Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-12
REPORT ON WHARVES
District Committee. Makes
Several Recommendations.
SOME REPAIRS NEEDED
DEMAND FOR FACILITIES GREAT
Err THAN THE SUPPLY.
Present Frontage "Dilapidated and
Disgracefu1 Looking" and
"Should Be Improved"
SOME REPAIRS NEEDED

The District wharf committee, composed
of Harbormaster ]. r. Sutton, w. J. Doug
lass, engineer OF bridges, and D. e.
Garges. private secretary to the Engineer
Commissioner, today presented to the Com
missioners its first annual report of work
performed by the committee during the
fiscal year ended June 30, last.
BY act of Congress, approved March 80,
1899, the Commissioners Of the District are
given exclusive charge and control of all
wharf property belonging to the United
States or to the District of Columbia in
the District, except the banks of the Po-
tomac river from the north line of the
Arsenal grounds to the south curb line of
n street south, and 500 linear feet of shore
line in the flushing reservoir at the foot of
18th street west and west from the west
curb of said street. including a levee 100
feet wide. which were placed by Congress
under the control of the chief of engi-
| neers. United States army. By this act
authority was granted to the Commission
erS to lease the wharveS for periods not
exceeding ten years.
The wharf property thus placed under the
control of the Commissioners consists of
% land between the Long bridge and the
arsenal grounds lying south of Water
| street, that IS. along the Washington cham
mel of the Potomac river. the title to which
was decided by the Supreme Court of the
United States in what is known the
Potomac flats case to be in the United
| States; (2) all public lands abutting on he
| Anacostia river, or Eastern branch of the
Potomac river, and CD the foot of all
streets in Georgetown.
AS the title to the land lying south Of
Water street was not included in the de-
| cision of the Supreme Court of the United
| States in the Potomac flats case, the ques-
| ton OF title to this land is yet in doubt.
so that the only wharf property which is
at present understood to be under the con-
| troll of the Commissioners Is the foot of
| streets where they reach the banks of the
river.
| In addition to the wharf property men
toned the Commissioners also have
charge of leasing the banks of James
Creek canal by virtue of an item contained
IN the District appropriation act for tho
hscal year 1903. by which they were au-
1 thorized to lease. for periods not exceeding
one year. the public space bordering on the
canal for commercial use.
Along Washington Channel.
While the decision of the Supreme Court
IN the Potomac Flats case was that the tt
tie to the river frontage along the Wash
fEgton channel was in the United States, it
stated that certain compensation should be
made to private parties who had made i'm
provements on this frontage under the sup
position that it was private property, and 1t
directed the Supreme Court of the District
OF Columbia to determine the compensation
which should be allowed for these improve
ments. This was done, the decree of the
court being passed February A. 1903 The
total amount of compensation allowed to
the various owners was S2:f2, 122.04 which
amount was included in the District appro-
priation act approved March 3, 1903, and
made Immediately available.
The complete ownership of this wharf
pre- perty now being vested in the United
States, and being placed by Congress under
the control of the Commissioners steps
immediately taken n laa no
erty, and in practically every case lease
was entered into with the person who had
occupied the property and had received
compensation under the decree of the court.
In fixing the rates of rental the committee
states it was determined that the rate
should be equivalent to about per cent of
the amount paid by the government for the
improvements. Where the rental reserved
was less than 800 year the leases were
made for the term of one year only; where
the rentals were larger the terms were for
five years and where the leSSeeS covenant
ed to make Improvements to a satisfactory
amount privilege of renewal for an addf-
tional term of five years was included in
the lease. The committee reports that all
of this frontage on the Washington chan
nel from the south line of street to the
Long bridge. is now under lease.
Anacostia River.
1t being understood that the only wharf
property along the Aanacostia river 'front.'
age which is under the juridiction and con-
troll of the Commissioners is at the foot of
streets only one lease has been entered
into along this frontage according to the
report and that Is for the foot of Q street.
which was leased to brick firm for pc
riOd of five years from September q, 1903.
at an annual rental of $3.50. The committee
states that there are several other good
wharf sites along this frontage which can
be leased by the District. notably where
Georgia avenue strikes the river, and as
the channel is being widened by operations
of the officer in charge of Potomac river
improvements. 1t is believed that wharfage
facilities here are equally good if not
better than those of the Washington chan
mel The members of the committee be-
leved that some legal proceedings should
be instituted to determine the ownership
of the riparian rights along this frontage.
Along the Georgetown channel the only
wharf property under the control of the
Commissioners is that at the foot of streets
The committee states that several pieces of
wharf property under the control of the
Commissioners are occupied by private par
ties without paying rental. and proceedings
are now being taken to require such rental
to be paid.
The rentals along James Creek canal are
based rate of JOscents per front foot
along the canal
In concluding its report the wharf COM
mittee makes number of recommended tons
for the Improvement of the wharf property
and the banks of the river under control
of the District. The conditions at present
are characterized disgraceful. The rec
concentrations of the committee are as fol-
lows:
Recommendations.
The wharf property along the Washing
ton channel consists of wharf structures,
mostly wooden. iHsvarious states of repair.
mostly bad: docks made of piling, and
ether wharves made of cribbing and filed
in with earth and other material. 4 stone
wall exists along the bulkhead line, but in
a very dilapidated state in some places
having fallen down entirely. The wharf
structures extend out from this to the cham
rel. and the space between the end of the
wharf structures and the bulkhead line Is
practically all filled up. that boats in
most cases must lie at the ends of the
wharves instead of in slips along the sides.
1T is the opinion of your committee that
| this space should be dredged out, the bulk
| head line rebuilt and stone wharves be
| built in place of the present wooden ones.
| in such manner that the boats can lie in
! slips This will not be done until 1t is done
| by the government. and 1t Is recommended
| that an appropriation of 81 800 be made for
| the purpose of making a survey and plat
OF such an improvement. to be submitted
| to Congress for approval.
| Il believed that auy iruprovep,ent