Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1957-12-26
Problem Potomac
Study Points Up Urg ency
Of Solving River Problems

The Bureau of Business and Economic Re-
search of the University of Maryland has released
study of the essential aspects of development
of the region which claims Washington, Balti-
more, and Pittsburgh as metropolitan cities. I'M
der the title Potomac River Basin: Research
Planning, Development" the report considers land
use and resources planning, water requirements
and waste disposal, industrial development and
location, transportation, recreation, problems of
analytical objectivity, proposes approach
through master plan, and provides check out
line for comprehensive research.
AS an introduction, the following summary
observations are made: ID The Potomac River
Basin is one of the most beautiful natural areas
in the United States; much of it still is.unspoiled
despite pressures for sectional exploitation; Cd
Metropolitan areas and their regional environment
are increasingly interdependent; 90 The regional
concept of planning is essential to envisage ade
quate programming for expanding population and
to utilize the varied resources; (4) Planning is
endangered by (a) failure to include competent
specialists from all basic fields (b) partial rather
than complete and integrated programming; and
(c) overlapping of officials, duplication of func
tons, and diluton of authority; 90 Only a COM
prehensive all-inclusive plan and its enforcement
will save the region from exploitation detrimental
TO the common interests of the general public.
Weaknesses of partial planning and develop
ment are illustrated in current proposals for DAMS
highways. and industrial and residential develop
ments which are not related to an overall con-
sideration of future human needs.
1t is pointed out that the water supply for
the Basin originates in four states Heavy indus
trial development historically has been incom-
patible with basic waterresource use and there.
fore requires careful coming restriction to selected
areas Highway programs should be part of
master, long-range plan of regional development
in all categories of human needs.
On land-use planning for agriculture the pub.
lication states in part:
American agriculture has experienced dras-
tic change in the past so years. particularly in
mechanization. The result has been large reduc-
ton in the amount of labor, generally assumed
to be the scarce resource, needed to carry out
the farming operation.
In addition to the impact on labor require
ments mechanization has influenced land-use pat
terms as well. Mechanical farming is best adapted
TO large expanses of relatively level welldrained
soil This has meant enarging and combining
fields and in many cases. even farms. Many
small farms have been absorbed by larger opera
tons because of the inability of small operators
to efficiently utilize modern equipment
Naturalization is not the only area of adj
strains of crops and livestock have increased
yields and improved quality of products The net
result is these chronological advances has been
greatly increased output per acre as well as in
creased labor productivity.
Agriculture is experiencing another transi-
ton which may be attributed at least in part
to mechanization and chronological innovation An
increasing number of farmers are holding jobs
In addition to their own farming operations
The impact of these trends on farming is
sizeable. There has been pronounced shift from
field crops to livestock enterprises Dairying
long important in this area, is growing in i'm.
portance because of the rapid growth in popula-
ton and demand for milk. AS result of this
increase in country living" or gentleman farm
ing sizeable portion of good farm land has,
Tor all practical purposes, been taken out of pro-
duction.
There is definite need for farsghted, mag