Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-01-08
Reclaim the Flats.

That there are overwhelming reasons for
the reclamation Of the Eastern Branch
mats was shown at the meeting of the East
washington Citizens Association last
night For two years a committee of ac-
tive and intelligent citizens have been at
work investigating this subject and their
report was made last evening in such
terms as should convince Congress that the
work OF retaining the lowlands ought to
De taken up in earnest at once. 1t is only
necessary to quote a few sentences from
THIS report to show how great are the pos
sloilities of the project, which has beeen
asltated for many seasons by those who
i've In the eastern section and who there
lore realize more fully, perhaps, than
others the real nature and extent of the
present menace to the health and CONNER
cial prosperity of the city involved in a
continuation of the marshy conditions
The most imperative demand for the
Improvement of these flats" says the re-
port, is based on their unsanitary effecxs
on the entire city. and particularly on per-
sons living in their immediate vicinity. The
committee considered the subject with a
view to reaching three direct advantages
from the contemplated improvement-less
unsanitary conditions, more wharfage and
deepening and widening of naVigable
stream Some of the indirect advantages
would De the building up and Improvement
OF the city In the neighborhood of the flats,
the stimulation of commercial activities by
reason of increased water front, a possible
use of the improved channel as part of the
proposed system of inland waterways. and
an addition of more than 1000 acres Of
available public land, now useless, Often
siye and deadly"
The reclamation of one thousand acres
would enable the government to establish
at the eastern edge Of the city a national
park similar to that which 1t is proposed
to create on the land recovered from the
tides on the Potomac side. Thus the ma
tional capital might be given a beautiful
surrounding of unused land, with the Rock
Creek, Geological ard Soldiers Home parks
on the north and these two great water
front reservations on the south and east.
AS the city grows in size and the demand
for room becomes more pressing the value
of these recreation spaces will be felt in in
creased ratio. But from the commercial
aspect of the case the proposition to rescue
these acres from the mud and slime is
equally strong. The present waterfront of
the city Is very small, large enough 1t may
be for the shipping of today, but made
quate in view of the probable growth of the
capital and it's wide mercantile prospect
Above Georgetown there is little chance for
convenient wharfs, and the natural spread
of the shipping Is to the east, which has
become forbidden territory as the Branch
has filled and the banks have become mud
flats. The city should be girdled with we'll
kept. attractive docks, bound beyond by
beautiful green parks where the people
could enjoy the cool river air in the heated
months. But above all the menace to
health that the flats contain must be re-
moved The miasmatic conditions preva-
lent for miles along the eastern edge of the
city must be remedied.