Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-12
American Competition Increasing.
JAMES CREEK CANAL.
Few Members of Congress Know of Its
Condition

"The recent drowning accident in the
James Creek canal calls to mind a chat l
had with a western member of Congress at
the beginning of the present session on the
question of proposed local improvements"
said a well-known correspondent this morn
ing.
During the course of our conversation I
told him how DESTROYS our people were of
securing certain imperative improvements,
which had persistently hung fire for years,
and reminded him that, while our votes
did not count, our gratitude ought to be
worth something. He said that he was
friendly to the District.
Then 1 said, why don't you make it
point to devote little personal attention
in ways which are known in Congress and
support the united demands of Washing
tonians that the Anacostia flats be i'm
proved by trying to secure at this session
an initial appropriation for that highly de-
sirable Improvement?
Il will, he answered. L have no per-
sonal knowledge of the condition of the fats
and the Eastern branch because 1 have
never been in that vicinity. I will take
your word that what you say voices the
united sentiment of Washingtonians'
1t does l added, but in that measure
should be included if it be not done by
special enactment, an appropriation for the
Improvement of the James Creek canal
The what? inquired my congressional
1rlend, 1 never heard or that creek; where
is it?'
Almost under the very windows of the
House of Representatives, replied. and
it's foul-smelling contents ought, with the
| wind to the southwark, ascend into the
chamber itself, as a reminder to members
of Congress Of it's unwelcome presence to
those who do not know that it is there as
you are not the only one
L never heard of nor saw it, my friend
replied.
Il thereupon described both its situation
| and purpose, and told him that if it were
in the northwest it would long ago been
properly protected SO that people would not
| tumble in and drown every few months.
At his request we got on car, rode down
! to the canal and he made visual verifica-
| ton of my statements, evidently to his
| complete satisfaction, as he expressed him
self in the strongest terms for immediate
! action of some kind.
| 81 don't believe he said, as we stood
on the banks of the canal, putting hard at
our cigars to overcome the stencil arising
| from the water sluggishly flowing to the
Potomac, 1 don't believe that five of my
fellow members of the House have ever
| seen this alleged canal, but which is ac-
tually one of the most dangerous open sew
| ers to be found in any city and l will bet
| a basket of champagne that there are not
| three if any, members of the Senate who
have stood for three minutes upon its
| banks. What do you Think
! Il replied that l was in the writing and
| not in the thinking business, and, as we re-
J turned to B street to take the cars, he re-
| iterated his intention to take the matter up,
/ have not, however, heard of any official
! act upon his part, or by others, as yet
| Perhaps the sad drowning of the old buck
Ster and his horse will recall to mind the
\ urgent necessity of immediate action