Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-24
THE PARK ON THE FLATS

One of the most unsightly portions of
Washington is its river front, or at least
tkat section lying on the east shore of the
POtCEIac between the Long bridge and the
arsenal This fact is the more regreItable
since the river front is viewed every year
by thousands of strangers who approach
the city by steamer. and who journey to
the waters edge TO take boat for Mount
Vernon and other points of interest down
the Potomac.
The unsightly scenes have probably be
come familiar to our own citizens through
long association. but it is inevitable that
they should impress a stranger very IN
favOrably and give him disagreeable i'm
preston on the threshold of the most beau
tful city in America. Naturally there is
good excuse for this unsatisfactory condi-
ton, because of the long existing uncer-
faint as 20 the title to the river trent.
INGREDIENTS and shippers who had occasion
to use the land along the waters edge have
been Glsinclined to invest substantial sums
In property in that section. As rule,
struct -es of the most temporary character
have been built, just enough to handle the
busin as of the vicinity One two
ceptions werC made. notably in the case of
the Norfolk and Was hingtOn Steamboat
Company, who put up good sheds and Of
flee buildings. and the ice companies, who
have large warehouses, but these We're off
Set by the cases Of property allowed to go
to wreck and ruin entirely.
Decaying wharves. tumble-dOwn sheds,
remains OF former piers, row merely moss
covered piles washed by the ebb and flow
of tha It'd detract from the appearance of
what might be made a very attractive
place
BETTER Conditions Now Possible.
Since the title of the government to the
river front has been confirmed by a de-
cision Of the United States Supreme Court:
renewed interest has been aroused in the
subject Of improvement of that section Of
the city. 1t is realized by those concerned
In the city's growth and Improvement tina I
opportunity Will be presented for making
notable addition TO the beauty of the city.
Not only this however, but unitarian pur-
poses may be served and the shipping bust
ness materially increased 10y providing ade-
quate facilities for the handling of vessels
ani cargoes which are not presented now.
1t is by no means a dream of Utopia to
contemplate Washngtons river front TAX
ing on an appearance of the river sections
of some Of the Old world cities. In many
cities of Europe waste places in the town,
such our Water street now presents,
have been redeemed and Transformed into
beautiful spots. Stone piers, asphaIte 1
streets. bits of parking, fountains and
shade trees have taken the place of riCkety
wharves and buildings and the narrow
thoroughfares which usually exist in the
shipping districts
The reclaimed flats on the opposite side
Of the channel. facing Washington :
wharfage. Will soon be beautife! and turned
into park, and the contrast between the
two shores Of the river will then be more
acute than now. y stone wall already
marks the shore line on the opposite side
of the stream, shade trees overhanging the
water, and il needs only a few touches from
a landscape gardener to cause this neigh
borhOOd to blossom into beauty and become
resort for the residents of all the Dis
trict in the long summer evenings.
II the government in the meantime should
decide TO improve the property which the
Supreme Court has vested in it on this
side Of the river 1t would probably inspire
other property owners to emulation. and
all that edge of Washington would thus
be vastly improved.
The Strangers Vision.
The first glimpse which the stranger OBJ
tains Of WashingtOn's water front is rather
prepOssessing but h is soon dsflusionized
Approaching the city from the south. on
q steamboat. one enters the narrow chan
mel formed by the extension Of the reclaim