Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-08
REPORT rs FAVORABLE
APPROVAL OF BILL FOR ANACOS-
TIA RIVER DREDGING.
Reclamation and Improvement Of
Flats From District Line to Penn
sylvania Avenue Bridge.

The Commissioners today reported favor
ably to Congress on the bill authorizing
them to enter into contract for the dredging
and improvement of the Anacostia river
and the reclamation and improvement of
its flats from the District line to the Penn
sylvania avenue bridge. In their report
the Commissioners state that they are very
much in favor of any legislation having for
its object the reclamation and improvement
of the flats of the Anacostia river. which,
in their present condition. form menace
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 to their attention.
They invite attention to the fact that all
work of dredging which has been done in
the Potomac and Anacostia rivers has been
under the direction of the Secretary of
war, and Congress. in a joint resolution
which was approved April II, 1893. directed
the Secretary of War to prepare and sub
NIT a project for the Improvement of the
Anacostia river and the reclamation of its
mats from the line of the District of Co
iumbla to the mouth of the river with an
estimate of the cost of the same a report
OF the area and ownership of and the cost
OF acquiring the land TO be reclaimed Two
thousand dollars was appropriated for the
purpose.
Continuing. the Commissioners state:
On December Il. 1893, the acting secre-
tary or war submitted to Congress letter
from. the chief of engineers incIosing re-
port from the officer in charge of Potomac
river improvements, Col Charles 7 Allen
Corps of Engineers giving the information
requested This report was printed as
document No 81, Fifty-fifth Congress
third session 49,
Minimum Estimate,
IN the report the minimum estimate for
ureoslng a channel and depositing the ma
'er'ai 10 an avearge elevation of seven feet
ABOVE low tide, including the construction
Vi d sea wall. embankment and drainage
10 helght of fourteen feet above low tide.
IRON the District line to the mouth of the
river. was S2,S39, $40. With embankment
ana drainage omitted it was 81. 439 4SO No
estimate was made for the exact portion of
the stream covered by this blI-from the
District line to the Pennsylvania avenue
Drldge-but from the District line to the
Navy Yard bridge a longer distance (about
4,2OO feet), the estimate was 81 GO 195 This
bill authorizes a contract or contracts for
the purpose at a cost not exceeding 81 800
OOO Fi
AS the Commissioners did not make
these estimates, they have no knowledge
whether the amount named will be suffi-
c1ent for the purpose. An appropriation of
S1JOOO0 was made in the river and har-
Dor appropriation law. approved June Ii.
1902 to improve the river below the Navy
Yard bridge.
Act of June 80, 1908.
An act making appropriations to pro-
vide for the expenses of the government of
the District of Columbia for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1903. and for other pur-
poses, approved June l, 1902, provides For
a survey and outline map of land owned
by the United States, comprised within
what is known as the flats of the Anacostia
river. from its mouth to the boundary line
of the District of Columbia. 5000. or so
much thereof may be necessary, to be
expended under the direction of the Secre-
tary of War. and the Attorney General is
authorized and directed to examine and re-
port upon the nature of the title to lands
embraced within said flats. but as no duty
is vested in the Commissioners by that law
they have no Information to the action.
if any. which has been taken Hereunder
The Commissioners would also invite
attention to the fact that the plans of the
park commission cover the portion of the
river from the District line to the Baltimore
and Potomac railroad bridge across the
stream about ., eco feet above the Pennsyl-
vania avenue bridge. and they believe that
any action taken should be on the lines
recommended by the park commission