Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-17
Join Hands.

The steady development of the naval gun
foundry plant on the Eastern Branch Is a
certain evidence that the government re-
CARDS 1t a permanent institution. Mil
lions of dollars are represented there now,
with an increment of value due to the
lapse of time and the gradual betterment
of the works that cannot be represented
accurately in money. Nearly every naval
appropriation bill contains some allotment
for an extension or an improvement, and
the good work being turned out, second to
meme In the world fully justifies the enor-
NOUS expenditure. Yet in one important
particular the authorities have been either
neglected. or unfortunate, and the time
seems to be at hand when they must sue
coed in doing something if they are to con-
tinue to realize the best results of past
appropriations. The river which the
navy yard is located must be improved or
the day is not far distant when the docks
will be practically isolated from the Poto-
mac. Mere dredging alone will not suffice
The stream must be treated in the same
manner in which the Potomac has been
rescued from the swamp-producing Sedi-
Rent The channels must be restored to
their proper width and depth, encroach-
ments upon them from in-shore stopped by
residential flats now left uncovered by the
falling tide either wholly removed or else
filled to safe height and converted into
solid ground that can be utilized some day
as a park The powerful influence Of the
War Department has been unavailing to
persuade Congress to begin this necessary
work. the delay of which adds in tremen-
dous ratio to its ultimate cost. The Navy
Department has suggested the improve
ment, but not as pOiI: .edly as the urgency
of the case demands. Yet no interest is
more vitality affected by the unwhoiesome,
Unbustnesslike condition of the stream than
that of the Navy. 1t is a common COM
plant that an assignment to duty at the
yard is undesirable because of the maiarial
influence of the marshes that bound the
community OH the south. Across the so
called river. on the heights, stand the build
ingS of the Government Hospital for the
Insane, where the sick lists are continually
swelled by the pestilential atmosphere of
the Eastern Branch valley. OF to the west
Is an artillery post, where me river odOrs
are aided by those from the sewer canal in
the work of reducing the efficient force of
the army These alone are sufficient rea-
sons why The government should be con-
cerned in the project of rescuing the chan
nels from the invading muck brought down
by the stream But ii also owes duty to
the thousands of people whose lives are
constantly menaced by these unwholesome
conditions Let the Navy Department this
year, among its acquisitions for money
relating to the navy yard establishment,
supplement the recommendations of the
Engineer Corps of the Army and ask for
a large sum for the Improvement Of the
waterway in which it has so great an inter-
est The citizens of Washington are organ
lied for this tight and the Board of Trade
will doubtless make a special feature OF
this necessity in its campaign for the local
welfare. This is not the session for river
and narbor BILL but there is nothing in the
law to prevent generous appropriation
being added TO the naval bill or the sundry
civil bill for the commencement of this abb
Solutely indispensable work.