Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-26
STREETS IN THE SOUTHWEST
Suggestions for Their Improvement Made
BY j. Harrison johnson.
Fish, Produce and Market Wharf
The Riparian Rights.

president OF the excise DOarO ana MEMBER
of board of assistant assessors, who Is a
resident of Southwest Washington, some
suggestions Of improvements which in his
opinion are of Importance to his section Of
the city.
Mr.. Johnson refers especially to the thor
oughfares, but pays attention, also, to al
legged inequalities in the matter of taxation
and to a question at issue affecting the
ownership Of the river front.
His communication Is as follows:
IF I be not trespassing or interfering
where I should not, 1 would like to make
some suggestions to your honorable board
in the way of improvements of streets and
other matters in the southwest section.
First. Fifteenth street to Water street
should be opened and graded, and Water
street, from the Long bridge to 18th street,
treated in like manner. Also. that Water
street, from its junction with It'll street, be
made of an uniform breadth of eighty-five
feet from curb to curb. East to street,
this portion of Water street has five rail-
road tracks on it, and one of the railroad
companies has it's tracks terminating in
front of what is known as the street
wharf blockading the entrance to the
wharf thereby maintaining a nuisance
which is dangerous to the passengers going
to and from the steamer, and is likewise
injurious to the business of the wharfinger
This street is used chiefly by the steam
boat transportation companies. The car
line should be extended to street, or it's
terminal removed from in front Of the
wharf mentioned.
Market Wharf Needed.
Second. There should be established and
constructed q fish, produce and market
wharf. which wharf should be a covered
one. Its floor should be concerted and all
conveniences to keep it in the best sanitary
condition should prevail. This wharf. after
construction. would be a good source of
revenue. and profit would surely evolve
largely over the cost of maintenance The
water front, 1 think, beyond doubt, on the
south side of Water street from the Long
bridge to the arsenal. is the property of the
United states government, although private
parties and the city government have in
the past made Water street what it now is
AS far back as 1865 it existed only on pa
per. and the Potomac river at that time
washed the banks and ravines where now
exist the southwest boundary of the
squares bounding Water street.
Ih1rd The property on the south side
of Water street should bear its proper
tionate share of taxation. In it's present
condition the city has been unable to levy
tax on this property 1t is not personal
but real property, and is not located or
recorded. Its ownership is not established.
There is no way to levy tax. l would, there
fore, suggest that all parties occupying any
portion of the river front be required to
pay annually for the use of such public
space the sum of $3.50 per front foot as a
tax.
Fourth. That all streets running south
and terminating at Water street between
the Long bridge and 2 street be opened
to the rivers edge. and that an open space
at the foot of all streets extended be
maintained in size about forty or fifty feet
and the use of the same be prohibited to
individuals for private use This is very
necessary, owing to the danger of fire.
A Standing Nuisance.
1.-The river front or some portions Of it
occupied by private parties has been for
years i standing nuisance, and distressful
one at that. Why such condition should
exist / am unable to explain. The evidence
that it does exist is there in full view, and
there can be no question of this fact.
There is property also located on the
Eastern branch, on Rock creek from the
K street bridge running SOUTH and in Ana
costa that is not of record and not in a
condition to be reached for taxation pur-
poses.'
In another letter, bearing upon the same
general subject. Mr.. Johnson calls attention
to the condition of the space at the foot
of 18th and Water streets southwest.
Il have for some time past" he says,
been fearful of a fire occurring on the
river front. The structures on the south
side of Water street are of wood, and the
material stored in them as well as around
them Is of an inf!ammable nature. l would,
therefore. suggest that the said 18th street.
at the point mentioned. be extended to the
stone wall the river front. and that
all parties occupying the foot of 18th street
be requested to remove their stock and
buildings or materials there beyond line
of the curb of 18th street or point as
such extension would indicate. Under con-
ditions as now existing there, in case of
fire. there would be great difficulty felt in
trying to get at it so as to prevent it from
spreading down the line of the river front,
and If the wind were toward the city many
residences would be endangered, if not
destroyed thereby. Many of the residences
are old frames with shingle roofs, as there
are many oldtime wooden outhouses. The
damage to property and the danger and
risk to life in fighting an outbreak of fire
there forces me to lend my feeble efforts
in any line to help prevent the same.
Authority of COmmissfOners.
1.-THE question may arise as to the au-
thority of your body to take action, owing
to the ownership of the river front. For
arguments sake admit that the owners of
property on the north side and abuttng on
Water street have riparian rights, such
rights could not equitably be construed to
extend on the shore beyond the length of
their lots front on the city side. the old
ccrpora ton of Washington city built the
stone rail- from 18th street to the arsenal
grounds. During the reign of Governor
Shepherd. or that of the board of public
works. the streets leading to the river
Sth. 9TH. 10th, 18th and 18th, and E, G. H
and I-were cut through, and the dirt
was dumped inside of the wall, making
what is now Water street.
Parties have built wharves promiscu-
ously against the wall. some with permits
from the chief engineer of the United
States army. others without any, as
believe. To my knowledge there was but
one permit given by the United States to
use the foot of street, and that one was
at the foot of NJ street. now used by the
Mount Vernon and Marshall Hall Steam
boat Company.
Therefore aside from the suit now
pending in the Supreme Court of the United
States, the Commissioners have, as l be-
NeVe. the power to remove from the foot
OF all streets running south to the river
In Southwest Washington all parties oc-
cupy1ns such public space other than those
having permits from the United States or
the District government
The Weather and the Fisheries.