Evening star., 1896-03-03
TOO COSTLY A SITE
An Official Committee Reports on ADalos-
~ tan Island.
Large Sum Needed to Make the
Place Suitable for the Con.
IN - fTtagiOus Hospital.

The statement contained in The Star of
February -2l last to the effect that the
Commissioners would not locate a con-
tagious hospital on Analostan Island, be-
cause of the excessive cost to get the is
land in condition, was borne out to the let
ter today in the report of the committee
selected to investigate the subject.
The committee is composed of Capt. Fie-
beger Health Officer Woodward and Mr..
Brady. inspector of buildings
The report places the total cost of the
make it possible to erect a contagious hos
pital there at S2Sl $50. This lis irrespective
OF the erection of a hospital building, which
may cost anywhere from $4,000 to slU0.OU0.
according to the wishes Of the authorities.
The cost is so great as to stop all con-
sideration of the matter.
The report of the committee says:
In accordance With your instructions of
or our examination of Analostan Island
with view to its use site for an
isolated hospital: This island contains
about fifty-fout acres of solid ground above
the ordinary level of the tides. and about
thirty-four acres of swamp at about the
level aI low tide.
"The ground rises rather abruptly from
the water to Il height of fifteen feet above
high tide, and then more gradually to a
height of fifty feet, which is the maximum
elevation of the island. The area above
the IS IOTty-tWO acres, am
above the contour thirty, twenty-five acres.
The island is separated from the city
OF Washington by the Potomac river. the
least width of which Is about 40 feet; ii
is separated from the Virginia shore by a
shallow body of water known as Little
river, OF about the same width. This body
OF water was at one time much deeper, and
formed branch of the Potomac river
In 1SOJ. in order to deepen the George
town channel of the river, the city of
Georgetown entered into an agreement with
Mr. John Mason, the owner Of the island
whereby the city was to construct dam
or causeway between the north front of
the island and the Virginia Shore SO as to
entirely stop the flow of water behind An
alostan Island. This causeway was con-
structed. but has since been partially de-
stroyed. Its effect was to convert Little
river into tidal basin.
South of the island is a large area of
marsh extending down to Alexander Island
TO convert the island into suitable
will be necessary:
First. To reclaim the marshes along the
island and as far south as Alexander
Island. This might be done by dredging
below mean low water and raising the
other half six feet above that plane; esti-
mated cost. $1iS.O00.
'.2 To connect the island with the ap-
proaches of the AQueduct bridge by road
and bridge twenty feet wide. and to con-
struct dock on the island opposite the
foot of New Hampshire avenue; estimated
ccst, $4,000.
B. To lay six-inch water main from the
north end Of the Aqueduct bridge to the
probable site of the hospital; estimated
cost. 5000.
Total cost of improvement, sl6aO5O
Analostan Island appears upon the
books of the assessor Of the District of
Columbia as containing seventy-five acres
assessed at $500 per acre. making the total
assessed valuation $s7.idO. If purchased by
the government under condemnation pro-
ceedings, ii would probably bring three
times its assessed valuation, or $1l2,5tW
The probable total cost Of the island in
a condition to use as site for an isolation
he spstal. would. therefore. be s2Sl $50
Except when naviga ton of the river is
efosed by Ice. the communication with the
island should i'e hy means of a steam ferry;
when the rive; is closed. 1t would be reces-
sary to approach the island from the Eir-
gnia shore via the AQueduct bridge"