Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-10
THE POTOMAC RIVER
A Half Million for Its improvements
and FIarbOr Hill Discussed i'm the Sem

and EIarb0r BILL Discussed in the Sem
ate.
On Saturday, Mr.. Ransom, from the select
committee on the reclamation of the Potomac
flats, offered the following amendment to the
river and harbor bill:
"Improvng the Potomac river In the vicinity
OF Washington with reference to the improve
ment OF the navigation the est tblishment OF har-
direction Of the Secretary OF War and in accord
ance with the plan and report made in compliance
fe' the o Of
made in compliance with tne resolution OF the
Senate OF December 1s, 1881, e5o,,ooo"
A point OF order made against the amendment
by MI McMlllon led to running debate; but 1T
was finally voted to be In order, and germ ine to
the bill by the presiding officer.
MR. sHERMAN's ADVOCACY OF rHE MEASURE.
Pending the debate Mr.. Sherman said: "There
Is not single item contained in the bill OF sixty
six pages that has been so thoroughly examined
in all its parts and beartugs as this particular
proposition. 1t seems to me that for us to vote
$sO,GOG 900 OF government money to improve rivers
which is within our sight, within our smell,I may
say, all around us, harbor on which we have
built navy yard which is blockaded by growing
swamps caused by ourselves, by the drainage OF
the city, in which our vessels daily ground tn our
presence, present., would Ml,, be most remarkable
Scandal and "a shame, It O' seems to
me, under the circums tances, not to make some
suitable provision for the Improvement of this
harbor; and II in the course OF that improvement
as proposed by the engineers We may also relieve
the people OF this city from growing danger that
lection to it Il is the Improvement of the harbor
that Is proposed; ana II BY improving this harbor
we DO greet g1od to the people Of this city
been here within sight and smell OF this harbor
fb,s G washington cs1 1 ana 90 not want the people
any wise provision relieve them"
VIEWS OF Mr. VOORHEES,
MT. VOOrheeS.-tsI concur fully 18th ovorv xvord
so well uttered by the Senator from Ohio on this
subject believe that great and necessary i'm
provements ought to be made to the harbor for
Ine purpose OF navigation In and about this city.
lying to the east of us, In which by proper i'm
provementS the largest ships in the world may
ma =, snmclent water whereas DOW yachts and
small vessels go aground on various occasions.
The time will come when the railroads will be re-
qu!rec 10 Dulld q proper bridge In place OF the
Long bridge, SO as no longer to obstruct naviga-
ton"
The Debate Resumed To-day.
Immediately upon the conclusion of morning
business in the Senate to-day, the river and har-
Dor bill was taken up. The question of the appr O.
pr1ation for the reclamation OF the flats was the
first business
MR. RANSOM SAID:
1t would be remembered that over wear since
a resolution directing an inquiry into the matter
OF retaining the fats was adopted and since last
December. when the select committee was raised,
the inquiry had been In progress. Immediately
after the appointment OF the committee 1t waited
upon the PRESIDENT, the Secretary Of War ana the
chlet OF engineers, and requested that q board Of
most competent engineers OF the army corps b.,
sickness OF summer, there was some delay In the
servations and survey, but a thorough survey
wa was made: nae board consisting Of Gen Gilmore,
ana made a survey; and Mr., Ransom had their re-
port IN favor OF the improyeInent read
MI. Ransom continuing said, that a large num-
gentlemen in
sanitary science was sufninoned before the COM
mttee. He said that Col Albert, who had Charge
natey dead, agreed that the werk by the plan pre-
scribed by the board was entirely practicable.
nous that the plan was entirely practicable, and
that it would cost not over s, ,50O, 900. Mr. Ran
som said the next question the committee con-
sldered was that OF the health. He named the
prominent physicians called by the committee
Drs. Wales, Garnett Lincoln and others-and said
that every one OF them, without exception, de-
ciared that the reclamation OF the flats would
greatly benefit the health of the CITY, All the
experts, save three, testified that the flats are
With the unanimous report OF the board
OF engineers and OF the medical and sanitary ex-
siton: The improvement would give Washington
ana Georgetown safe and cOlnlnodiOuS harDOr;
IL VIII save the city from all danger OF overflow.
In the third place the experts declare and demon
strate that the improvement will save the city
from the curse Of malaria Mr.. Ransom thought
the proposition too clearly beneficial and
Important 10 need more to be said In its favor.
VIEWS OF Mr.. VEST.
Mr.. Vest, as member OF the committee on COM
merce and OF the select committee on the flats,
had advocated the improvement OF Washington.
AS the capital OF fifty millions Of people Washing
ton ought to be made beautiful and healthy; but
there were certain rules of the Senate certain
rules governing the river and harbOr BILL that he
was not willing to violate even for the sake OF i'm
proving the national capital He maintained that
the testimony taken by the select committee was
mercial benefits. The question OF the commercial
aspect OF the work was hardly touched upon. Mr..
Vest claimed that the late Major Twlning estimated
tne cost OF the proposed, improvement at from
two and a half to five millions. He said 1t would
be Gut OF place to vote S. 0090C0 for any CONNER
cial improvement here, as all OF the commerce for
years would not amount to that much in value
He wanted to know whose plan was proposed to be
adopted.
AS TO THE PLAN.
Mr. Ransom replied that the plan of the board
OF engineers was to be adopted, and he said that
every page OF the committees report almost re-
lated to commercial as well as sanitary improve
ment.
Mr.. Vest maintained that the commercial inter-
est was merely secondary
Mr. Ransom lholding a copy of the committees
phntna ~ rs tSe saa nas rgnt az sne very BE-
lating to the fixing OF harbor lines and other i'm
provements OF the harbor. The question OF COM
mercial improvement was indiSsOlubly linked to
that or the sanitary improvements
ulitldTld ndu poisoned Gen. GaTnelQ mad In tnf1u-
enclng men In favor OF reclainng the flats.
Mr.. Blair asked II the fats produced yellow
1ever II that would not afford ample ground for
apprOpr1atng money to reclaim them.
Mr.. Vest thought the question Of the propriety
OF the amendment upon the river ana harbOr bill
was the main one for consideration. He heli tnat
the matter was entirely out OF order on the river
and harbOr DILL He had been informed by a Sem
aUOr that litigation would certainly follow the
beginning OF this Improvement.
Mr. Ransom, In reply, read from the engineers
report that the cost OF the work would be
$500, 600
Mr.. 0ARLANDS AMENDMENT.
MI. Garland thought the amendment out Of Or
der, but the Senate had decided otherwise. He
was In favor OF the improvement, but did not
think this the proper way to provide for it. He
SAID washington was the city OF the nation; the
nome, almost, OF every member OF Congress, who
Dy reason OF the long sessions OF Congress have to
remain here nearly all OF every year. As this was
the nations capital, city In which all the people
are interested. he was heartily and earnestly In
favor OF this improvement intended to
He said there was d,Hfence of opinion
as TO the cost of this improvement. but that the
expenditure is under CONTROL OF the Secretary OF
war, and OF course he wOuirnot expend any more
than was necessary to eoEApkete the work. He
agreed with MI. Vest as to the importance OF def
nite plans, and would prefer separate bill, but
the Senate had declared the hmeninent in order,
and ne submitted to that decision. He (Mr. Gar