National Republican., 1882-07-28
THE POTOMAC FLATS
ARE AT LAST TO BE RECLAIMED.
Major Twining's Plan for the Improvement or
the River Front to bo Substantially Fol.
loued-How the Western Part OF
the City will be Dcautlaed.

The following is the full text of the clause in the
river and hurbor bill passed. providing for the
reclamation of the Potomac Flats:
Improving the Potomac River in the vicinity
of Washington with reference to the improve
ment of navigation, the establishment OF harbor
lines, and the raising of the fats under the direc.
ton of the Secretary of War, and In accordance
with the plan and report made in compliance
with the river and harbor act approved March g.
1881, and the reports of the board of engineers
made in compliance with the resolution of tho
Senate OF December 10, 1881, 100000.
"And it is hereby made the duty of the Attor-
ney-General TO examine all claims of title to the
premises TO be improved under this appropriation
and see that the rights of the government in all
respects arc secured and protected and if he
deems it necessary he is authorized to cause suit
or suits in law or in equity to be instituted in the
name of the United States, in the supreme court
of the District of Columbia, against any and all
claimants of title under any patent which in his
opinion was by mistake was improperly or IL
legally issued for any part of the marshes or flats
within the limits of the proposed improvements"
ALTHOUGH THE SPECIAL Bill;
for the. Improvement of the Potomac River front
has fallen through, and we must be content at
this time with the appropriation above set forth,
still this is an opening wedge of sufficient magni-
tude to indicate the ultimate complete improve
ment OF our river front the reclamation Of the
disease breeding flats. and consequently the re-
moyal of the liability to malaria in the western
ofthat section of the National Capital. 1t is be-
leyed ,;e that the plan prepared BY the c'i late
orh " in TnE Snn Sa'h IN was an 'py
teryiew with that officer several months ago will
be substantially followed, the modification being
in regard to the cutting off of Easbys Point. Major
Twining's plan contemplated cutting ofa large
portion of this point SO that the line of frontage
would be nearly straight from that point 10 oppo-
site the arsenal 1t is probable that n smaller
amount OF this point will be cut, and the frontage
line will have 70 be curved in order to CONFORM to
this change. The space north of the Long Bridge
will not be completely filed in and laid out Tor
building purposes; but will bo arranged in parks
with
ORNAMENTAL LAKES AND PONDS
in continuation of the Smithsonian, Agricultural,
and White House grounds. When this portion of
the improvement shall be completed 1t will give
make that section one of the most beautiful parts
| Of the city. Below the Long Bridge winter basin
will be formed of the present Washington channel
which will be ample to accommodate the commerce
of this city. and the poiut to be filed up between
the extension Of Fourteenth street and the western
boundary of this basin will form peninsula ex-
tending from Maryland avenue to opposite the
arsenal aud will be laid out for building purposes
The money appropriated now will probably be
| that Colonel Albert, who has now the charge
| of the improvements of the harbors of Wash.
Ebton orR and VIII b hSys
missioner of the District, said yesterday that he
did not think the matter would again come before
his office, but would be considered entirely by the
! War Department. board of engineers will be
| convened to exactly establish
THE LINE OF THE BULKHEAD,
| and when this is done the work will be COM
menced. Although for many years the necessity
| of some action looking 10 the improvement of the
river front was felt yet it was not until 1872 that
| any vigorous movement upon Congress to accom-.
plish this made and the report of the board of
survey, ordered by the act of March of that year.
set forth i'll emphatic terms the necessity for the
work as a sanitary measure, and its advantages
| to the city in commercial point of view. When
| that report was referred to the House District
| Committee that body entered upon an investiga-
| tion, and was at once beset by n horde of those
who wore opposed to the improvements of the
| District that were then progressing under the en-
ergetic direction of Ex-Governor Alexander X.
| Shepherd, and the protests of the number who
claimed to own the flats defeated any appropriation
save pitiful sum of $4,000, which was of no
| earthly use save ms recognition that
| SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE.
| Before the matter could again be presented to
| Congress the obstructionists in the District sue
ceeded in abolishing the board of public works
and depriving the people of the services of the
man who had greater regard for their interests
and higher idea of what the National Capital
should be than any other living person. The
temporary government which succeeded was
occupied principally in unrayelling the
board Of public works in What was
supposed to be its full tide Of success necessarily
caused, and 80 nothing in regard to the river
| front Improvement was done until the appoint
ment of Major Twining as Engineer Commissioner.
before his death he told q representative of THE
REPUBLICAN, that he had fully appreciated the ne.
cessity for the river front improvement, and had
| at last the satisfaction of knowing that his plan
over which he had spent four years of thought
| and study, had been adopted. To his energy, mis-
persistence, and his careful study of the subject IL
| due the present success i'll the passage of the
100000, which will be shortly available to com
| manrn the work