Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-12-19
POTOMAC RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
Special Message of the President.

following special message ana accompanying
documents:
To the Senate and House OF Representatives:
] have the honor to transmit herewith draft
of bill submitted ley the Board OF Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia, entitled "A
bill to provide for the reclamation of the marshes
in the harbOr of the cities OF Washington and
Georgetown, and for other purposes" together
with the accompanying letter OF the President
OF the Board requesting its transmission to Con-
gTeSS. The bill embraces plan for the reclaina-
tiOn of the marshes of the Potomac river and its
Eastern Branch within the limits of the city of
Washington, and is carefully framed with a
the work. The attention OF Congress is again
invited to the urgent need OF leglsla-
tion for this important, public work,
which has been so long delayed. The improve
ment contemplated is essential to the health of
those who reside, whether permanently or tem-
porarily at the Capital and to the safe an con-
venient navigation of the waters in its vicinity,
for vessels employed in the service of the gov
ernment, and for the purposes Of commerce. 1t
is measure of more than local benefit. The
Capital of the nation should be relieved from
every disadvantage which ii is practicable to re-
move, and should possess every attraction with
which it can be invested by the Intelligent and
its immediate supervision. The people of the
country will sustain and approve the efforts Of,
their REPRESENTATIVES in the discharge Of this
Executive Mansion, Dec 10Th, 1879.
The Bill.
The following is the full text of the bill:
A BILL to provide for the reclamation of the
marshes in the harbOr of the cities Of Wash
ingtOn and Georgetown, and for other pur-
poses.
Be it enacted, etc, That the chief of engl-
nee nees soas Of he army the ef 6a
of navigation of the navy, the Commits
sioners of the District OF Columbia and the
engineer in charge OF public buildings and
are hereby created board OF survey, and en-
powered and instructed to examine the present
condition OF the water fronts OF Washington
and Georgetown, and determine upon what
changes or notifications are necessary or advis-
able in the plan OF improvements of the har-
bors Of Washington and Georgetown" submit
ted in the report OF the board OF survey ap-
pointed under the act OF Congress approved
March 5th. 1872; and any changes or modt1ca-
lions therein determined upon and adopted by
the board hereby created, or a majority thereof,
shall be strictly adhered to until otherwise
ordered by law, in the expenditures of any
money appropriated in this or any future act Of
Congress for the improvement Of said harborS
or the reclamation OF the marshes along the
water frontage of Washington and Georgetown:
and said board shall adopt the least expensive
method in detail consistent with permanent
and effective results, and shall determine and
fix the harbor lines of all navigable waters
within the limits OF the District Of Columbia.
Sec. 2. The board provided for in the first sec
ton of this act shall cause notice to be given by
advertisement, twice week for three weeks, in
a daily paper published in Washington city, OF
the proposed reclamation OF the marshes in the
harbor of saidW ashington city and establishment
Of harbor lines and improvement OF the water
front, calling upon all persons who may have
claims OF title or OF possession OF any kind what
soever to land affected by the proposed improve
mentS or to any part OF the marshes or fats in
Washington harbOr, east Of the Virginia or
main channel OF the Potomac, or who may
claim riparian rights, the enjoyment OF which
is interfered with by said proposed improve
ments. to present them to the board at a day
stated in the advertisement If, on or before
said day no such claim shall De presented to the
board. it shall be taken for granted that no
damages are or will be claimed, and the i'm
proyements shall be made and all claims of
rights title or damages shall from that date be
forever barred. But. II on or before said day any
person shall claim title or rights and damages
and the board shall not be able to agree with said
person as to the amount OF said damages,
then the board shall direct the Marshal
Of the District to summon jury Of seven judi
cious, disinterested freehOlderS, not related to
any party interested to be and appear near the
premises Oh day specified to assess the DAM
ages, if any, which each claimant may sustain
by reason of the proposed improvements And
the marshal shall summon such jury and adj
minister an oath or affirmation to them that
they will without favor or partiaIity to any one.
to the best OF their Judgment, decide what dam
ages, If ally, each claimant may sustain by rea-
son OF the surrender of his right; but, in doing
this. they Shall take into consideration the ma
ture, rightfulness and present use and pecuni-
ary value, OF otherwise, OF the claim, and give
of the marshal, upon receiving the order from
the board, TO give the claimants aforesaid not
less than ten days notice OF the time and place
OF the meeting OF the jury to assess
their damages. The jury, having Seen
the premises, considered the claim and assessed
the damages, shall make out written verdict
TO be signed by them, or ma jOrity of them and
attested by the marshal, which the marshal
shall transmit to the board at it's next session.
and which shall be recorded, and shall be final
and conclusive, il not objected to by either
party within fifteen days. Ii the board Or the
claimant shall be dissatisfied with the verdict
thus rendered, and no arrangement shall be
nalda md I ha alaIr aantf fl,n
board shall order the marshal to summon sec
ond jury Of twelve judicfous, disinterested free
holders, not related to any one interested, to
meet near the premises, giving the parties at
least ten days notice of the time and place OF
meeting. And the marshal and jury shall pro-
ceed as before directed in regard to the first
jurors, or by majority OF them, shall be re-
turned Immediately to the board and recorded
as final and conclusive, and the board shall
then proceed with the Improvements. Each
claimant before he can be entitled to the
amount named in the verdict, shall make and
execute a quit claim deed in fee simple to the
United States, Of all his right, title and interest
and deliver said deed to said board.
Sec. g. The board constituted by this act is
hereby authorized to employ an attorney, whose
salary shall not exceed 81 600 per annuin, to be
mert. The duty Of said attorney shall be to
advise and counsel said board and to attend
to all legal proceedings in which
board is hereby authorized to direct its said
attorney to institute proceedings in the name
of the United States, in the Supreme Court Of
the District of Columbia, to Vacate OR annul
any patent which, in the opinion of said board
has been improvidently or Improperly issaed
for any part of the marshes or flats lying I'm
Washington city harbOr and east OF the main
channel of the Potomac river.
Sec, 4. The control OF all riparian rights of the
United States In the water frOntageS In the Dis
trict OF Columbia and of all their rights in re-
spect Of the shores OF the Potomac river and of
any water lots, flats or Islands within the shore
lines OF the Potomac river. or Of any tributary
thereof in said District is hereby transferred to
SAID District the executive officers OF which shall
have exclusive supervision of all docks, ,wharves
landings, water-lots, flats, islands, and water
frontageS, and may defend the same in court
and otherwise, in the name OF the District OF
Columbia.
Sec s. For the purpose of carrying into effect
the foregoing provisions OF this act the sum OF
s. is hereby appropriated from any
moneys in the Treasury OF the United States not
otherwise appropriated, to be expended under
the direction Of the board of survey created by
the first section OF this act.
Letter Of the District Commissioners
The letter OF the Commissioners transmitting
the draft OF the bill to the President says:
"Aware of the earnest and patriotic interest
which you have uniformly manifested in the
welfaIe Of the District of Columbia, the Com
miSSiOnerS venture to request that you will
again and specially commend to the attention