Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-10-02
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
The River Flats SufSavcP.

NJ. Editor.-From the puhliShC statements
mace oil The present condition OF our river
front, exaggerated rumOrs have gone abroad
preludlcia 10 The traditional healChfulness OF
Washington. and which, as they are Unbound
ed, Should be corrected.
AS evidence of such rumorS have been in
formed that inquiries have been made Of
some Of our physicians, 10y citizens Vet So
Journlng. in the mountains and watering
places, whether il would he safe for them and
their families to return, thus intimatiuga a fear
OF the prevalence, or OF the probability, of an
epidemic: SO far from there being any ground
Tor such fear, however, the health of our city
never was better Indeed, one of our leading
physicians informed me that in that portion OF
our city known as South Washin gton there is
not, at present, single case OF low fever,
while the whole city is peculiarly exempt from
malarial diseases more or less common at this
season of the year.
At the same time, however, it must be ac-
knowiedged that the condition of our river
front Is anything but desirable, while the nui-
sance occasioned by the accumulation of
Gillette matter on the flats is OF Sucl nature as
to demand immediate and prompt measures
for its abatement. This is a matter which
affects the whole city, and not any one partic-
ular section, and am glad TO learn that il has
at least been brought to the notice of our
Commissioners.
Reading the statement made by our health
0filcer, was deSlTouS OF satisfying myself a.
to the producing cause of the nuisance. ard
with this end in view made personal nsnec-
lion. AS the result OF this inspection wo,iS
say, that the nulSanoe has not bee aX .gg,
ated, and is of such character as to AK
the gTaveSt appreheuSionS for its cguSeqI
upon the health of the city But my it.s -
tion revealed another fact Of which .;om-
munity at large may be ignorant, ~, which,
when known, cannot fail to awaken their Just
Indignation. 1t is the fact that the material
excavated from the GEORGETOWN channel by
dredging, instead of being deposited upon tnd
fatS and thus covering over the accumulated
enete matter which forms the nuisance COM
planned OF, Is actually deposited at the mouth
OF the Washington channel. The effect of this
strange procedure Is not only, as at present to
cause sluggishness Of current which neces-
saflly tends TO the perpetuation of the nuis-
ance, but in addition. will further obstruct our
cnannel, which seems to be filling up from ma
LuI 81 accretlons, and thereby rendering Il diff
ncult Tor vessels to reach our wharves without
tedlouS and expensive delay
IL may seem hardly credible that after Con-
gIeSS mas made an appropriation for the
tnorltles TO whom the matter has been en-
trusted should pursue such course when the
result must prove no less injurious to the com.
merce oil the city than to the health of our
people. But such is the fact, and which is the
more deplorable from the consideration that a
lew days dredging OF the Washington chan
nel, With the deposits placed on the fats In
stead OF in its mouth, would at least give re-
Ilef until the adoption Of plan for the per
manent improvement of our whole river front
The Commissioners informed our health of
fcer, when informing them OF the existence
d the nuisance and praying for its removal
that they had no Jurisdiction in the matter'
and that redress must be sought in Congres,,
sional legislation. This may be true. Rnt
certainly there should be authority soma
wbere 10 prevent the aggravaiion and pernaf
uaton Oh tne nuisance as We'll as to prevant
lne @ niing up OF the already insufficient chan.
nei vi approach TO our wharves. C.