Evening star., 1902-08-18
SUB MITS ESTIMATES
Harbor Masters Report for
Past Fiscal Year.
WORK OF POLICE BOAT
TOTAL OF $4,000 WANTED FOR
RUNNING EXPENSES.
Fireman Needed Aboard the Vigilant
Fund for Cleaning Channel
Increase in Salary.

| J. Robert Sutton, harbor master of the
! District of Columbia, has submitted his
! annual report to the Commissioners. He
| also submits his estimates for the hscal
year 1904 and calls attention to the fact
that Congress failed to make an appro-
! priation for breaking up the ice in the 20
! tomac river the coming year.
The various operations of this depart
| ment," says the harbor master, may prop
| eriy be classed under the following heads:
| The enforcement Of the regulations for the
! government of the harbor and river front,
! and the patrolling consequent thereon, in
Guiding the patrolling of the reclaimed
| flats, an added and extensive area; the en-
! forcement of the fish and game laws as
enacted by Congress, and of the laws
/ against gambling; recovering the bodies
| of drowned persons keeping the channel
/ Of the Potomac river open; the mainte-
| nance of order on and around the WharVes
! of excursion steamers, which during the
| season carry thousands of passengers, ana
such other general police duties as are con-
| nected with the performance of the fore
| going operations. During the year just
! ended there has been renewed activity
| along the lines Indicated and much eff1-
| cient work mas been done. When it is con-
sidered that these duties take the harbor
masters force to every part of very eX-
| tensive river front and even to distant
! points in the adjoining states of Mary
! land and Virginia it will readily be seen
| that the demands made upon this depart
ment such as to tax it to it's utmost
capacity.
"A detailed report of the transactions of
the department has already been made TO
| the major and the superintendent of police
and in accordance with existing practice 1t
is believed that the same will be embodied
| In his report to you for that year. / respect
| fully invite your attention thereto. In this
connection l wish to acknowledge my In
debtednesS to Ma jor Sylvester for valuable
aid and cooperation in the performance of
the many and varied duties connected with
the work of the harbor.
Clearing River Of Ice.
| During the past winter this department
was again called upon to clear the Potomac
| river of Ice and prevent the flooding of
the lower sections of the city, which would
have followed the formation of ice gorges at
the forks of the channel and at the Long
bridge and In letter to your honorable
body dated February IA, 1902, invited at
tention to the necessity for securing an ap-
preparation of 5000 to be used for that pur-
pose. This appropriation was secured In a
comparatively short time, owing to the
prompt and efficient action taken by you
upon the request submitted and, by the
most vigorous and continuous effort, what
would undoubtedly have proved to be a
most disastrous flooding Of part Of the city
was averted."
The total expenditure was 81, ,435. A. ac-
cording to the harbor masters statement.
In view Of the frequent need for securing
an appropriation for this purpose, l am of
the opinion that 1t would be desirable for
your honorable body to include in your an
nual estimates Of appropriations item of
$4,000 to be known emergency fund
for the breaking up of ice on the Potoma C
river: If this appropriation were so pro-
Vided the work could be done more eco
nomically and in more leisurely manner,
whereas, under the present practice of
waiting until danger actually threatens, ad-
| ditional expense is entailed the work must
be done hurriedly and under great strain,
and the urgency of the situation renders
necessary the continued presence at the
river front of the harbor master and his
force.
, The appropriation act for the current
, fiscal year does not contain an item such
as is recommended above, and, in view of
the frequent necessity for the same. the
recommendation contained in the extra ct
quoted is hereby renewed.
There have been detailed for service in
; this department during the entire fiscal
year four privates of the METROPOLITAN DO
lice force, each of whom Is paid 81 ,OSO per
, annum. None of the employees of the de-
, partment has been detailed to any other
once or department fer any period what
ever
Department Expenses.
; The expenses of the harbormaster's de-
.
. In his estimates Mr.. Sutton asks for 81, 600,
; saying that In his opinion the proposed in
. crease in the appropriation is absolutely
necessary to maintain the department at an
; efficient standard. This estimate of 81 900
1t Is proposed, shall be expended as follows
Engineer @ at $50 per m2nth, $3.50: watch
man, at S35 per month, $420; deckhand, at
$50 per month, 1920; fireman, at S35 per
month, S420; insurance and repairs to
. office, wharf and boat, fuel oils paints
brushes, waste and other miscellaneous eX-
penses, 81 $50
Need Of Fireman.
; "It will be seen from the foregoing" saws
Commodore Sutton, that provision is made
for fireman at $50 per month, for an in
crease of 50 per month In the salary of the
,, watchman, who now receives but $50 per
month, and for an increase of $500 in the
appropriation for miscellaneous expenses
| In my report and estimate last year an
item was inserted providing for a fireman
put the same was not included in the ap-
propriations for the current fiscal year it
was pointed out in that report that the in
stallation of a new and larger boiler in the
police harbor boat made Il absolutely i'm
possible for one man to act both engi-
neer and fireman, as had been done thereto
fore. and since September Of last year a
fireman has been employed at salary of
$50 per month and paid out of the amount
appropriated for miscellaneous expenses
This amount, already inadequate to meet
the ordinary demands Of the service, was
further depleted by this necessary payment
therefrom, and while l have always been
careful to keep the expenses of the depart-
ment within the allotted amount, the econ
omy necessitated by the limited funds avail
able results in what Is to me an unsatis-
factory performance Of some work and
prevents the doing of such that might with
profit be undertaken The additional
amount asked for under the head of mis-
cellaneous expenses is very necessary as
ha ha re nd h,,flI
Of repair. should be overhauled and MT ir
serviceable condition.
Suggested Change in Title.
"Your attention is respectfully invited to
the following extract from the report of
the major and superintendent of police for
the fiscal year ended June 80, 1901:
In order to secure that improved ser.