Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-30

dition will probably lead in his opinion,
to more extensive building operations dur
ing next season. 1t is apparent from his
point of view that the supply of houses
to be equal to the demand, and that the
rental market this season is going to be as
good as it was last season, which is an
other form Of saying that it is to be very
active.
More Building Probable.
This condition will undoubtedly lead to
undertaking new building operations, and
those who want to go into such enterprises
will probably find no difficulty in getting
the money when the real situation Is
known. There has been some apprehension
that building was overdone, especially IN
the larger class of apartment houses, ana
in order to correct this or to avoid gong
to the limit of the market IN TINS partlcu-
lar. those who have money to loan for such
purposes have declined to advance tunds.
II is believed that easier money conditions
are probable in the future.
Eastern Branch Improvement.
In consequence of the work of dredging
which has been going on for some time IN
the Eastern branch below the navy yard
about 100 acres of land have been filled In
or raised above the level of the water at
low tide. This land Is on the south side OF
the stream and in front of the public prop
erty that is occupied by the government
ASYLUM for the insane. Some of the 'front.'
age along by the Washington barracks, or,
as It is now to be known, the War College,
has also been filled in, and at this point
the channel of the Eastern branch has been
confined to a width of some 800 feet and a
depth of 20 feet.
This is the result of removing the &C.
cumulated mud from the bottom of the
channel and depositing 1t on the shores
;-;,, fhn hn nj
water within reasonable space instead OF
allowing II to spread over acres OF land
| This work has not yet reached the navy
yard but Is approaching that point, and
future progress VIII not only nring II there
| but beyond into the region above the navy
yard bridge, which now at low tide seems
| to be merely a stretch of desolate marsh.
An Attractive Place.
The reclamation of this region will. nc
doubt, be carried out. and instead of being
as it now is-one of the most forbiddine
places In this section to look upon. to say
nothing of the insanitary conditions which
are produced-it is going to be one of the
| inviting spots in that vicinity of the city
What is to be done there or the possibilities
| can to some extent be realized by seeing
what the Potomac fats are today and COM
pairing them with what they were when the
| work of reclamation began.
In place or the StretCn OF swamp tHdl lay
between what was by habit called the
Washington camel and the Virginia chan
mel is now a tract of land which is above
| the level of the water and Is capable OF
being transformed into a beautiful park
| The area that has been taken, as 1t were
from the water and the mud comprises
some 621 acres of land and 11S acres of in
closed water. Since the work began on the
| Potomac fiats-over twenty years ago-some
two millions and half of dollars have been
| expended. including, of course, what has
| been spent in dredging the Virginia chan
| mel and keeping it clear.
Undertaking Shows a Profit.
In addition to securing this splendid es.
tate of over six hundred acres the public
has been benefited by having the Virginia
channel of the Potomac dredged so that II
now has depth of twenty feet and width
In general of some four hundred feet TAX.
| Ing the entire amount expended on the river
| improvement during the period, 1t is founC
| that the cost to the public per acre for the
| Potomac Park is about $1,000.
There is no thought that this reclaimed
| land will be used for any other purpose
than for park and pleasure ground, bu
| 1t can be readily understood that If the
property could be marketed that 1t would
| not be difficult to have such an improve
| ment undertaken by private hands, as thu
| land reclaimed would more than repay thu
outlay. AS a municipal expenditure 1t cal
| be justified, for without saying anythins
about the abolition OF insanitary condition,
| which injuriously affected such large sec
| ton of the city, the improvement made il
that part of the city is SO radical as to hav,
| practically changed its entire character
| Instead of neglected commons, which TO
| so many years has been the feature of thu
| region in the vicinity of the monument
| there are now lawns and drives and 1t is :
| favored resort for the public when bent O,
| recreation.
A Marked Contrast.
1t is now really an attractive part of tn
city and those who have no knowledge O