The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1958-09-25

AliiNA q - NbilAt CAlN VII Thy A1hN tls~N
River was offered last Friday by
d. " c. Birell. assistant chief
of the Engineering Division for
Civil Works of the U. S. Army En-
gineers.
Birrell presented the program
to meet the areas needs for the
next 50 years, at meeting of the
Interstate Commission on the Po-
tomac River Basin at Blackwater
Falls, w Va.
Cost of the Stony River and
North Branch dams is estimated
at 60 million dollars. II would be
shared about equally by federal
and local interests.
The speaker said studies by
the Washington District Army
Engineers have indicated that
the level of economic activity in
the area. until recently. has been
below that of the nation as a
whole; that completion of Saw
age River Dam significantly re-
vised the industrial activity of
the region demonstrating the i'm
portance OF an adequate water
supply as major factor in eco
nomic growth.
Depends On Water
He asserted that expansion
commensurate with the national
economy will depend in large
measure upon further develop
ment of water resources.
1t was stated if flood hazards
are removed favorable possible
ties exist for the location of addi-
tional industries" along the river.
Bayard, Blaine, Piedmont and
Keyser. all in West Virginia;
Kitzmiller and Westernport in
Maryland, were communities
mentioned as needing protection
against floods.
The plan being considered by
the engineers combines the ele-
ments of flood control and in
creased industrial and domestic
water supply with attendant bene-
fits to pollution abatement
recreation and the generation Of
supplemental water power, the
speaker said. These and other
Widespread benefits would have
their effect as far downstream as
Washington
Protection Proposed
Continuing, Birrell said Local
flood protection projects at Bay
ard. Kitzmiller and Keyser are
proceeding in design, requiring
no special authorization by Con-
gress. with construction cOntin-
gent on a satisfactory technical
solution. on the ability of affect
ed localities to meet the modest
proportion of non-federal costs
and the availability of federal
funds
In other areas local protection
works were found to be imprac-
teal or uneconomical at this
time. but these areas would bene-
fit by flood regulation by reser-
Voirs.'
Touching on the economic posi-
bilities of the section the Army
spokesman said; 1T is apparent
that economy in the utilization OF
water will be a strict future re-
Quirement. This is not note Of
pessimism but a practical con-
sideration"
He suggested that with proper
treatment of wastes and spacing
of users" and natural recovery
from previous use" greater goals
could be attained
Proposed Three Dams
To meet the area needs for the
next 50 years reservoirs were
proposed as follows:
l. A dam on the Potomac "a
miles above the junction OF the
Savage River.
2. A dam on Stony River A
mile below the present crossing
of U. S. Route so near Mt. Storm.
8. A dam on Savage River 3.5
miles above the present Savage
River Dam.
Birrell said other sites were
found to be more costly than
those selected or are involved
with physical complications. The
selected sites, he stated, would
develop so per cent of the drain
age basin capacity
The North Branch dam would
be concrete gravity structure
with earth abutments with a
maximum height of 283 feet. It
would cover an area of 1,O30
acres and the normal storage
capacity would be $4,000 acre
feet. During a flood period the
pool would rise and the surface
area would be 1900 acres and
the maximum storage would be-