Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-03-24
River Bend
Storage Plan
Held Essential
House Unit Hears
Engineers Discuss
Future DC. Water
BY JOHN w. STEPP
star stan Writer

Preservation OF the River
Bend area of the Potomac
River for possible water stor-
age to supply Metropolitan
Washington was declared to-
day to be imperative.
The warning came from Col.
George B. Sumner. District
Engineer of the Washington
Engineer once of the Army.
Col. Sumner was the sole wit
ness testifying in today's ses-
sion of the House Interior Pub
lie Lands Subcommittee hear
ing proposals to establish the
Gao Canal as a national his
torical park.
One Of the main considera-
tons in the pending legislation
is whether to include a pro-
vision that would bar any park
development along the Poto-
mac from River Bend IS miles
upstream to Brunswick, Md.
The restriction would last at
least until after the Army En-
gineers complete their survey
of all the water resources
needs Of the Potomac water
shed.
Storage Safeguard Vital
Col. Sumner testified the En-
gineer Corps would be satisfied
with the Gao legislation
only If the water storage safe
guard were included. He said
he fears that If the national
park is created without that
safeguard it might be all but
impossible ever to build a water
storage dam in the River Bend
vicinity regardless Of the needs
of metropolitan Washington.
"A lot of people would think
we we're very, very mean, and
even un-American. If we were
ever to recommend flooding
out an area that had been
designated a national park,
Col. Sumner told the subcom-
mittee.
Under questioning by sub
committee members. the en-
gineer testified his Office is
almost certain that a water
storage Reservoir Of major size"
some day must be built on the
Potomac. The River Bend
vicinity, about two miles up
stream from Great Falls, is
probably the most desirable site
on the main stem of the Po-
tomac, he said.
Saylor Raps Survey
Representative Saylor, Re-
publican of Pennsylvania, a
strong champion Of park in
terests, derided the Engineer
Corps for its last comprehen-
sive survey Of the Potomac
basin in the early 1940s.
Col. Sumner said that the
emphasis in the current study
has shifted. Under congress
sional directive, the engineers
are giving top priority to the
water supply and pollution
abatement needs. Fifteen years
ago, Congress ordered a study
that placed first consideration
on flood control and hydro-elec-
trio power generation.
More Funds Vital
Chairman Pfost. seeking
more detail on the progress Of
the current comprehensive sur
yey. indicated concern over
delays that have been brought
about by inadequate appropria-
tons in the last three years.
She elected from the engineer
that in order to complete the
survey according to congress
sional schedule, Congress must
appropriate 100000 for the
year beginning July l and
$601 900 the following year.
Mrs. Pfost also seemed a bit
incredulous that in appropriate
ing 100000 for the current
year portion of the study, Con-
greSs saw fit last year to re-
strict it to that part of the
watershed upstream from Har-
pers Ferry, w. Va. This fore
stalled carrying the investiga-
ton into the River Bend por-
ton of the Potomac as well as
the Shenandoah River Valley.