National Republican., 1880-05-04
RIVER FRONT MARSHES.
An Important Improvement Meas
ure Proposed.
Bill Incorporating the Washington Improve
ment Company - The Marshes to be
Filled-Trausfer of tho Arsenal
and Navy-Yard Observatory
Hill to be Cut Down-The
Mall to be Enlarged.
A Comprehensive 1mprorement nln.


bill relating to tic filling up of the marshes of TN
river front of Washington. The bill onncls that TO
the purpose Of improving the hNrbor. health anC
beauty of Washington substantially in acCordanc,
with the plans prepared by the Board of Strive,
created by act OF Congress- approved March 3, 1872
In their report presented to Congress In December
1872. subject to such changes as may be recon-
mended by the Engineer Department of tho Dis
trict of Columbia and approved by the President
OF the United States that
- their associates and assigns are hereby created
n body corporate by the namc and style of III,
| Washington Improvement Company, aud arc vested
with al the rights, powers, privileges and oblica
tions OF a body corporate, to sue and to be sued
10 have seal etc, may execute lands
with mortgages, make contracts for cXcR
vating,, grading aud filing, and do an,
and all things in furthernnce OF the general pur
poses of this corporation not contrary 10 law. The
general management Of the corporation Is to be IN
as may be deemed necessary. II is made the duty
Of the Engineer Department Of the District Of Co.
lumba to prepare. as soon MS may be- working
plans and specifications for grading and filing the
| marshes and grounds substantially in accordance
with the report of the iIarbor Commission of 1872
so fur us the grading and liilng of the grounds
and marshes north and east of the main
channel of the Potomac river, from Easby's
Point, about 2i,0O0 feet. to tile line of the
Anacosia channel and TO close the present eastern
channel between aud above these points aud to
reclaim the flats between the aforesaid main chan
mel and the north shore of the river. The plans
|
proved by the President Of the United States and
thereupon it shall become the duty of the Improve
mcnt Company TO do the excayating aud filling
necessary for snid improvement under the super,
vision of and TO the satisfaction ofthe District Com
mlssloners, and in tho manner aud within the time
provided By said plans and Specifications.
| The District Commissioners may require such
| bond as they may think proper for the
| faithful performance of the work To old the COM
| pRny in pcrfectiug the work there Is granted to
them all the land reclaimed by such improvement
embraced within the limits of the Improvement as
defined by this act. Patents for the same are to be
| issued TO the company by the Secretary OF the In
terror upon tho certificate of the District Commits
sioncrs the patents TO be issued at such times and
| in such amounts as the Commissioners may deem
proper, but not ut any time to exceed the amount
OF land reclaimed. The plans and Specifications
ore TO provide for suitable and adequate
dykes, wharves and piers " be constructed by the
company and sold or leased at prices to be ap-
| proved by the Commissioners, who shall also fix
and determine all wharfage fees and charges. and
subject to the above conditions all wharfage priv
ilcges along the water front of lands reclaimed:
shall belong 10 ana are hereby granted to said COM
pany. Tho right is reserved TO tho Commissioners
to lay out streets avenues aud reservations on the
reclaimed lands in conformity with the general
plan of the city of Washington. The filling
wiz within the limits of soId streets, avenues
the District Commissioners at prices TO be lxod
by the Engineer Department of the District and ap.
proved by the President. Railroad tracks may be
extended over the lands The District Commis-
sloners to construct all necessary sewers. The
commissioners are to cause notice to be given by
paper of the proposed reclamation of the marshes
calling upon all persons who may have claims or
TUE or possession, on any account whatever, to
the land affected by the Proposed improvement or
TO any part of the marshes or flats to be i'm.
proved, or who. may claim riparian, rights
the enjoyment of which is intcrfcred with
by said proposed Improvement to present them TO
lie Commissioners at q day stated in the adver-
tisemcnt limo claims are presented on or before
the date named, the commissioners Will take ii for
granted that no damages will bo claimed and
after said date all claims shall be forever barred
But If claims are presented, jury of seven men is
to be summoned by the marshal, who are to be
judicious and disnerested freeholders, not re-
lated to any party in interest, and they are to
assess the damages sustained. Claimants are
10 receive ten days notice Of the time
and place Of the meeting of the juy. Tho
verdict must crcturned to the commissioners and
will be final and conclusive If not objected 10 by
either party within fifteen days Ii either party
shall be dissatisfied and no agreement can be made
jury oftweyo men shall be summoned, and their
judgment Is to be tinal aud conclusive, Claimants
who are allowed damages are to give quit-caim
decd TO the property There is also granted to the
company the old canal extending from Seven.
lands nppertainng thereto, the same to be
filed and improved under the direction of the
ton and damages are to apply as IN the case of the
marshes. 1he lands created by said improvement
extending westerly from the mall or Washington
Monument grounds shall be re'cryed and added
TO said mall aud the United States shall pay the
company created By this act such price for iling
the same as may bo determined BY the District
the United States. Tho Secretary of tho Navy and
Secretary Of War are authorized to change
upon just and equitable terms tho pres.
ent army arsenal grounds for the present |
navy yard grounds and the Secretary OF the Navy |
Is authorized, in addition, To purchase not to en-
ceed $50 acres of the land reclaimed under the pro
vision of this act adjacent TO the said army arsenal
at price to be approved By the President Of the
United States for the location OF navy yard The |
Secretary of the Navy is authorized to sell 10 be
to tho Government the present naval |
observatory grounds. and may require the COM
pany to remove without charge tho earth from the |
aforesaid lot down TO u suitable grade.
The bill was referred to the District Of Columbia
Committee