Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-14
BY JOHN w. STEPP

River basin, though significant
scarcely compares with similar
development in other major
watersheds in the Nation.
A principal reason for this /;
the unreliability of the day-in-
day-out water supply to sup
port much more industry than
now exists in the basin.
The irony of the situation is
that ever the years there has
been plenty of water in the
streambeds on an average yearly
basis. What deters further in
naturalization beside the Po-
tomac is the fact that at certain
seasons the streams either
become flood menaces or shrink
to a trickle.
The obvious need is for year.
round regulation of the flows
Storage dams would provide the
CIllei answer.
Industries Bypass Potomac
In its drift south from the
northeast section Of the country,
industry to a large degree has
bypassed the Potomac in favor
of other watersheds whose stream
flows are more dependable.
1t has been noted that since
1880 the rate of increase in the
number of manufacturing work.
ers has failed to keep pace with
the total population growth in
the basin. The proportion is only
3.5 per cent of the total work
force. This has been described
as entirely abnormal" in rela-
ton to the number of urban area
employees.
Stream-Side sites are chosen
because most industries require
water for some part of their proc
essing. They need it, as a rule,
in large quantities and in rea-
sonably clean condition.
Steady Flow Is Necessary
Regulation of flow is essential
in another respect. Not only does
this control assure a steady and
sufficient supply for factory use
but enough left over unused to
dilute the wastes that factories
discharge back into streams.
Only in widely scattered
places in the Potomac Basin are
dependable flows adequate for
this purpose. These for the most
part are in the far upstream
reaches.
Industry in the basin conse-
quently remains a greater po-
tential than an established real
lty. An existing part of this
potential is the availability OF
manpower, especially in up
stream Maryland and West Vir-
ginia, which have long beer
labor surplus" areas. Further
railroad lines thread the area
and roads are generally good
despite the mountainous terrain
around the headwaters.
Steady Industrial Growth
Notwithstanding its water.
induced handicaps, industrial
growth in this watershed has
been substantial, by its own
standards.
In recent years the value OF
manufactured products has been
estimated to be about $500 mil
lion. compared to SIT million
in 1899. The number of produc-
ton workers in the same period
rose from about $4,000 to
IS 1000.
The range Of Potomac manu-.
features. moreover. is broad, in
GLIDING pulp and paper, textiles
rubber, glass. processed foods
leather, chemicals, mechanical
equipment and metals. There
are also mines. electric power
utilities and, of course, the bis
Federal government industry
with its tens of thousands OF
thirsty white-collar workers.
TIE distribution of principal
industries is indicated by this
sampling:
MARYLAND
The greatest concentration is
in and around Cumberland
Among the industries are a tire
manufacturing plant that uses
10 million gallons Of water daily
a textile plant that at one time
used Is million gallons daily
but whose production has since
been cut back; q brewery, rail-
road repair shops and a new
$35 million plate glass plant
still under construction. Nc
figures are yet available on the
amount Of water it will require
but two 40-acre lagoons are