Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-13
OUT TO DISTRICT LINE
SECRETARY TAFT's DATA RE-
GARDING ANACosTIA FLATS

secretary Taft today submitted to Con-
gress important data in regard to the fats
OF the Anacostia river, from its mouth to
the boundary line OF the District of Column
pa including a report by the Attorney
General as to the title of the lands in
question. The District OF Columbia an
preparation act, approved July / 1902
made provision for a survey and outline
map of the land owned by the United
States. comprised within what is known
as the Anacostia flats, and directed the
Attorney General to examine and report
upon the nature of the title to those
lands.
By direction of the Secretary of War
this survey was made by Lieut. Col.
Chas- j. Allen. Corps of Engineers. who
submitted his report thereon under date
or February II, 1903 Accompanying this
report are hve maps. viz. a general map
or the locality, map of Washington bar
racks and the Government Hospital for
the Insane, map of the United States
navy yard; map of reservation No. l3
ana vicinity, and a map OF the United
states reform school farm.
Title to Lands.
The Secretary of War also transmitted a
letter from the acting attorney general ,n>
regard to the mature of the title to lands
embraced within the flats of the Anacostia
river.
The title OF the United States to tho
premises under considera ton" saws the act
ing attorney general, lis derived from the
same source, and Is of the same nature
as It's title as to what is known as the Po-
tomac flats. which has been judicially estab-
lished. (See Morris agt. United States, ia
y. b. 1861 1t rests upon the cession maze
by the act or the state of Mary and OF De-
cember .. 17SS, entitled An act to cede to
congress district ten miles square in tfAs
state, winch was accepted by the act of
Congress approved July Ii, 1880, and the
act of March B. 1871. amendatory thereof.
ana was subsequently ratified by act OF
the state of Maryland passed December 10,
if9l. BY this legislation the United States
became invested with the title to the shores
and beds of the navigable waters within the
limits OF the territory so ceded, embracing
the Eastern branch of Anacostia river, as IL
was then navigable, well the Potomac
river. which title was held by the United
states tas 1t previously was by The state)
In trust for public purposes.
The lands included within the Anacostia
flats. as shown by the said survey, appear
to be either submerged subject TO tidal
overflow by waters of the Eastern branch,
and are a part OF the bed of the latter.
The accompanying papers furnish no infor-
nation as 10 the existence of any private
claims affecting these lands Ii Is proba-
BILE however, that the claims to riparian
rights and wharfing privileges do exist on
the part OF owners of property fronting on
the Eastern branch, and the Baltimore and
Potomac Railroad Company. whose tracks
cross the flats in question, may have claims
in connection with its right of way upon
the same.
Subject to the existence and validity of
such claims, IL any, think the ownership
of all the land embraced within what is
known as the Anacostia flats, as indicated
by the aforesaid survey, is vested in the
United States for public purposes