The morning times., 1895-11-17
DEH|lEHS OF THE FLATS
Tramps, Ducks, Snipe and Rab-
bits Live in the Marshes.
POTOMAO'S WASTE LANDS
vast stretches OF Sedge and Grass
Where Nature Reigns Undisturbed.
Roost of the Road Gentry and Mine
for the Market Hunter-History of
Their ImproN

Less than half a century ago the east
shore uf the Potomac and its eastern branch
from the heights Of Georgetown to the
heights OF AnacJstia was a dreary, barren,
unacceptable stretch OF alluvial lands. Here
and there high lands on the eastern shore
put out into these ledge-covered, rivulet-
broken tracts breaking the continuity of
the level.
Within the period mentioned what is
now known as Water street and the old
canal which ran along the northern bounds
OF the Agricultural Department grounds
were practically the eastern limit of the
flats from Georgetown TO about Ninth
street southwest Within the memory OF
many people the whole region within the
area named was low, marshy land In fact,
the enterprise and money OF spectators
in real estate and land Improvement com
panies made terra rirma and a salUbrions
and beautiful garden spot out OF some dry
land and an infinity of holes, lagoons, and
muddy wastes.
Perhaps one Of the best views OF the
Potomac flats is from central point on the
Long Bridge. Looking up the river 10 the
right in the high summer season nothing
can be loylier than the glorious expanse
of waving tangled water grasses, which
extend as far as the eye cares to roam.
This level. even topped field Of richest
green verdure is in marked contrast with
the verdant slopes Of the hills across the
river from Georgetown.
just now this luXuriant crop presents its
most woeful appearance and retains little
of the vivid green that makes its best
feature from the pict uresque point of view.
Below the bridge the difference OF as
pect is merely in degree and not OF kind.
TYPICAL FLATS SCENE.
Perhaps one can get as realistic an idea
of what the flats are on the extension of
the Seventeenth street sewer as any place
along the whole line of the river. The sew
er extends for perhaps 500 yards right
through Il typical scene in the flats. on
either side of the sewer there is dead
level for many hundred yards. The veg
citation is poor and consists very largely
of tufts and tussocks of matted arsh
grass and indescribabe weeds. The sur
face is nearly all the tine exposed and
is marked in innumerable places with stag
pant puddles and broken water courses
which bask all summer under the burning
gcrm-creating sun. In these puddles there
are nondescript little animals akin to the
fi,ldlers of the salt marshes, wafer lizards,
frogs Il nd occasionally u stranded ''P otomac
robin or two whose parents came In on
the high tide, and DRIFTS Of green scum
move TO and fro at the sweet viii OF
the wind.
Apparently the only use nowadays ofthese
celebrated flats is n sdumping grounds OF the
refuse of the city, and as basin for sur
face drains.
Possibly the first great work constructed
over O part of these flats is the Long
bridge, which, rather curiously is best
known to Washingtonians as connecting
link between the outlaws of Jackson City
and those who patroniZe their saloons and
gambling bells from this side of the his
toric vaduct.
Like most ancient iustitutions, the POI
tomac flats have a case in chanceTy. They
are not So barren, SD utterly valucless, as
that they have not been the cause OF
litigation, which began long years ago and
now awaiting hearing and final adjudi-
cation before the highest tribunal in tie
land.
LAWSUITS OVER THEM.
The questions are threefold and involve
the rights to the flats as between the in
diyjdual and the District government or
the United States Government. The prin-
cIpaI one of the many suits involving the
ownership of this property is brought on be-
half of the East Washington Citizens As
ISOLATION, and when decided will be a test
case.
1t is not generally remembered that Con-
gross once had a dream of improving and
possibly retaining a great deal of these
marshy lands of the grand old river. 1t
was once contemplated by means of con-
nection between the Chesapeake Bay and
the Eastern Branch 10 secure safe i'm
land passa &c a II the way from New York q
Charleston, s. C.. The study of this route