National Republican., 1873-02-04
KIDWELL MEADOWS.
MORE TALK ON THE SUBJECT.

Argument Of W. A. Cock-Professor Enst-
man TeSiiac--Mr. G. n. Church suE-
Ecst-.
The Committee on the District Of Columbia Of
the Senate had a special meeting yesterday to
hear the arguments pro and con on the bill for
the improvement Of the river front
Col W. A. Cook resumed his argument In IA
yor Of the Improvement, and showed by legal
references and numerous decisions OF the Vhl-
ted States Supreme Court that the Chesapeake
and ONO Canal Company has no valid claim to
land formed Ivy accrction In the Potomac. lie
claimed that The original act authorizing the
construction Of ,pF canal gave the company only
the right to thr land through which u was to
nass and dtl NOT confer riparian rights. Be-
AIDES. II any further reason why the company Is
not entitled to such rights IA necessary, u Is
found IN the fact that private wharyes have
been built between the canal aud the channeli
and until now the company has never asserted
H. claim TO the accretOns. lie further claimed
that lt was the duty OF the canal company and
not Of Washington city, to Keep the canal ne
tween Seventeenth street aud Rock creek ~
nayigable condition, and that having failed to
do TVS they have forfeited their charter.
In regard to the claims Of private wharf own
ers he took similar grounds In regard TO accre-
tons lie also reviewed the claims OF the wash
ingtnn and Alexandria Canal Company, and held
that the Government has clear right TO carry
out the proposed improvement, notwithstanding
me claims Of this company. lie closed by say.
ing that no individual or Artificial claims should
stand In the way Of the improvement OF the cap
ltal.
auested to say by several claimants OF "vcsted
rights" on the river that they are not opposed 10
the Improvement Of the river, hut claim compen-
sation for any damage which may ensue TO them
In carrying ont the Improvement.
Professor Eastman, Of the Naval Observatory,
gave testimony a. TO the unhealthfulness OF the
observatory, anil said that several persons had
Hal thaFp. their upntha hpiuH suDeTOlucpu lN
| the malaria arising from the canal and river. He
| himself had had malarial fever, and no one on
duty al the observatory is safe from II. The SUI
| nerintendent cannot live there. Several persons
| connected with the observatory are now sct
! with the Chis and fever, or maarial feVeT.
The unhealthfulness Of the location u well
! known among the Officers on duty there, and no
one can live there either night or day and retain
his health. Were 1t healthy place, the onlcers
cOuld 10 six hours work per day, whereas they
now cannot do more than Tour. IL IL usually
! fnggy every morning. The tlllng OF the so-callcd
Kidwel Meadows might partially remedy thls.
A railroad built along the canal below the oo-
| scryatory would Interfere with OBSERVATIONS.
Mr. g. d. Church called the attention OF the
committee to the fact that the plan Of improve
ment contemplates the closing OF the eastern
channel OF the river, which could be done In ten
days. and that no provision had been made for
the commerce Of Washington, which would be
entirely suspended by the closing OF this chan.
mel. He believed that this matter had been over
looked, and urged an additional provision ln the
bill to secure the commerce OF washington IRON
interruption.
Captain Carlisle Patterson, chairman OF tho
hoarl Of survey, explained to the committee, by
means Of maps, the various reasons winch In
duced the board to recommend their plan for the
improvement, and answered number OF ques
tons relative TO the course OF the river the tides
high water, aCcretons, &c. He stated, as he dic
before the House District Committee some time
since, that he prefers the Government hlll, ant
thought II singular that individuals should inter
pose oh jeCtiOns when 1t II wel-known that TIT
Government always compensates the owners o
property taken for public uses.
| Mr., II. n. Easily wished TO know Of Capt Pat
tcrson II he did not think Lieutenant Riyes' plat
for the Improvement Of the channel (Which pro
noses TO close the western channel and bring tht
main channel on the eastern side OF the river
could not he carried out with as little expense a
the plan Of the board Of survey.
Capt. Patterson said that, in his opinion, th'
cost would probably he about the same as that o
carrying out the plan Of the board Of survey, hu
, that he IL utterly opposed to the Ives plan, he
cause its execution would involve the creation 0
, a large marsh on the west side Of the channel
whereas the plan Of the board OF survey,
carried out, would reclaim all the low lands O
marshes on the nver.
Mr.. II. n. Easily then asked him II he did nc
believe, In case Ives plan Is carried out, that IN
intervening channel would absorb the malari
from the marsh on the west side Of the channj
before reaching this city, Capt. PattcHO
thought not, but said that was medical questiO
IA for the doctors TO determine.
I. The committee adjourned, subject TO the ca
> / Of the chairman.