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

able public land, which now is useless, Of
fensive and deadly. A considerable body
of such reclaimed land will be within the
city and can be sid out in squares in con-
formity with the design Of the plan of the
city, with a Water street laid out between
the bounding lines of the squares and the
water of the river, in accordance with that
plan, and 1t is believed that such new
squares can be sold for a sum sufficient to
pay for the greater part il not all, of the
proposed Improvement. Besides this, the
entre Potomac river wharf is now con-
troiled by private ownership and steamer
landings, and the rapidly increasing COM
merce 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. The widening and DEEPEN
ing 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 improve
ments. The length Of the Anacostia river
In the District of Columbia is about six and
one-half miles. 1t is 2, 500 feet wide where
1t empties into the Potomac river, and grad
ually decreases to 300 feet in width at the
District line Its depth of channel varies
from twenty feet at Its mouth to eight feet
at its most shallow depth in the District
The tide rises and falls in this stream
thirty-six inches. The area of the flats be-
tween high water mark on the two sides OF
to all of it is in the United States. Within
the city limits there may be some modifica-
tons of line bounding United States owner
ship. That line within the city is Water
street, and is contemplated by the Ellicot
map. which the District Supreme Court In
the flats case has in effect decided is the
omcial map Of the city. This street has not
been laid out in fact, but exists in law and
can be carried into effect
The Results.
''Our first recommendation is that laws be
made directing the proper authority to cause
such street to be laid out according to the
Ellicot plan Of the city. We next recon-
mend that such legislation may be enacted
as will divert the discharge of all the sew
ers 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 o street
southeast, as proposed by the board of san
itary engineers and explained in their re-
port, and thus entirely relieve this sluggish
stream from sewerage pollution.
Col. Hams, in one of his letters in the
document to which reference has hereinbe-
fore been made after going over the whole
subject comprehensively, says, among other
things. under date of October "a. 1891:
L would therefore recommend the fol-
costa river: Dredge channel from its
mouth to the Navy Yard bridge "a feet deep
and 200 feet wide, with a basin i'm front of
the yard 400 feet wide, of the same depth,
to LOCO feet, as the demands of commerce
require in the future. The material dredged
to be deposited on the flats or marshes, on
either side of the river, as may be most adj
vantageous and economical at the time the
appropriations are available. For the pres
ent 1t will be sufficient to dredge channel
20 feet deep up as far as the navy yard, as
these are the ruling depths on the shoals
in the Potomac at the present time
THE members of this committee are
agreed that this is what ought now to be
recommended, with the addition. however,
that similar improvement be extended to
the District line, by Strengthening the cham
mel and narrowing Ii as advance is made
from its mouth, and that a tide basin or bas-
ins be made at such point or points along its
course as may be determined by the author
tiles having the matter in charge.
1T is the sense of this committee that the
plan of that section of the District en-
bracing these flats be so made under the
late highway law that large portions CT the
reclaimed area above the railroad bridge,
when reclaimed, be public parks, of such
size, boundaries and locations the au-
thorities having in charge the plating I'M
der that law may determine"
By resolution, proposed by Mr.. Weller,
and unanimously adopted, the report was
approved and adopted, the thanks of the
association were rendered to the committee,
with congratulations upon the progress
made and the committee was authorized
and directed TO present their report to the
appropriate committee of Congress, and
earnestly urged to use all proper means
and methods within its power toward the
accomplishment Of the great objects in pur-
suit of which it was organized.
After further discussion of the report and
the considerati ton of business of an unim-
portant nature, the meeting adjourned.