The morning times., 1896-12-02
TALKEDFLAIs AND MALARIA
East Washington Citizens Dis
cuss Reclamation Of Mrashes.
EASTERN BRANCH NAVIGATION

Commissioner Powell Was Present
and Outlined Comprehensive
Scheme Congressman Minor Also
Made an Address Tes-
titled to the Malaria of the Flats.
The East Washington Citizens AssOtia-
ton, Mt its regular monthly meeting last
night, at Baum's Hall, devoted the greater
part of its time to the discussion OF the
proposed reclamation Of the Anacostia
flats. President Babson presided.
The question: was introduced by the chair
in announcing the reappointment of the
committee which has had that interest in
charge, committee, Mr.. Babson said,
which had done so much to further the
project In the past. The committee, as
announced. is as follows: s.
Tracy l.. Jcrfords, chairman; Thomas w.
Smith, A. +. Sperry, j. r. Nottingham, j.
AID. Richards, Hugh T. Taggart and E. H.
Tucker.
Mr.. Jeffords, the committees chair
man, was the first speaker. He made an
entertaining address, reviewing the work
o! his committee and presenting two maps
of the malariainfected district, one rep
resenting 1t is as it is, the other, pre-
pared by the engineer commissioner, show
ing the proposed improvements.
MAJoRPowELL PRESENT.
Major Powell, Engineer Commissioner,
who Was present by invitation, was also
invited to deliver an address, which he
did, paying especial attention to the work
which the District authorities had designed
for the Improvement of the territory en-
braced in The maps referred to by Mr..
Jeffords.
The COMMISSIONER said he had occa sion
recently to review the Army reports, and
that the health statistics showed that
at two points, Vancouver and Washington,
the garrisons were most Effected by malaria.
The location of the Washington barracks
was suggestive.
Major Powell said the water between
Arsenal Point and the AnacUstia Bridge
ought to be sufficient tn float the Atlantic
squadron As an improvement, he suggest
ed that buikheaG be constructed on the
present haI Dor lines, and piers. ur wharves,
be built for the accommodation of COM
merCc.
These ought to belong to the District, he
thought Such system was in operation
in San Francisco, where the privilege of
the wharves was rented out to business
men. If that plan could not be enforced
here, Major Powell said, 1t could perhaps
be arranged that merchants might build
their own wharvcs They could rent tn.
privilege for, say. twenty years, and at
the expirati OF that period the wharves
would revert to the District
OUTLINED HIS PLAN.
The Commissioner outlined the details
OF the plan OF Improvement, stating that
dredging, for deepening the channel, would
be necessary outside OF the bulkhead, and
that inside Of that line the pumpagc from
excavations could be placed.
The time has come. he added, when al
citizens should unite in the movement .or
the proposed reclamation. The same effort
III recovering the Potomac flats required
years Ia accomplish.
The remarks We're received with great
applause.
Another entertaining address, and one
that was literally applauded, was by Con-
gressInah Miner OF Wisconsin, who, after
retiting his own experience with District
malaria, assured the association OF lis
hearty sympathy with the effort to eradicate
ii.
1t was national shame, he said, that it
should &c abroad that Washington is IN
unhealthy place OF residence. He would
use his influence. and vote in Congress TO
assist the movement then under discussion
This speech was near the close OF the
proc eedinEs, being reserved, Presi lent
Babson said, until all the evidence was IN.
Included in the evidence We're stirring
addresses from Gen. s. $. Yoder, Prof.
Hird. District chemist: DR.. StouteDberg,
BI. L. J. Battle. DR. Hodges, DR.. BarIs.
Rev. DR.. W. T.. Parsons, of the Church of
the Reformation: Thomas W. Smith. lfr.
Frank Hume, A. F. Sperry, Evan ii.
Tucker, and W. Il. Henderson.
WHAT PHYSICIANS SAID.
The evidence Of the physicians and of
Prof. Iliri was principally as To the in
fluencc or the flats in their present con
diiion on public health. DIR. Parsons,
as did others. thought the matter should
be ia ken up at meeting participated in
by citizens Of the entire city. Such
meeting. he thought, should he held at
central point, accessible to all.
Letters We're read expressing interest
and promising cooperation from Pr esi-
dent Ross. OF the board of Commissioners;
the president and secretary, respectively,
of the board OF trade. the president of the
Anacostia Citizens Association, DR.. s.
c. Huscy, Of the District Medical Society,
and Others
The association. after Introductory re-
marks by Mr.. Thomas W. Smith, adopted
a resolution calling upon the Commissioners
to appropriate $500, 900 from the Distr let
funds To reclaim the flats above the Penn
sylvania Avenue Bridge. This was done
uPo' t't' uSSu'hp'psu tu.tl NbuSieSS WOuNl
decline to vote approval of plan that
would carry the improvement beyond the
point where the Eastern Branch can be
made navigable.
Also resolution offered by Mr.. Jeffor ds,
the board OF trade for the inter-
est Manifested in the movement, and for
Its promised corporation.
a GENTLE CALL DOWN.
Affairs ran very smoothly except for
one incident. Mr.. Bell, a former District
official, undertook to criticise the system
of sewerage in the District, and cited thu,
defects as one cause OF the sickness COM
planned OF and traced the filthy condition
of the flats to that source. He was in
formed. however. that his remarks were
notpertinent to the matter under discussion,
and was invited incidentally to close his
speech. which he did after some vigorous
comments upon the associations action.
The chairmen OF the standing commit
tees for the ensuing year were announced
by the president as follows:
Committee on Railroads.. d. Crois-
SAINT, chairman.
Committee on Streets, Avenues and AL.
W. Smith. chairman
Committee on Water, Light and Sewers
"A. +. Sperry, chairman.
Committee on Assessments and Appor-
Lionment OF Appropriations-M l. Weller,
chairman
Committee on Public Parks and Spaces
w. \. Croffut, chairman.
mi xIA- L IAN