
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 6, 1995                   TAG: 9507060065
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RAY REED
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

1 IF BY LAND, 10 TIMES IF BY WATER

Q: Why hasn't Virginia Beach considered running a pipeline up the James River bed toward Richmond far enough to reach fresh water for its drinking supply? Wouldn't that be cheaper than putting a pipeline overland to Lake Gaston?

R.B.R., Roanoke

A: Virginia Beach must have considered this idea, because it had a ready answer:

"The cost to construct a pipeline through a waterway is 10 times greater, per foot, than the cost to bury the pipeline underground.

"A pipe long enough to reach the nontidal portion of the James River would be nearly as long as the line to Lake Gaston.

"Under drought conditions, the James River below Richmond flows at 500 cubic feet per second. Under the same conditions, the Roanoke River downstream of Lake Gaston flows at 2,000 cubic feet per second."

Also, except for excluding North Carolina from the debate, the legal, regulatory, institutional and political issues over a transfer of water from the James would be identical to the transfer from Lake Gaston, said Virginia Beach's Water Resources Department.

Soon enough?

Q: When is the city going to reopen the Hollins Road railroad crossing?

R.S., Roanoke

A: The railroad crossing should reopen sometime next week, the city engineer's office says.

That's a notable development, because the city had scheduled six months for replacement of the small bridge over Lick Run Channel adjacent to the crossing.

The city planned the construction through September because it expected delays from train operations near the Norfolk Southern Corp. East End Shops.

Work flowed smoothly, though, and the project is wrapped up and repaved two months ahead of schedule.

Only a few details remain to be completed, a spokesman for the city engineer's office said.|

Retiring early

Q: Will a U.S. congressman, if defeated at an age younger than 65, draw his pension then, or will he have to wait until he reaches retirement age?

G.W., Brownsburg

A: A former member of Congress can, generally speaking, draw a full pension at age 62 if he or she served at least five years, the minimum for vesting.

The age can vary depending on whether the former member was elected prior to 1984, when the retirement system changed from the Civil Service plan to the Federal Employee Retirement System.

Congressmen and -women with 20 years of service can take a full pension at age 50, according to the National Taxpayers Union, a watchdog group.

Those who retire, or are retired, short of 20 years can begin drawing a reduced pension at about age 55.

Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.

by CNB