Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-13
LEASE OE THE WHARVES
THE CoMM1rrEE REPORTS IT'S
WORK COMPLETED.
The Property Recently Subject Of
Litigation-District Has It
In Charge. ... ...s

Mr.. J. T. Petty the District auditor. and
Mr. Daniel E. Garges Of the Engineer Com
missioner's office, who have had charge
of the leasing of all the wharf property
along the river front. today submitted
report to the Commissioners. stating that
their work is completed. The property was
leased in accordance with an order passed
by the board of Commissioners November
10 last. in which it was provided
THAT in each instance all the papers In
the case be referred to the auditor of the
District Of Columbia for report and recon-
mendatiOn relative to the amount OF rent
to be charged. and that in this connection
the auditor is authorized to consult with
the corporation counsel. the harbor master
and such other officials as may be neces-
sary. That all the papers in the case
with such report and recommendation De
then forwarded to the Commissioners Tor
determination Of the amount OF rent to De
charged and that thereupon the papers be
referred to the corporation counsel for
preparation of lease and for any remarks
in relation to the matter that he may see
fit to make.
Potomac Flats Case.
''The wharf property referred to in the
above order" the report states was that
In litigation in the Potomac flats case
Omitted States agt. Martin F. Morris ct all.
The authority of the Commissioners 10
lease this property is contained In IAN act
of Congress relative to the control of wharf
property and certain public spaces in the
District of Columbia, approved March 8.
1899. This act gives the Commissioners OF
the District Of Columbia control over al
wharf property in the District of Columbia
except the banks of the Potomac river be
tween the north line of the arsenal grounds
and N street south and 800 feet of shore
line in the flushing reservoir at the 100.
of nth street west, which frontage IL
placed under the jurisdiction OF the chel
of engineers. United States army:
"'The Commissioners were authorized Dy
the act to lease the wharf property uHueI
their jurisdiction for terms not eXceethns
ten years all rents collected to be covered
into the treasury OF the tinted states,
one-half to the credit of the United States
and one-hah to the credit OF the bist'act
Of Columbia.
Compensation Allowed.
Under the decision Of the Supreme Court
Of the United States IN the case BEFORE re-
ferred to. the occupants OF this wharf 'front.'
age were entitled to compensation Tor I'M
proyaments made by them. which compen-
sation was determined by the supreme
Court OF the District of Columbia. the
DEGREES in the case being passed on Febru-
ary IA. 1903 The total amount Of compen-
sation allowed was S232. 122t. "nlch
amount was included in the deficiency ap,
preparation act approved March ). 1875 anu
made Immediately available
''It was determined at the outset tIlat III
all cases where the persons applying ior
leases had been and were occupants OF Tue
property applied for. the leases should date
from March II. 1903. Applications were
made In writing by practically all OF the oc-
Cupants of wharves on the Potomac river
front from the south line OF n street 10 tne
Long bridge. and as each application was
considered a personal examination was
made by the auditor and the harbormaster
and a fair rental value determined upon
These rentals were reported to the tnelneer
Commissioner and by his direction FORM
of lease was prepared by Mr. Danlel T..
Garges Of the Engineer Commissioners
office which was submitted to and APP
proved by the corporation counsel MT
Garges prepared all the leases IN duplcate
saw to their approval by the corporation
counsel and execution by the iessees ~
each case one copy of the lease was Hieu
in tie office OF the auditor and one copy
mailed TO the lessee.
Eerm Of the Leases.
"By direction of the Engineer Commits
sioner. all leases where the rental charged
was less than one hundred dollars per an
nun. were made for terms of one year
only Where the rentals were larger the
term was for five years, and where the
lessees covenanted to make improvements,
to a satisfactory amount, the leases CON
tanned a privilege of renewal Tor an addl-
tional term of five years. All five year
leases contained covenant OF insurance,
the amount of which was to be satisfactory
to the Commissioners.
.All of the river front from n street to
the Long bridge has been leased with the
execution of the Wimsatt wharf property,
which it is expected will be under lease In
a few days In leasing the property was
described as structures as they appeared by
numbers and in sections on map which
was prepared by the surveyor OF the DIS
trict of Columbia for use as evidence In
the court proceedings where compensatory
WAS allowed occupants. The annual rev
euue to be derived from this source, under
leases already executed is S14,lSo
A schedule of the leases made. showing
the property leased. the annual rental (pay-
able quarterly in advanced. the term or
lease and the improvements to be made
to Justify renewals. Is appended to the
report as is also blue print of the official
map referred to herein
Before the order of the Commissioners
ouoted was made. and while the case was
Dending In court. leases were made by the
commissioners direct to the Norfolk and
Washington Steamboat Company, the Mt
Vernon and Marshall Hall eamboat Com
pauy. Limited. the Independent Steamboat
and Barge Company and Stephenson Bro
theirs These were not considered
under the order. but appear in the schedule
attached.