Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-03-21

Carry into effect the aforesaid purpose.
The bill was referred to the War d. =
partment, and the Acting Secretary OF
War return ed the SINE to the COM
miltte, accompanied by letter from
the Quariermaster General, whose rec
ommendation was concurred in by the
Acting Secretary of War, and from
which letter the following extracts are
taken:
| have the honor to return II. r.
4l02, Fifty.fifth Congress, second So;
sion, "a bill to set apart portion OF
the Arlington estate for experimental
agricultural purposes" etc, referred
by the committee on military affairs to
the Secretary OF War, and to report
that so far as the Qnartelmaster's De-
partment is concerL ed there is no OBJ
lection to the bill. The Quartermas
ter General is of opinion that the
sooner this land, sps CITED in section l
of this bill, is occupied and improved
by the government, the better.
These lands constitute in part the
eastern slope of the Arlington estate,
descending TO the river; coust quently
all the creeks and streams having their
ri Q on the higher portion Of the estate,
4s We asll the surface water therefrom
fl w over, upon, or through them TO
he Potomac river. 1t is therefore
essential that in improving the prem
sizes in question the flow OF the surface
water and of that 10 the streams should
not be obstrucled, and in order to
guard against any couilict Of jurisdic-
ton or authority as between the Asri-
cultural and War d partDents, your
committee deems it prudent to report
an amendment protecting the right OF
drainage and sewerage aud for the un
obstructed flow of the surface water
and streams across, upon, and through
the lands in question.
An amendment is also recommended
designed to preserve the rights Of the
Washington. Alexandria aud Mount
Vernon Railway Company heretofore
granted it by act OF Congress.
Your committee is not unmindful OF
the possibility that the lands mention
ed might be requ red for military par
poses at some future time; yet, since
The War Department has gwen such
ready assent to, and in fact rather urges
the pa sage of he bill, and us The gov
ernment is in no wise parting with any
of its interest or title. to the premises,
but merely transferring jurisdiction
over them from one department to the
other, the power still remaining in it
30 ,,l hn ~
the jurisdiction Of the War Department
if such action beccm 8 necessity,
there would seem to Dc no sound reason
for refusing the request the Secretary
of Agriculture, aud therefore recon
mends that the following amendments
tie adopted, and that when so amended
the bill do pass
First. Amend sec ion l by inserting
after the word Virginia" in line of
The bill, the words OTHERWISE called
the Georgetown and Alexandria Road"
Second. Amend said section l by
striking out the word five" where it
occurs in line and Inserting in lieu
thereof the word three, so that said
line will read "about three hundred
acres"
Third. Amend by adding at the end
of section 3 the following
Provided, That ali improve ments OF
or which may at any time be made up
on said premises, as herein contem-
plated, shall be so located, constructed
and maintsiued as not 10 interfere with
or ob.truct the natural waterways or
the sewers or other means now estab-
lshed or which may hereafter be pro-
vided, constructed, or maintained for
the purpose of atlording proper drain.
sge and sewerage to the other portions
of said estat' And provided further,
That this act shall not impair or inter-
fere with any of the rights heretofore
granted by act of Congress to tie
Washington, Alexandria and Mount
Vernon Railway Company to construct,
maintain and operate its electric rail-
road across the said portion of the es
tate lying east of said public road.