The morning times., 1896-01-08
FLATS AND POLICE FORCE
East Washington Citizens Dis
cHssed Them Fully.
COMMITTEE REPORTS MADE
Comprehensive Scheme for the Re-
clamatiOn of the Eastern Branch
Magi-trn,e SYSTEM grged by Several
Speakers-other,,. Business.


-A-.i--a @
s-t--f 81 pI
1t was several mpqtes after o'clock
last night when the East Washington Cit
izens' Association was declared by Presi-
dent Babson to bereads rorthe consideration
OF business. and almost Immediately
thereafter, the preliminaries and routine
matters being concluded, the association
took up Col. Moore 4 Recommendation as
to the change that shbdld'be made in police
court matters, providing Tor precinct mag
| istrates.
The chair stated that a gentleman who
had been at one time connected with the
District government was present, and with
the consent OF the association the rules
would be suspended in order that Major
3. H. Walker. ex-superintendent OF police,
might he heard, as he could stay but a
short time.
Major walker took up the Recommendation
made in Major Moores report for the des-
ignation OF a magistrate FOR each precinct.
and warmly commended 1t. 1t affects
the section represented by the associat ation,
he says, and should be brought to the item
ton OF Congress.
He pictured the lack OF police protection
to all sections while the Officers are at
the central police court and said in addition
that trivial offenses should be hea rd by the
magistrates, thus saving time and protect
ing innocent people arrested on charges that
cannot be sustained.
WHEN THE INNOCENT SUFFER.
Appeals from the magistrates to the
police court should be provided for and all
jury trials could be heard there.
The crowded condition of the police court
business at times, he saId rendered IL i'm
ft.ta R.Nr
attention to all the cases that come before
them.
Remarks were made upon the subject by
Secretary Sperry and Messrs. NJ. J. Weller
and Tracy l.. Jeffords, Mr. Weller making
4 motion to refer the matter to the COM
mittee on health, police, and charities
with instructions to prepare bill for
submission to Congress.
Mr.. Jeffords discussed the matter at
some length, stating that the money ex-
pended by the District in providing a meal
for each of the prisoners every morning
would be largely diminished by the pro-
posed change.
Many practices, Mr.. Jeffords said, would
be broken up by the designation of the pre-
ciDct magistrates, and the present situa-
tion, as depicted by Major Walker, could
not be too strongly emphasized. Theaction
as above noted was then taken.
PROF. HIRD'S CONTRIBUTION.
Prof. J. D. Hird, from the committee on
nealth, police, and charities, read an in
structive and entertaining paper upon the
general subject of public health, and the
causes Of fevers, together with the preva-
leDce OF disease germs, in The community,
for which he received the unanimous thanks
of the association.
Mr.. Tracy L. Jeffords, from the special
committee on the reclamation. of the Ana
txs... -alp
and Messrs- -lThopasW. Smith, j .R-Notting-
ham, A. f. sperry. Evan II. Tucker. Hugh
I 7. Taggart end James A. ID. Richards. in
which after reeRing tiie sources of inforuia
ton sought by the committee, and stating
that the Ia wv providing a permanent system
of highways in the District outside the cities
was found to bear dirActls on the subject, as
reclaimed ground nfust come within its
scope, the report says.
The question of title TO the reclaimed
ground was probably our most important
one and the late decision by District Supreme
Court of the Potomac flats cases has been
our guide in reaching the conclusions here
written as TO title and the recommended
tons as to Water street.
WHAT is MOST DEMANDED.
"The most imperative demand for the
improvement of those flats is based upon
their unsanitary effects on the entire city
and particularly on persons living i'll their
immediate vicinity.
"The committee considered the subject
with a view TO reaching three direct ad-
vantages from the contemplated improve
deepening and widening of nav
igable stream, less unsanitary conditions,
more wharfage.
Some of the indirect advantages would
be the building up and Improvement of the
city in the neighborhood OF the flats: stlmu-
lated commercial activities by reason of in
creased water front; q possible use OF the
improved channel as part of proposed sys-
TEN of inland water ways; and an addition
of over 900 acres of vailable public land,
which now is useless. offensive and deadly.
''It is believed that new squares can be
sold for a sum sufficient 10 pay for the
greater part, II not all, of the proposed
Improvement. Besides this, the entire
Potomac River wharf is now controlled by
private ownership and steamer landings
and the rapidly increasing commerce on the
river must be accommodated in the Eastern
Branch but the present condition of the
same prevents individuals or corporations
from investing In river front property.
1.-The widening and deepening of the
channel OF the Anacostia River to Benning
bridge, will make available over one mile
of wharf front. This will belong to the
United States and can be sold for enough,
in our opinion. to more than pay the entire
costs of the proposed Improvements.
TO LAY OUT WATER STREET.
"Our first recommendation is that laws
be made directing the proper authority to
cause Water street to be laid out according
to the Ellicot plan of the city. We next
recommend that such legislation may be
enacted as will divert the discharge Of all
the sewers which now empty into the
Eastern Branch, spreading their poisonous
contents over that vast area of disease
breeding marsh, into interceptors which
will convey the sewerage TO the pumping
station to be located at New Jersey avenue
and street southeast as proposed by the
board of sanitary engineers.
The plan once proposed by Col. Haines, of
dredging channel from the mouth of the
river to the Navy Yard bridge, with
basin 400 feet wide in front, and the