Evening star., 1900-12-22
The AnacOstia improvements.

1t was confidently expected that the river
ana harbor appropriation BILL reported to
the House yesterday. would contain pro-
VISION for the long-delayed work for the i'm
provement of the Anacostia. The reasons
for this work have been stated many times
before House committees, and have been
formally laid before Congress through an
official survey, authorized by Congress at a
considerable expense. The naval authorities
of the government unite in a demand that
the channel to the navy yard be deepened
to permit the safe passage of the govern
ment vessels to and from the gun foundry
wharves. The business interests centered
along the Anacostia, though greatly dimtn-
tshed by years Of neglect, are still strong
enough to plead forcefully for relief The
entire eastern and southern portion of the
capital calls aloud for help from the dread
menace of malaria, spread abroad by the
pestilental flats.
These facts are we'll known in Congress-
The Anacostia Is a standing demand for
action, even as was the Potomac for many
years preceding the final assumption of that
duty by the houses. Last winter the man.
ayers Of the legislative program assured the
citizens that there would be no further de-
lay, but that the Anacostia would come in
for its share of. the public waterway i'm
proYements in the next river and harbor
bill. Now that this bill has been sent to
the House without provision for that long
needed local work, there Is very general
feeling Of disappointment accompanied by
determination to work throughout the re-
mainder of the session to secure the inser-
ton Of the necessary paragraph in the act
before its final passage.
Congress is now in recess, so that there
is little no chance for immediate mis-
s!onary work on this line. But 1t behooves
the people of all Washington to attack this
subject during the recess. so that when the
House reassemb!es in January the plans VIII
be laid for a systematic advance to secure
the adoption of the necessary amendment In
the first consideration Of this budget. 1t is
desirable that the amendment be secured If
possible, in the first stage of the BILL rather
than through the action of the Senate
where the project has always been more
favorably viewed than in the lower cham
Der. The item should not be subject to the
action of the conference with the chance of
being stricken out in the inevitable compro-
mise at the close of the session. If secured
In the House at the outset it is assured that
the work will be started during the coming
season.
There is an abundance of material going
to show the absolute need Of this improve
| ment. There are official reports bearing on
the requirements of the naval establish
ment. There are statistics Of the morbidtty
at the government institutions on both sides
of the river traced directly to the malaria
laden marshes. There are local health re-
ports to show that this evil influence is
spread ever almost half the city area. ancct-
ing large proportion Of the population.
There are trade statistics to show how the
neglect Of the Anacostia has cost the capt.
tai in commerce. All these facts and fig
ures ought to be presented to the House
Immediately after it reconvenes in order
that the friends of the Anacostia amend
ment may have something more substantial
to work upon than the mere sentiment that
1t Is disgrace to the national capital to
permit the continuance of this foul condi-
tion at its threshold.