Evening star., 1904-01-23

supplying to an unlimited extent all the
varieties of timber 10 Be found in any Sec
"our climate is nIId, The winters are
never so cold that Natdp work cannot be
carried on throughout the entire season,
except in rare instances, and our summers
are always agreeable, sboth for work and
pleasure. .bT
These are not however, all the natural
advantages possessed by our city for manu-
featuring purposes e The great water power
when properly and scientifically controlled
and utilized, supply the city of Washing
ton and adjacent SECTIONS OF Virginia with
-electrica! power, to an unlimited degree,
for running factories of all classes, and
more cheaply than any other place in th.s
country, excepting probably that section
Immediately adjacent to Niagara Falls
Capital is now actively at work prepar-
ing to practically utilize this natures gift,
by which, in the near future, electrical
power may be furnished for all purposes Of
q manufacturing nature.
Advantages offered.
Your committee is of the opinion that
with these facts Of Washington's natural
manufacturing advantages properly pre-
sented to Congress. some legislation might
properly be enacted whereby additional in
ducements may be held out to infant man
ufacturing industries to establish plants IN
this city. thereby giving~to the thousande
washington a great and substantial city.
as well as the most beautiful in the world
'.As to commerce, 1t seems that there are
comparatively few. people who realize
WaShfngton'S growth ana importance as
commercial city.
'.The many people who visit this city OF
smagnificent distances, and admire its at
fractions and appreciate its advantages as
a place Of residence, mainly look upon 1t as
a national legislative bureau or social CEN
ter. This view. however. does not do JUS
tice to the business ability of our enter
prisng citizens.
"Fron investigation it will be observed
that the amount of goods shipped each
year from Washington by wholesale deal
ers amounts to millions of dollars.
''It is also not generally known that there
are hundreds of travelling statesmen, repre-
senting various lines of trade, who are daily
soliciting orders in our neighboring states
for the wholesale houses already estab-
lished here.
Besides our increasing local interests,
Washington is the distributing point for
many outside establishments. The great
western breweries and packing houses and
the large lumber mills of the SOUTH and
other industries we might mention. have
agencies in this city TO supply the demands
in nearby states
"Your committee is therefore Of the opin-
ion that the time has arrived when enter
prising citizens should earnestly encourage
any and all movements the object of which
is to make Washington manufacturing
and commercial city Of national import
ance."
Mr.. Harper said the committee, of which
he Is chairman, is unable to encourage
many people who come here with the idea of
establishing industries they generally
want to sell some stock. be relieved from
taxes for a given time or some other ad-
vantage that cannot be offered them
On motion of Major Henry l.. Biscoe the
report was adopted
River and Harbor Improvement.
Mr.. NJ I. Weller presented the following
report of the committee on river and harbor
Improvement, as chairman of that commit
tee: - t:l tt.i
"In the development Of city there is
nothing more important or we may say so
important, as the facilities which 1t may
have for the carrying ON of commerce and
the modes of ingfess and egress for the
products of the earth and the output of the
factories. Although Washington is fairly
we'll equipped with.the means of transpor-
| tation by railroad, yeti the advantage of
proper water facilities Are stilI lamentably
| insufficient and it is to this subject which it
| is this committee S duty to direct it's atten-
ton on behalf of the Board of Trade.
1.-THE subjects which Come directly within
the sphere of this cdmmiftees work may be
grouped under two general heads:
Il. The wharves of Washington and
Georgetown and att,e, fchannel approaches
| thereto. Co. 4 tEd -; ~ " f0H7
so. The AnacostiA river, otherwise known
| as the Eastern branch of the Potomac river.
Taking up the first of these subjects,
| you committee can but recommend that the
most earnest effort be made to improve the
channel of the Potomac river so that ships
| which now are considered Of ordinary ton
mage can come to our wharves and docks.
Before the revolution which occurred in the
motive power of water craft sailing vessels
| from all over the world could be seen at
| the docks of Georgetown, but since the
| building of steamships, which require a
| much deeper channel than the old sailing
| vessels, 1t is seldom that vessel is seen on
| the Potomac river which can be considered
| a big freighter 1t is true that once or
| twice a year sailing vessels of considerable
! size from other ports on the coast do get to
| this city, but it is now an almost unheard-
| of thing for a steam vessel from another
| country to enter at this port. What Is the
| cause of present conditions?
Obstacles in the Way.
"The main cause is that it is impossible
| for vessels drawing over nineteen feet of
| water to reach this city at present. 1t
| has been the policy of Congress in the
past to deepen this channel a little more
and more, not in advance of the require
ments of commerce, but only when the re-
quirements have reached that point where
still greater deepening was necessary And
now, when it is practically essential that
| this District should have an approach by
water for vessels drawing twenty-five feet
of water, we find that only vessels drawing
| nineteen feet or under can cross certain
of the shoals. This is the principal reason.
and the only way it can be remedied is
that Congress should be urged to give
Washington an approach by channel twen-
ty-five feet in depth at mean low tide.
Another condition which is greatly to be
regretted and that has been dealt with
at large in the report of the chief engi-
neer of the army, filed short while ago,
is that the channel of the Potomac river
Is only 200 feet wide, which for a river Of
the width and Importance of the Potomac
is entirely too contracted, and 1t is almost
necessary In the interests of safety to the
vessels that the channel should be at least
double that width
THE improvements on the Anacostia
river have been progressing during the past
year. and on July, 1903. there still Il
large balance available for continuing
them, and this committee joins with the
chief of engineers of the army in recon-
mending that at least 100000 could be ex-
pended profitably on the improvement of
the Anacostia in addition to the balance
which was available on July 1. 1903.
The Anacostia River.
1T is also of the very greatest import
ance that appropriations should be OBJ
tanned from Congressafor carrying on the
improvement of the Anacostia river above
fha Naxyv ri br;d