Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-20
THE RITEk FRONT QUESTION.
important Meeting Of fE.e Com IN il &c
Of One Hundred.

MEASURES TO ABATE THE MALARIAL NUISANCE
In accordance with the call of George w
Riggs, esq, president CT the Citizens Commit
tee OF one Hundred, for meeting of the men,
bers OF that organization, quite large number
assembled at the Office of Fitch. Fox Il Cutter
last night to discuss the subject Of the malarial
river flats, and take such action as might be
deemed advisable to lay the matter properly
before Congress, and urge the imperative ne
cesslty OF prompt action for the abatement of
the nuisance. Among those present were
Messrs. George ". Riggs District Commission
eTs Phelps, Dent and T'wining. Dr.. JIG. Morgan,
W: G: MetZerott: Dr.: A. Y. r. Garnett, N w
missioner T. L. Bryan, Il. c. Fox, Edward Tenn
pie, f. Baldwin, NJ. w. Gait j. E. Fitch, Henry
!yles, VIM. S. Thompson, John Pettibone, A T.
u; Brlt1on, c; 5: Noyes, James L; barbour, Hora-
no Browning, Wm. Dickson, b. Ill. Warner, r.
5: Davis, Richard Smith, S. X. Paris and many
others.
Mr.. Riggs in taking the chair, stated that he
had been requested to call the Committee OF
one Hundred together for the purpose of
agreeing upon some mode OF securing the at
1ent1on OF Congress TO the necessity OF imne-
ulate actlOn 10 remedy the condition of Our
river fats He said the most prudent way
would be to refrain from advocating any spe-
cal plan, leaving that to Congress- and ask
mem to dO something. This is all they can do
lie (the chair was not there to advocate any
special plan for the accomplishment of this
Wolk, ana hoped nothing OF the kind would be
are any jobs or corners in this undertaking.
M. John a. Baker acted as secretary
me chair called upon the District Commits
SioGerS TO state for Information what SteoS had
been taken officially for the abatement OF this
eNH. Ihese gentlemen are not members of the
,Snn GStnlinlttee, ana II. could not be expected of
them 10 give direction 10 the action taken by
the meeting. but they would. no doubt. BE- clad
10 make any explanation 0
Commissioner Phelps said he and his brother
SoMnhsslonelS had urged upon the naval com
mttee and the committee on commerce thar
something be done at once to rid the com
nun, munl.S o. OF Inis eyll. The members OF these
committees had expressed themselves freely on
the subject. and that the United states govern
lneht should do something, and the general
g ieeiihg among members Is almost unanimous
upon this matter. The Commissioners mad
Sketched plan for inaugurating this work
but left the details TO the board which their bill
cohteinplated These committees had suggested
an advance from the general government for
thls work as all the revenues for the District
are required for other purposes, and that
SzOpoco year should be applied 10 retaining
tuese flats, the land so reclaimed to be divided
equally between the District and the general
government, as the expense should likewise be
divided. The Commissioners had drafted a bill
fOr the appointment OF board OF survey to be
composed OF engineers. This bill takes as a
basis OF operation the Old plan adopted by the
survey OF ls'2, and authorizes any modification
which this new board may deem best. The
PRESIDENT OF the nited States is very faYoraDIy
disposed to encourage this river Improvement
members or Congress stand ready to act and If
SitiLSLo u DlSJllCG VIII COll6 together
ana agree upon something and all unite in
urging it, he felt sanguine that the work viii
be done. "
DR.. A. y. z. Garnett sal these congressional
committees had always re spected the wishes of
the citizens as expressed through this Commit
tee OF One Hundred. He thought committe
should be appointed a petition drawn 10 and
urged upon Congress expressing the necess ties
of the case.
The chair thought that any particular plan
should not be advocated by this committee but
should be left to the engineer department OF
the. government. as they would have charge
and supervision OF the work, as this depart
ment, OF course, is more Competent to make
plans
DR.. Gafnett said the committee should be
composed OF seven good representatives Of the
Eeople here to urge upon Congress that some
thing be done before the adjournment. He put
his suggestion in the form OF a motion, and
that the petition suggested also be circulated
Tor signatures.
Mr.. G. B. Church stated what action had been
taken by the business men on the river front.
They had been before the committee On COM
merce and asked for an appropriation to have
the Washington channel dredged from the Long
bridge to the Eastern branch, for the benefit OF
the river traffic. This channel Is fast filling up
and river trade has been damaged beyond de,
seriptton. The delegation Of merchants had had