Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-11


FORTS 70 SUPPRESS THE SUIsAScE-THE CANAL
SHOULD BE ARCHED OVER AND THE SAND BOATS
SEEK OTHER LANDING PLACES.
There has not been a case OF drowning IN
the old James creek canal for several months"
said Lieut.. Vernon Of the South Washington
police station to STAR reporter this morning.
This IL rather unusual for the old death trap,
but it is true nevertheless. There was time
when every day or two some one fell into the
canal which is one of the most unsightly and
filthy places in the city. Below the arch at e.
street the stencil in the summer time Is almost
unbearable and the health of the residents
along the line of the canal is endangered"
The HEALTH OFFICERS EMPHATIC CoSDEMSA-
TIov
Health Officer Townshend made an inspec-
ton of the canal two wears ago and called the
attention of the Commissioners to it in a letter
as follows:
Il desire to ask if it is not possible to secure
action looking to the abatement of that griev
Gus nuisance known to the citizens of Wash
ingtOn as the James Creek canal. This reek-
ing open sewer. with Its sewage floating back
and forth with the tides. Is a disgrace to the
city which IT has long enough endured. A con-
nnuatlCn OF the good work by archlng 1t over
from where II was left off to where it empties
Potomac would be the most important step
which could be taken in the interests of the
health and lives of the large population of
South Washington. believe the matter has
been considered by the engineer department
OF the city, as well as other engineer officers of
the army. | hope that agitation of this subject
Will be maintained until the good work is ac-
cOmplished."
THE OPEN CANAL
runs from G street south to the Eastern branch
at the east wall of the Washington barracks,
formerly the arsenal. Three bridges cross the
canal at h, VI and streets The bridge that
crosses it at X street was constructed at the ex-
pense of the citizens through the efforts of Mr..
Phil Dryer. and the other two were paid for
by the District. From the end of the arch at
q street to the branch the canal is entirely I'M
covered and unprotected. except at the bridges,
and there Is rail on either side of the bridge
and two Of the structures are lighted by gas
lamps. The canal is used for draining the sew
ers from the northeastern section of the city
ana Is part OF what was once Tlber creek.
The water in the canal is from five to ten feet
deep. The water Is always muddy and
FULL OF FILTH FROM THE SEWERS.
Sand boats from down the river and up the
Eastern Branch land along the shores of the
canal where sand yards are located. Nearly all
of the sand that reaches the city by water is
landed there. The District owns strip OF
% feet of ground on eitho.- side of the stream,
but does not collect One cent of revenue from
1t The District property yard or sand lot"
a. it Is called. Is located over the arched DOR
ton of the canal. and the District obtains sew
eral thousand loads of sand from it every year.
THE CANAL SHOULD BE ARCHED OVER.
Several years ago Congress was appealed to
TO do something with the old canal but nothing
was done, although Maj. Hams suggested a
remedy for the nuisance. The citizens and
property owners in the vicinity of the OBJ
lectlOnable stream are DESTROYS of having an
arch constructed over ii. so that that part of the
city may be improved and the unsightly gap
that divides the two sections closed up. The
citizens say that should the canal be arched
Eastern Branch for the establishment of sand
yards and wharves and the haul through the
city would not be much longer one than it
now is.
THE SAND BOATS.
There is always long feet of sand boats
along the canal walls. They are boats that
could hardly be used for any other
purpose. The boats are built to
carry many cart loads of sand
and are consequently constructed of heavy
material Two colored men are usually in
Charge of a boat and sometimes the number is
increased TO three. cabin in one end of the
scows afford ample sleeping room for three
persons. Long poles and sometimes sail is
the prOpelling power and it is wonderful that
the men are able to make as good time as they
do.
Two men often leave the sand yards in the
afternoon and go down the river or up the
branch and return with a full load of sand by
the next morning. The business is profitable
one to the boat owners, but the men who per-
form the work do not receive large salaries.