The morning times., 1896-05-10

The greatest pestilence breeding spots
fn The city are the flats OF the AnaCostia
river.
The entire Eastern Branch, as it is some
times called, is little better. From Its
mouth, six miles and half UP TO Bladens-
burg, il is little more than cesspook AT
low tide il is natseating TO Journey from
the Potomac up the sluggish aud sllme-CoN-
cred water any distance at all. Farther up
the stream are found the AnaCOstia flats,
covered with their wild growth of weeds,
aud sending ont minute by minute those
noxious vapors which have made parts OF
East Washington almost a desert.
For years the residents of that portion
OF the city have cried out for relief, but
relief has not come. For years the health
department of the District has clamored for
the immediate abatement OF this nuisance,
but it still remains. For years the pa
tient people have submitted, but now they
are aroused. They mean TO do something
aud have taken the plunge. Congress has
been mcmOrialiZed.
WORK OF AN ASSOCIATION.
Not hard thing 10 do, it is true, yet
even Cougre ssmen can be Interested and
thatis what has happened. Several men,
bcrs have taken the trouble 10 look into
the matter and at the next session il is
more than probable some action Will be
taken looking t. the reclamation Of these
flats. the purifying OF these diseaSc-breed-
Ing spots A memorial has accomplished
this and the memorial WAS The work Of the
East Washington CiliZens' Association.
The Improvement is one that should have
been Commen need years ago In no other
city in the United States could such a
plague spot have remained an eyeSore and
a menace to the public health. 1t is a n
improvement that would pay for itself
almost over again. One Thousand acres OF
land. by n recent decision of the supreme
court OF the District. owned by the govern
ment. would q 1 once he place on the ma rket.
Three miles of wharfage would be added to
The crowded river front. The great gun
plant at the navy ward would have plenty
Of room in which to expand. Big ships
could go SteaminE up the Eastern Branch
for several miles. NaVigable water would
then run along side the great switch Yards
of TIE Baltimore and Ohio and the Penn
Eylvania Railroads.
one square mile OF territory would at
once become a choice building site, and no
longer would the mileage OF unimprOved
streets in the city be nearly one hundred
miles. The shipping houses would be
found lining Water street. which Major
I'Enrant. with prophetic eye. saw nearly
century ago. The crowded condition Of
tho city proper would find an ontlet to-
ward the rising sun. and the next generation
busy streets. quarter of a century ago,
were COW pastures and mud holes.
Finally death would find no more rich
harvcStsin thatSectiOn. and Ea st Washin cton
and the growing cities across the way
would not he afraid to look AT the weekly
mortality rate.
AT SMALL COST.
All this could be done for compara-
lively small amount now. All this must
bc done some day, be the cost great or
small. Every year increases the possible
expense. Each year. TOO, increases the
Rmount OF sickness: inCTca ses the death
rate. This Improvement. with the build
ing of the great sewer system, is what the
people are demanding: is wnat they are
crying out for. These necessities must
come first. then the luXuries of fine drive
ways can be looked after. 1t is for these
necessities that the citizens OF East Wash
ington are banded together. They must
have them. The safety OF home and family
demands IL. Each year every one who can
moves outside the malaria tainted atmos-
phere. Each year sees the difficulties in-
creasing.
The time has come TO strike the blow.
The iron is hot. Sewers and the reclama-
tion OF the Anacostla flats must be the cry.
With that accomplished, Washington has a
great future, commercial as well as other
wise