National Republican., 1876-01-14

more are likely to occur In the future: and the
abuse which has arisen Of loading and unloading
cars IN the streets, making Tp trains IN the same
night and otherwise spprOprlating these streets
to their own private use, utterly regardless OF the
rights OF individuals or OF the public, hls grown
to be such an evil as to demand immediate re-
dress.
erespectfully submit that It would be for the
interest and welfare of the city, as we'll rs ulti
mately for the benefit OF these companies and
certainly for the benefit of the public, that union
depot should be established at some suitable
which We are now subject may be avoided.
We earnestly entreat your honorable bodies 10
devise immediate measures for our relief in this
The memorial was adopted.
The following committee was appointed tn pre-
se0s sne W.-S 70 .Sb R
Howell, w. F. Walker. W. q. hamburger, L.
Temple, q. B. Church, Rev. c. q. Meader, J. L.
ktdwel, Z. L. White, Jos. Shillingtcn and ]. ii.
johnson.
REMARKS OF GEN. HIRNEY.
Gen. Birney was introduced and addressed the
meeting on the SUBJECT of the condition of the
river and haIbor. He said in the early history
#, and deep oue in front of Georgetown. Be.
tween the Long bridge and the arsenal there was
depth varying between eleven and fifteen feet;
At that time 1t was thoug ht that this was one OF
the best harbors in tho country.
In 1894 there was an excellent channel in the
Eastern Branch running to the depth of thirty
was fifteen feet deep, to which point vessels nayi-
gated. But this has become hlIed up by sewer
drainages and from other causes. In 1905 Con
gress authorized tho building of q dam from the
Virginia shore to Mason's Island, which operated
against the channel around that island. In 1905
the Long bridge was built, and has worked to
the detIiment Of this city, the increasing Hats
testify. There is still good channel leading to
Georgetown, but that is becoming smaller. This
is the head Of tide-water, and a good harbor can
only be preserved by vigilance and good dredg-
ing. The depth Of the water in the Washington
draft Of vessels is between seven and seventeen
feet therefore it was obvious that under the pres
ent condition Of affairs commerce could not be ex
pected to increase. As Congress was instrumental
in creating these difficulties they should also
assist in their removal. Whatever elss the war
had DECIDED one thing certain 1t had settled, and
that was that this should be one great, undivided
nation and this the capital. A more suitable spot
could rot have been selected.
Its population increases rspidly, and causes
are continually arising to bring people here
from all parts of the country. Despite the hard
times buildings spring up, because they are
reeded and in demand, ana the day was not far
distant when the limits Of the District wOnld be
iDaoequste for its populations; therefore, 1t was
only right that the community should ask Con-
gTsss to improve their river front, and give the
city an opportunity tOpGrticipate in
MARITIME COMPETITION.
1t was only Justice and right that the request
should he granted. He predicted success for the
committee.
Mr.. Cluss said that Mr.. Birney could not be
aware that Congress had already agreed upon a
plan for improving the channels Of Washing
tcn ard Georgetown, which was adopted March
L. 1872: ard TO carry out this plan apprOpr atiOns
only were Necessary. He then read the report
of the board OF engineers and survey on this sub
lect presented to Congress in 1872, which will
quire So, eco, 0C0 to carry it out.
Mr.. BirIey did not know that Congress had
ever accepted that plan.
Mr.. Ciuss was astonished that the gentleman,
an officer Of the District government, was not
aware that for the past twelve months the Dis
trict government had been WorEing in accordance
with this plan.
MIR. Stephenson said that not one Denuy had
been expended by Congress on the Washington
channel south of the Long bridge
MIR. Cluss replied that such was the fact. fOr
the appropriation was for the Virginia channel,
but the luture dredging Of the other channel was
the Implication OF the Law.
Mr. Stephenson stated that the help they asked
for was with the express understanding that IL
should not conflict with any other plan.
DIR. Allen was glad that the subject had been
broached, and hoped 1t would be strongly venti-
lated, as ii should be, for the information Of the
citizens of this city. Every dollar Appropriated
for dredging the channels has been usEd on the
Virginia side, and Georgetown receives the ben-
eht OF it, while Washington gets the credit.
The greater the dredging the higher rises the
Kidwell meadows. Remove the causeKay, and
Washington will have a channel. and clique
who took cut letters at the Land Once will lose
their claim in the kiduell meadows by the open
ing up of q natural water-course.
After authorizing the chairmen OF the two COM
mittees to I'LL any vacancies occurring in their
respective committees, and rendering a vote of
thanks to General Birney for his remarks, the
meeting adjourned.