Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-22
BY JOHN w. STEPP
Star stan CORRESPONDENT

OhNA swan (OAANopthhchb
BALTIMORE, Nov. 22.-Mary-
land State authorities have been
asked to defer action on all per-
NIT applications to withdraw
water from the Potomac River
until the General Assembly has
a chance, at its next session, to
make a policy decision of its
own.
The request was dispatched
yesterday to the State Geology,
Mines and Water esources
Commission by Hervey Machen,
chairman of the State legislative
council on the Potomac-"Mary-
lands river" whose waters are
IN ever increasing demand.
The basis for the requested
delay, Mr.. Machen said, is a fear
that granting these permits (to
the Washington Suburban SAM
tary Commission and Fairfax
County, Va at this time will
jeopardize the future develop
ment of the Potomac River"
Mr.. Machen emphasized that
the committee is not trying to
bar Washington area commun-
tiles from the Potomac. 1t is
merely the committees COM
prehenSive plan for maximum
use of all the rivers resources.
The session extends from jan
uary to April, 1857.
The committee chairman in
Dictated that granting water
withdrawal permits befor plans
for water storage dams for the
river have been developed might
jeopardize the water supply for
the whole area.
Conference Arranged
Arthur B. Stewart. who pre-
sided over yesterdays hearing,
gave no indication whether the
State Commission would honor
the deferment request. How
ever, he Immediately arranged
for conferences with legislative
committee members and with
officials of the State Attorney
Generals office.
The legislative committee re-
quest was received during the
commissions hearing on the
petition of the Washington SUBJ
urban Sanitary Commission
application to go to the Potomac
by 1860 to augment the water
supply of Maryland communi-
ties of suburban Washington.
Water for the Washington
Suburban Sanitary District now
comes from the Patuxent River
and wells. Population increases
will necessitate new sources by
1861, WSSC engineers assert.
Pending simultaneously before
the State commission is the APP
plication of Fairfax County, Va,
to take water from the Potomac.
The county's request still stands
despite last weeks court APP
prevail of plans by the City Of
Fairfax to build a dam on Goose
Greek, Va, to obtain It's public
water supply.
Survey Under Way
Two exhaustive surveys Of the
Potomac Basin resources already
are under way. One, under SUE
pervision of the Washington En-
gineer District of the Army
Engineer Corps, is covering the
entire Potomac watershed.
The other, being conducted by
the Interstate Commission on
the Potomac River Basin. is con-
centrating on needs Of the
Metropolitan Washington area.
The aim of both studies is
development Of m aster plans
governing all aspects of the river
water supply for municipalities,
industry and farms: pollution
abatement. flood control. recrea-
ton and hydro-electric power.
Harry B. Shaw, chief engineer
of WSSC, told the State commits
sion yesterday he appreciates the
need for comprehensive studies.
He emphasized. however. that his
sanitary district faces periodic
water shortages by 1861 unless
its Patuxent River sources are
augmented by the Potomac's flow
DislikeS Wait
When Mr.. Stewart asked him
about the legislative committees
requested delay until April. Mr..
Shaw replied fatty:
you can wait just so long.
We'd hate to wait that long. Our
problems. we will simply need
more water for our area by 1861,
and we must get started soon."
Mr.. Stewart expressed con-