The Washington times., 1901-10-28
IMPROVING THE ANACOSTIA
The Construction of a Channel and
Reclaiming the Flats.
A Project in which Residents OF
East Washington Are Interested
Reports to Congress on the Subject
Land for Parks or Factories


One of the subjects frequently discussed
by the East Washington Citizens Asso-
citation. as well as by the Anacosia Citi-
zens' Association. is the Improvement OF
the Anacostia River and the reclamation
of the flats. The substantial reasons 2d-
yanced for the outlay of about $3.oso.Olp in
this work are the removal Of the causes
for nalarial diseases in the eastern section
of the District and the restoration TO
practical uses of several hundred acres OF
valuable land The matter has been
pressed upon the attention Of Congress
for more than ten years, and has been
made the subject of report by the District
Commissioners TO that body.
The first comprehensive plan for the
5rnprovement Of the Eastern Branch was
a report submitted TO Congress by tho
Secretary OF War in 1882. This report
recommended that the river be improved
from its mouth 10 the Navy Yard Bridge
The purpose was to construct navigable
channel 10 the Navy Yard Bridge. and
the report embodied an estimate of the
cost of the proposed Improvement. It
was also stated in this report that It
would be necessary I'm the near future
10 improve the river between the Navy
Yard and the Benning bridges.
A joint resolution, Making an appro-
priation for the Improvement Of the Ana
costa River and the reclamation of the
fats" was approved April u, 1885 This
resolution provided:
THAT the Secretary of War be and he
IS hereby directed to prepare and submit
10 Congress forthwith a project for the
Improvement Of the Anaoostia River and
the reclamation Of its fats from the line
of the District of Columbia to the mouth
of the said river with the estimate Of the
cost Of the same, and a report on the
area and ownership Of the land to be
reclaimed, anu # any portion of said
land is vested in private persons, an
estimate of the cost of the same; and
the sum of s. 600, OF 50 much thereof a s
may be Iecessary. is hereby appropriated
to pay the cost Of the surveys and other
expenses in the premises.
Under the provisions Of this resolution,
the Acting Secretary Of War submitted
a report 10 Congress on December u, 1895,
covering the points mentioned in the res
olution. The report was accompanied by
reports from Gen. John NJ Wilson, Chief
Of Engineers. United States Army. and
report, with maps Of the surveys, by
Lieut.. Col. Charles j. Allen. Corps Of En-
gineers. These reports estimated the cost
Of the reclama ton Of the Potomac Flats
from the mouth Of the Anacostia River to
the Navy Yard Bridge, and from that
point 10 the Benning Bridge at 81 l9i i20.
ard the reports suggested that the sum
of 10000 annually could be 1udiciously
expended under the proposed plan.
The District Commissioners, in their an
nual report for the year ended June 30,
1860 made the following statement with
reference to the subject:
While the Improvement Of the Anacos-
Tia River is wholly under the control OF
the General Government the Commits
sioners deem IL only fair to the people OF
the District TO state that they regard this
proposed Improvement as one Of the high
est Importance TO the best interests OF
the National Capital
"A recent statement has been prepared
for the use Of the Commissioners show
ing the number OF eases II malarial dis
case reported by 433 physicians during
the months of july. August and Septem-
Der, 1900. From this report it appears
that in the northeast section Of the city
with population OF II per cent OF the to-
tai populatiou' Of the District there were
found q per cent ~ the total number OF
malarial cases. IN the southeast section
with 10 per cent Of the total population II
per cent Of the total number Of malarial
cases were found. East Of the Anaccstia
River, with per cent Of the population
the number Of niaiarial eases amounted to
j. per c'nt Of the total number
- The annual report Of Surgeon General
Van Reypen states that in 1925 no less
than " per cent Of the persons employed
at the navy Yard became III with malaria
at various times during the year
report 10 the Commissioners from
the Superintendent OF the Government
Hospital for the Insane during the
months Of July. August, and September.
1900. shows intermittent fever. 81 cases:
femttent fever. G7 cases; irregular :cver.
119 cases, making total Of 500 malariai
cases In that institution within a period
OF three months.
THE Commissioners believe that no
stronger argument could he presented
showing the urgent necessity for an i'm