Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-11
The River Flats Improvement.

POINTS IN Yesterdays DEBATE IN THE SENATE
ARGUMENTS OF MEssRs. CoSGER AND WILLIAMS.
During the debate in the Senate yesterday on
the amendment to the river and harbor bill ap-
propriattng 100000 for Improvement of the Po-
tomac river. (Which amendment was adopted, as
stated In THE STAR last evening", Mr.. Con-
ger said the government had been expend-
Ing money for years for dredging the channel
here, and he had found with surprise that the
material dredged from the Washington chan.
mel was carried down to side channel about the
long bridge, and there loaded On cars to be re-
moved. A board OF engineers was ordered to look
into that and ascertain why was necessary to
go to the expense OF carrying the material hfteen
or twenty miles after it had been dredged out.
when nit it was needed to nll low grounds right here
at SO much expense could be used
the city. Col. Alert and MajT Twining had given en-
clear and explicit testimony as to the improve
ment Of the Potomac channel here, and, in ad:i-
examined as to tie enect Of the Improvement
upon the general health. He maintained that the
Channel and that Mr. aaa examined % w she
nesses before the committee on that point. The
plan would would enable the deposits now carried away
preSsment as ecnte%pla'ed lp p''Pfsso sas pan ,t,
Sng the saeary eoudop here as
NIT that this work should have been begun long
ago, and should now be begun and completed as
proper subject for the river and harbor bill. He
hoped che amendment would be adopted. He had
no no on!ection to MI. Garland's amendment. though
ne 0id not regard 1t as necessary. The govern
ment clearly owned the land proposed to be i'm
proved. Parties had sought to obtain patent to
land or accrued land made by deposits The gov
vernment had control Of ell the land in the Dis
ts1 Of columnia On the application Of the
sued. - ! /. :. =
"A Mr.. Ransom corrected BY saying patent had
MI Conger said then it had since been declared
lnVaId, 1'9 because there was no law applying to
wild land in the District as there is In the terri
million dollars The Seaits &c OF every resident and
every visitor to Washington depends upon rcmov-
The houses built along the Immediate border Of
me nats i had h been deserted People who owned
ans aad mad left 4 it as IKE
posed appropriation wouldbe in the interest OF
economy eco5 It would ut.lize the deposits yearly
nc no &c good to the ehsnael: lie referred
ey tss asa s0f Of s s
flats, and said there waa Universal throb OF joy
in the hearts Of the people when General Garfield
manded thar Congress % shouid remove @ We this t Stand
ing d1sgrace from the nationalcapital He wo uid
taks sss in
MR. WILLIAMS VAS lsroN1sHED
tnat MI Vest, usually 80 liberal, should stick at
technicalties to oppose an apmopriation for such
great river as the Potonlae thAE flows by the ma
uonal capital 1t Is agrAt rfva. he said andit has
great harbor: Forty years go there was water
ehG9gn ehsgg 70 noat the Largest then the largest
ana recently gentlenAan's yecht ran aground
there: Congress had Heglaeh1a this great river:
that had destroyed tfo commerce OF
Georgetown. and had dea1Uycd the health OF the
city. Since he had been a Congress ten or twelve
son. and he himself was suffering from malaria.
Ae hoped to see Congress take this great river In
to be- II the governmsnf M should build ships mere
sald MT Williams there is not water enough to