The times., 1899-02-08
CITIZENS CONDEMN
ANACOSTIA'S FLATS
East Washington Urges That
They Be Reclaimed.
Held Responsible for Malarial Con-
ditiOnS.
Delegates to the Peace Jubilee Com
mittec Appointed an ImpOrt-
ant Topics Considered.

East Capitol Streets. the question CT the
reclamation of the flats of the Anacostia
River was discussed in all its phases. The
chairmen of the various standing commit
tees had been previously instructed by the
president to prepare reports on that phase
of the question which related to the work
under their charge. Owing to sickness
and the inclemency Of the weather, num-
ber of chairmen were absent. The meet
ing however was well attended and
deep interest was taken in the proceedings.
The question under discussion is consid-
cred by the citizens of this section Of the
city to be one of vital Importance.
V. Baldwin Johnson, the chairman of
the committee on steam railroads, strongly
urged the fact that visitors coming to
Washington received a very bad impress
sion OF the city on account OF the nithy
aspect Of the Eastern Branch and the dis
agreeable odors which arise therefrom. He
said that Congress should not fail to
remedy the evil at once. He also men
toned the commercial advantages which
would arise from the reclamation of Inc
fats.
c. T. Bride. chairman of the committee
on streets and alleys, was absent. but the
report which he had prepared was read
by the secretary. The report spoke OF
the impracticability of improving the
streets in the vicinity of the Anacostia
River. 1t was suggested IN the report
that a dam be constructed at the Benning
Bridge to gather sufficient water for flood
| ing the flats, thus washing away the refuse
matter which accumulates there. The COM
mittee advocated this method as being
the least expensive.
| The committee sewerage, through its
chairman, A. E. l.. Lecke, reported that
| il was in favor OF extending the Boundary
| Street sewer from its present terminus
! III the Eastern Branch down the river sew
! eral miles, so that the tides would not
| carry poisonous matter back to the city.
| ]. l. Weller, on behalf of the committee
| on taxation, said that the flats should be
reclaimed on the ground that the result
! ing improvement to property in that vic
| unity would raise the assessment of pro-
| perty there and this would have the effect
Of taking the burden of taxation from the
heart OF the city, as great deal OF pro-
perty would be enchanced in value, in
| cluding all the land in the northeast for
| several miles back into the country. In
| this Connection, A. Girouard member of
| this committee, said that the main reason
| why the city had failed to grow in an
| easterly direction was because of the de-
| plorable condition OF these fats. He
strongly urged that something be done at
| once.
The report of the committee on schools
and Libraries was next heard. In the alb
sence of the chairman. 4. T. Stewart the
supervising principal of the eighth division
OF the public schools, a member OF the COM
| mittee read the report. which stated that
the absence, due TO sickness, in the public
schools nearest to the Anacostia River was
| in large measure to be attributed to ma
larial affections. In one school in Ana
! hn arrni nf cip Il tn
laria in 1898 was A per cent, and in one
school in the southeast section of the city
it was 81 l-2 per cent. The prevalence of
this malady in this quarter. the report
said, is without doubt due TO the present
condition of the Anacostia.
Prof. c. F. Wood next read compre-
hensive paper setting forth the condition
of the flats. 1t read in part as follows:
we cannot close our eyes to the fact
that we have a plague in our midst. 1
refer to the Anacostia fats. 1t contains
more than 1000 acres. which at high tide
is covered with water to the depth of from
two to six feet. At low tide the water re-
ceGes until the land is practically ugcov-
cred, except for heavy growth of rusheS,
seaweed, and grass.
The reason for the malaria here is evi-
dent; when the water recedes the ground
is still wet and marshy. The impurities
held in solution by a sluggish river, in
stead of being washed away by the tide,
are left upon the now uncovered ground.
This produces not only damp atmosphere,
but one laden with these impurities. In
the fail OF the year immense quantities OF
grass and seaweed lie in the mud. exposed
to the rays of the sun. and form 4 mass OF
putrefying vegetable matter Into this
more than one-half OF the sewage of the
entire city is emptied. AS a consequence
the adjacent country is anything but de-
sirable as place of residence. In fact, it
is often positively unfit for habtation.
The report of the superintendent of the
Government Insane Asylum for the year
| 1898 shows that of the two thousand insane
persons under the care of st. Elizabeth's,
about eight hundred, or 40 per cent of the
entire number were treated for intermit-
} tent fevor or malarial disease. The show
ing among the employees is even worse. for
, OF a total of $50 employed during the year
the record shows that 3l3 were treated for
intermittent fever, or about 81 per cent;
so that during the year more than II per
cent OF the entire population have been
: down with the chills.
1t was stated that Surgeon General
Sternberg had reported to the Board OF
Trade that the Washington Barracks and
the post at Fort Myer were the two most
unhealthful army posts in the country. and
5 that this condition was undoubtedly due
to the marshes and flats of the Anacoatia
River. General Sternberg, it was saiG, is
of the opinion that the prevalence of ma
laria at Fort Myer could NE traced TO This
stream.
Gen S. H. Yoder and Secretary A. f.
Sperry also made brief t,lresses in regard
to the matter.
communication was received from Sec
retary Mexican. of the Business Mems AS
sociation, asking that the association ap-
point three more delegates to represent
, it on the general committee in charge OF
the proposed peace carnival. A motion
was made and carried giving the president
power to appoint the remaining members
of the delegation. President Smith named
, L. b. Earnshaw. A. Girouard, and DR.. W
A. Croffutt. Ii was decided to give nc
Instructions to the committee, but to allow
it TO use its own discretion in represent
ing the association.
. V. Baldwin Johnson offered memorial
opposing the Jenkins bill now in Congress
which has fort sobiect the abolishment
of the office of justice of the peace. a spe-
cial committee. consisting of V. B. John
SON o. b. Hallam. and J. |. Weller, was ap-
, pointed to investigate the measure. aS
there was some doubt as to the provision:
of the bill.