The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1957-09-12
Plan For Tanning
North Branch Of
Potomac Aired

Officials of the Army Corps of
Engineers on Monday outlined be-
fore area officials comprehensive
plan for tanning and developing the
North Branch of the Potomac river
but said they need to "know who
is going to pay for what" before
more progress can be made.
Col. George B. Sumner, district
engineer for the Washington Dis
trict of the Corps of Engineers,
briefed members of the Potomac
River basin subcommittee of the
Legislative Council on the plan at
meeting in Cumberland. This fol-
lowed an inspection tour at Kitz-
miller on Monday morning.
He presented details of plan
designed to meet the needs of the
North Branch area for flood pro-
lection, pollution abatement, water
supply, recreation and other water
resources.
The program, through flood
protection, would make available
for new industrial development
several thousands of acres of bot
tom lands.
But, Col. Sumner explained
federal participation is restricted
to flood control and hydro-elec-
trio features, and that before
further progress can be made the
Corps Of Engineers must know
what states and other local in
terests will contribute toward the
project. Under study, he said, are
series of reservoirs and local
flood protection works.
Dam sites would be located on
the North Branch near Blooming
ton, on Stony River, below the U.
S. route SO bridge, and on Savage
river above the Savage River Dam.
Areas being studied for local flood
protection include Bayard, Kitz-
miller, Luke and Westernport in
Maryland, Piedmont and keysel
in West Virginia.
The one proposed dam above
Luke would be capable of boost
ing the flow of the North Branch
at Luke to a dependable flow OF
1856 million gallons day and
would provide high degree OF
protection for the downstream
area.
The Stony River reservoir could
boost the river flow 35 million gal
Ions day but would provide only
small amount of flood control
| The Savage river reservoir could
be operated for water supply and
some flood control. Total flood
control benefits of the dams were
estimated at about 100000 d
year. The greatest additional bene-
fit, Col. Sumner said, would be the
economic development of the en-
tire region.
"The additional increased flow,
he said, would make the area, with
| its good transportation system
labor supply, raw material and
nearness to markets, particularly
attractive to additional new in
dustries."
The corps, he said, is preparing
design memoranda under the Small
Flood control act for project for
Kitzmiller, Keyser and Bayard
Col. Sumner recommended that
committees be organized to develop
plans for financing the non-fed-
eral share of the project.
At the Kitzmiller session on
Monday a tour was made of the
river to check flood control needs
in Shallmar and Kitzmiller, and
was followed by a luncheon with
town officials, sponsored by the
Lions club there.
Delegate Harry Edwards, of
Grantsville, a member of the legis-
lative council sub committee, OBJ
served that great deal OF
emphasis was being placed on high
dams and other river development
downstate, while the Kitzmiller
| area has been flooded time and
time again. He felt preservation OF
the water in the upper regions OF
the stream would benefit everyone
all the way down to the bay.
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