The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-27
Commissioners Submit a
Favorable Report.
ESTIMATES MADE ON WORK
Attention of House District Committee
Called to Fact That All Work Hereto
fore Has Been Done Under Direction of
Secretary of War.

The Commissioners yesterday forwarded
TO the House District Committee their re-
port on House bill 12403. authorizing the
municipal authorities to enter into a con-
tract or contracts for dredging and im-
proving the Anacostia River and the rec
lamation of :ts fats from Pennsylvania
Avenue Bridge TO the District line. Re-
porting On the bill, the Commissioners
say:
The Commissioners are very much in
favor CT any legislation having for its OBJ
ject the reclamation and improvement OF
the fats of the Anaoostia River, which
in their present condition. form a men
ace to the health of the people living
along the line of this stream. and they
have strongly recommended such action
whenever the subject has been brought II
their attention.
Done Under Direction Secretary Of War.
They would invite attention. however,
TO the fact that all work of dredging
which has been done in the Potomac and
Anacostia Rivers has been done under the
direction of the Secretary CT War. and
approved April II. 1899, directed the Sec
Rotary of War to prepare and submit a
project for the Improvement of the Ana
costa River and the reclamation of its
fats from the line of the District of CO.
lunibia to the mouth Of the river, with an
estimate of the cost of the same; a re-
port OF the area and ownership of and the
cost of acquiring the land to be re
claimed Two thousand dollars was APP
propriated for the purpose.
ION December II. 1898, the acting Sec
rotary of War submitted to Congress a
letter from the Chief Of Engineers en-
closing report from the officer in charge
of Potomac River improvements, Col.
Charles J. Allen, Corps of Engineers, Civ
ing the informatio requested. This re-
port was printed as Document No. 81,
Fifiy-ffth Congress, third session.
Estimates Made on the Work
In the report the minimum estimate
for dredging a channel and depositing the
material to an average elevation of seven
feet above low tide. including the con-
struction of a sea wall, embankment and
drainage to a height of fourteen feet
above low tide, from the District line to
the mouth of the river, was s., S39. 800
With embankment and drainage omitted
1t WAS s., 49, S0
mo estimate was made for the exact
portion of the stream covered by this
bill-from the District line to the Penn
sylvania Avenue Bridge-but from the
District line to the Navy Yard Bridge,
longer distance tabout 1900 feet the
estimate was 81 $40, 1876. This bill author
ICES contract, or contracts, for the pur-
pose at a cost not exceeding 81 800. geo. As
the Commissioners did not make these
estimates they have no knowledge wheth-
sr the amount named will be sufficient
for the purpose.
THE Commissioners would also invite
attention to the fact that the plans of the
Parking Commission cover the portion of
the river from the District line to the
3. and P. Railroad Bridge across the
stream, about 2 500 feet above the Penn
sylyania Avenue Bridge, and they believe
that any action taken should be on the
lines recommended by the Parking Com
mission"