Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-19
Washington and Georgetown Har-
bOY.

THE RECLAMATION OF THB FLATS-HEARIEG Be
FORE THE COMMERCE COMMITTEES TO DAY-A.
WATSON AND B. sEvERSON AIR THEIR EOBBIs Is
AND ATTACK THE HUNTON BILL-GES. BIRNEY
DEFENDS THE ELL.
The House committee On commerce gave
hearing OF one hour this morning to the op-
ponents OF the appropriation for the improve
ment OF the harbor as provided for In the bill
recommended by Mr. Hunton, and to friends OF
different plans of Improvement.
Mr.. A. Watson spoke against the plan OF the
board Of survey OF 1872 and that suggested by
Major Twining; charged that the plan was
originated by A. r. Shepherd, that the board of
survey OF 1872 was packed to approve 1t, that
the commission OF engineers In the Hunton bill
was also packed and that all the newspapers In
Ine clty, except one or Two, had been bought
and SO on for quantity. His plan was to dredge
out the whole river from shore to shore.
Gen. "a. Haupt, formerly engineer OF the
PENNSYLVANIA Central, made few sensible
suggestions in regard TO the improvements
sanitary measure chiefly. He Gid not antago-
nlze the blu, and his suggestions will. DOUBT
less, nave due consideration from the engineer
commission to be organized
MI. b. SeVeTsOn next addressed the commit.
tee, favorfng plan of a breakwater at Ana
lostan Island, so as to divert the channel OF the
river. and the formation Of a new island In the
river sOmewhere-anywhere.
The last ten minutes were given to General
BTney, VINO appeared on request OF General
Hunton, engaged in his own committee room
Gen. Birney said, In substance: Mr.. Hunton's
bill recommends no particular plan, but leaves
me a9e cho1ee OF Plan TO TO an engineer commission
therefore. premature. except as it may throw
light on the sum probably required for the Inn
proVement. But as all plans offered OF sug-
gesled, @ t OF az permanent value, involve larger
necessary to discuss their respective merits.
AS to the plan Of 1872, its weak points have
been revealed In thorough discussion Of eight
moditications of an important character.
The commission Is composed OF the District
commissioners and the engineer officers Of the
army. navy and coast Survey--gentlemen of
special knowledge and large experience in
the Improvements made by The United States
In rivers and harbors. The addition of civil
engineers not In government service, though un-
Objectionable In principle, would make the COM
mission more cumbrous and necessitate pro-
visions In the bill for the compensation OF the
parties added. Engineers OF high reputation
would not serve unless we'll paid.
Commercial considerations require this i'm
pIoVement. The location Of Washington fulfits
all the conditions of a natural commercial
center. An immense water power is furnished
by Great Falls and Little Falls, equal to any in
the country. There Is easy access from large
body Of fertile country, including the great
west
A short canal connects Washington With i'm
mense coal fields. Railroads bring us the wheat
OF OF East Tennessee and southwest Virginia, the
best for expectation as flour to the West Indies
and other countries. The Potomac offers a
cheap thoroughfare for commerce-au efficient
regulator OF railroad freights.
Gen. Pirney showed by statistical references
the former flOurishing condition of the coal,
1Ouring. tobacco and wholesale grocery bust
ness OF Georgetown; that the arrivals of vessels
at that port had formerly been as many as
5000 year. he then showed that the immense
water power below Great Falls, extending fif-
teen miles, Is lying unimprOyed, except by
very few Touring mills near Georgetown; that
there Is not single wholesale dry goods house
IN the District, that there are no manufactures
OF cotton, cloth, hardware, Or of anything eX-
cept for local consumption and few Touring
mills; that the trade OF the region commanded
by Washington is all done by Baltimore; that
nearly all our imports are made at Baltimore,
city whose chief advantage over Washington
for commerce ts deep haTbor and unimpeded
navigation in Chesapeake bay.
The chief cause OF the want OF commercial
prosperity In this District is the wretehed con-
dltion OF our harbor. The depth which ought
to be at least 20 feet In the channel and at the
Wharves, has been allowed to decline to about
IL In the channel and much less at many OF th
old wharf sites. The formation of eXtenSiye
mud flats in Washington harbor las gone on
without interruption for about 80 ye3rhs II has
even Ceen Increased by the erection OF Long
BrlCge, under act OF Congress. Washington
channel itself had become flied up in part ard
swallowed to from to IL FEET, and narrowed 20
that large boat cOaid not be turned, when
TWO years ago CONGRESS- made an approprIat on
to dredge part OF 1t deep enough for use by ve-.
sells Of average draft The average d1aft CT
vessels In tie river and cOasJlng trade Is II feet
OF sea going, much more. Even the former
cannot get, at present. to Georgetown and
washington, except at high tide.
Twelve O'Clock broke on Gen. B. s remarks,
and the committee adjourned.