344 



of public and industrial water supplies, decrease in values of water- 

 front property, reduction in recreational returns, deterioration in 

 commercial and sports fishing, loss of sliellfisli groups, [and] water- 

 iborne disease." For example, there were substantial decreases in 

 income of small businesses dependent on shellfish- 

 Study of the waters in the vicinity of Hampton Roads in 1934 showed the total 

 shellfish production for the State of Virginia dropped from 7,024,000 bushels in 

 1897 to 3,757,000 bushels in 1932. The effect on the small businessman is demon- 

 strated by a typical case where one producer's net income dropped from 10,000 

 bushels ($2,870) in 1910 to 251 bushels ($30.22) in 1936.'° 



On the thorny question of Federal versus State regulation, the PHS 

 position was that State control had proved inadequate bvit that Federal 

 control would need to invade this field in a gradual way. On the basis 

 of a compilation of current State laws relating to stream pollution 

 al^atement, it was found that "* * * Few States have adequate laws 

 for the prevention and abatement of water pollution and * * * the 

 majority of the States have only partially adequate laws based largely 

 upon the prevention of gross nuisances and conservation of water 

 resources rather than the protection of public health." ^o Pecleral action, 

 according to the PHS presentation, should include stimulus, coordina- 

 tion, research, and funding. Thus : 



National stimulation, leadership and help are essential if watershed planning 

 is to take the place of the piecemeal approach we are now taking to the problem 

 of pollution abatement. To attack the problem most effectively this stimulation 

 and leadership should include research : assistance to States for carrying out 

 investigations and preparing plans for pollution abatement ; and financial aid 

 for construction of facilities ; 



There are fine examples of interstate cooperation but there are many more 

 places where immediate effective cooperation is needed * * *. One of the promising 

 features of the legislation under discussion [was the provision] for stimulation 

 of interstate agreements and encouragement of uniform State laws for pollution 

 abatement; 



Federal sponsorship of cooperative research on common problems that confront 

 many State and local governments avoids duplication of effort ; 



There is urgent need for Federal assistance in working out the interstate 

 aspects of this prolilem. Practically all our river systems extend beyond the 

 limits of a single city or State. The community which discharges sewage and 

 industrial wastes into its streams is seldom affected by that pollution. It is the 

 downstream city, often across the State border, that suffers.^ 



PHS testimony gave as the cost of a "practical, comprehensive pro- 

 gram" based on 1942 construction costs, a total of about $1.6 billion, 

 including $1.4 billion for municipal sewage systems, and $160 million 

 for other industrial treatment of wastes.^- 



The conservationist \'iew was presented to both Senate and House 

 committee hearings b}" Kenneth A. Eeid, executive director of the 

 Izaak "Walton League. Like PHS, he favored the pending legislation, 

 but regarded it as temporary and stopgap. Stronger legislation would 

 soon be needed, which would, in summary : 



Prohibit new outlets for the discharge of pollution without 

 the approval of the Surgeon General ; 



Place research emphasis on the removal of pollutants from 

 effluent systems before discharge into waterways, rather than on 

 water purification at points of intake ; 



=3 Ibid., pp. 91. 96. 184. 

 2" Ibifl., pp. S50, 352-353. 

 =^ Ibid., p. 29. 

 23 Ibid., p. 40. 



