its first stage would
almost double Loudoun County,s
aSsessable base and could result
In q sharp tax rate cut there.
Mr.. Reese believes taxes on the
plant would amount to $3.50, 900
to 81 million q year.
Mr.. Reese said he had been
informed that Montgomery PTAs
are planning to circulate petit
tfons protesting the PEPCO Vir-
GINA location and that civic as
sociations In the county have
planned similar action.
Clarke 1. Fauver. president Of
the Allied Civic Group, Of Sill
yer Spring. said that association
would take up the matter tomor-
row night.
OfflciaIz TOur sites
In the meantime, county ON
Gals have been working to get
PEPCo to reconsider its plan.
Mr.. Reese and Councilman
Charles H. Jamison on Friday
made an on-the-spot inspection
tour Of possible sites in Mont
gomery which they believe would
meet or better PEPCO's specifi-
cations.
From 8 am. to 6 pm. the two
officials tramped riverside prop
critics in Montgomery and then
crossed into Virginia to view the
sites from the opposite bank.
One location being proposed Is
. tract owned by o. w. Ander-
son on the Montgomery-Fred-
erick County line near the mouth
Of the Monocacy River.
Chief advantages OF this tract.
Mr.. Reese said, is that IL abuts
the main line Of the Baltimore
q Ohio Railroad and Is high
above the rivers flood level.
Pusey Tract Considered
Another proposal put forth by
Mr.. Jamison is Fort Hill on the
Potomac where Yankee troops In
the Civil War threw up gun en-
placements to stave of Con-
federates crossing Whites Ferry !.
The farm is owned by MeriowI
}. Pusey and is on the Martins
burg ickerson road, 1t Is just
above Mason's Island in the
Potomac.
Council members three weeks
ago conferred behind closed
doors with PEPCO president r.
Roy Dunn and other utility nfii-
Gals.
At that time, Mr.. Reese said /
PEPCO officials said they would
consider and make engineering
studies on any sites proposed inl
Montgomery. The county man.
ager plans to confer again with
Mr.. Dunn this week.
In the meantime, PEPCO on
cials are going ahead with hear
ings before various Virginia
agencies which must approve thel
Loldoun site.
Maryland's Gov. McKeldin, al
Republican, the Montgomery
County Democratic State Gem
trail Committee and Democratic
precinct chairmen in the county
have urged PEPCO to reconsider
its plan.