Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-23

Intent upon material and much-needed
Improvement IN the territory over which IL
watches with such laudable fidelity, the
East Washington Citizens Association is
now turning Its attention to plans which,
II carried out, will result In the reclamation
of the marshes through which the Eastern
branch OF the Potomac makes slow progress
toward the main stream. The proposition
Is wholly good one-one which The Star
has advocated and will continue to advocate
30 lcng as the necessity for agitation exists
There are two basic reasons why this long
stretch Of flats" should be converted into
solid soil-the first, because hygienic condi-
tons will succeed those that breed disease:
the second. the direct financial profit which
will surely accrue as a result of the trans
formation. With these marshes sufficiently
elevated to be safely above flood level, there
would be added to the Districts area
very large quantity of valuable ground.
suitable either for park purpOses-its best
possible use-or for very many desirable
building sites. In the course OF its cam
paign against present conditions along the
branch, the associa ton called upon Health
Officer Hammett for such information as
he would care to furnish. and In response
received from him a lengthy and remark
ably able report, printed elsewhere in The
Star. In that document Dr. Hsmmett says
that at all times the water is more or
less stagnant along the shores, and. when
the tide Is up, the rnud-bottoLns, consisting
OF alluvial deposits covered with rank
growth, are exposed to the rays Of the sun
The growth generally Ia of varieties that
constantly undergo decay and renewal, and
IN the latter part Of the summer and dur
ing the fall this enormous quantity of veg
nfac -bra linU
position That would be bad enough of
itself. but when 1t is noted that into this
mass OF putrefying vegetable matter there
n discharged from the western or city side
the contents Of seven or eight sewers, con-
stantly, day and night, and always" 1t will
be seen that there is continual danger TO
those who reside near the stream. From
the eastern side OF the branch there are
three sewers continually adding to the I'M
desirable character Of the marshes, to say
nothing OF the surface drainage from a con-
siderable and thickly settled territory.
Many people are interested In the proposed
reclamation. AS DR.. Hammett says, the
suburban towns of Bladensburg. Hyatts-
Vile, Twining City, East Washington
Heights Hflsdaie and Anacostia are rapidly
becoming large centers Of population, while
IN East Washington-within range of the
malarial influences Of these swamps-there
must be nearly one hundred thousand res
idents Much of the Health Officers report
is devoted to tabulated statistics, in which
are shown the evil work of the Anacostia
fats and the decrease of mortality that fol-
lowed the almost completed reclamation on
the southwestern edge Of the city. The ar
gument is conclusive, shows beyond ques-
ton how dangerous are existing conditions
from the District line to the Navy Yard,
and should appeal strongly and successfully
to those in whose hands the Constitution OF
the United States placed the sole governing
power of the District of Columbia.