The Washington times., 1905-11-26
WANT COMMERCE ON
EASTERN BRANCH
Plan of Reclamation Con-
templates Wharfage.
WILL URGE CONGRESS TO ACT
II. I. Weller Believes Stream Should
Be Made Nayigable From Mouth
to Benning Bridge.


Residents and property owners in the
eastern part OF the District are en-
Ihssiastic over the possibility Of the
= dredging and improvement OF the East
eFn Branch or Anzcostia river. It is
expected that the coming Congress will
be successfully urged to appropriate
waterway in accordance with the. plans
submitted IN a report made in 1seS by
Col. Charles J. Allen. Engineer Corps
Z. S. A. N. :. Weller, chairman OF the
Washington Board OF Trade committee
on river and harbor improvements. ex-
pressed himself yesterday as confident
that the proposed measure would have
the support Of the Board OF Trade.
Mr. Weller's plan is TO have the East
ern Branch made navigable from its
mouth TO the Benning bridge. which lat
ter point IS about II street north. The
system Of Improvement which he con-
templates having the Board Of Trade
urge upon Congress has for one OF its
main purposes the diversion Of river
fraaic TO the Eastern Branch.
washington's Commercial Future.
His idea is that washington has be-
fore IL a great commercial future, which.
however. cannot be properly developed
or even made possible without much
greater wharfage facilities than the
city now has. Mr.. Weller pointed out
that the reclamation OF the waterway
OF the Potomac had deprived the District
OF a considerable portion of the wharf
age facilities It used 10 have, while the
gradual extension OF the holdings of the
United States at the Navy Yard and
Arsenal, will. in the course of time,
7r1nf r0f If 81
caiiy all the river front lying between
those two points. thus cutting out com
meree there
The report OF Colonel Allen. which is
IN large measure the ground work Of
Mr. WelIer's plan, estimated the cost Of
the reclamation OF the Eastern Branch
at s. SIS. go
Many Of those who favor the dredging
and Improvement Of the Branch insist
that that portion Of the river bank
lying between the Navy Yard bridge sad
the Benning bridge should be reserved
for commercial purposes. while the
stretch lying from the Benning bridge
10 the District line should be converted
into a mammoth park
Canal to Chesapeake.
In this connection there is a tradition
that many years ago capitalists who
were interested in The development OF
the District OF Columbia planned the
digging Of a canal large enough to carry
ocean-going vessels from Chesapeake
Bay GA an almost direct line TO the
Eastern Branch opposite Washington.
The distance is about twenty-five miles
over a comparatively level country.
The land is not rocky and no blasting
would be required, the work being almost
..f
has been consulting with his associates
en- the Beard OF Trade river and har-
Dor committee with q view 10 agitsting
a revival, Of. The. canal proposition. and
the future possibilities, Of the scheme
ere urged as reasons why ample wharf
age provision should be allowed IN the
reclamation Of the Eastern Branch.
Some dificulty is anticipated when the
people of the District get TO Congress
with their proposed bin for the improve s45577-
ment OF the stream for the reason that
It Is intended TO seek action al the
hands OF the Rivers and Harbors Com
mittee. Of which Representative Tne0-
dore Z. Burton Of Ohio as chairman II
the measure goes from this committee
10 Congress and the necessary apprOpri-
alton Is made as a part OF the business
OF the Rivers and Harbors COMMITTEES
tle kIikF0 states Woulu nave 10 pay the
entire cost OF the improvements.
Otherwise. the legislation will have tC
emanate from the District Committee. in
which event the taxpayers OF the Dis
trict Of Columbia would have 10 bear
cne-haf the burden of expense on the
theory that the work was a local i'm
prOvement
Navigable Years Ago.
The Eastern Branch. It is said. was
4 navigable stream IN early years. and
sea-going ships were more than a cen
fury ago laden with tobacco and other
freight at Bladensburg. Nd. whence
they found their way down the Branch
70 the Potomac and thence on out 10 the
Atlantic.
Mr.. Weller has collected considerab bic
data. tending TO show the condition Of
the Eastern Branch before il became
filled in and IN the course Of his investI-
CATION OF the subject he has discovered
that George Washington owned some
Of the water lots along the Eastern
Branch. and considered that stream the
natural waterway for the commerce Of
the Capital City.