Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-24

spaces on many of the squares. A compar-
attvely large number of new individual
dwellings and stores have been erected,
while others show Improvement in remodel
ing and repainting. The street surfaces,
which in many sections were not good, have
received the attention Of the PAYERS and
resurfacers and are kept much more clean
ly than in former years.
"The section in the immediate vicinity of
the power house on Az street and this
thoroughfare in itself, has also received at
tention. This street, which is the main ar
terry of traffic In that vicinity, has been
recently torn up by reason Of the excava-
tons Of the big sewer which is to pass be-
meath 1t.
James Creek Nuisance.
1.-THE section on the east side of Az street
has not been improved as rapidly as that
on the west side, and this is largely due to
the presence Of the James Creek canal, the
filthy waters of which interpose barrier.
In discussing the doing away with this
relic Of past days, an army officer sta
TONED at Washington barracks put 1t this
way to me:
both the officers at the post and the
residents of this section of the city fully
appreciate the continued and praiseworthy
efforts of The Star to abate this nuisance,
and I am at a loss to account for the for
getfulness or the contumacy of Congress
in falling to heed the sentiment Of the peo-
pie who have to live within the radius Of
its foul-smelling waters
Widening the Harbor.
Now that the years have passed it Is
a matter of local interest to recall that the
predictions made by many of our now old
residents that 1t was mistake to make
the channel Of the inner harbor so narrow
between the seawall on the west and the
city shore front on the east. have been
verified.
''At that time. when the parkage of the
Potomac fats was surveyed, steamer of
the size of the old River Queen was of good
size; now her dimensions are considered
small. The harbor width should have been
made at least 400 feet wider than it is In
fact, 1t will be recalled by many of our
citizens that a large contingent opposed the
filling in of the fats below the 'embank-
ment to the Long bridge upon the ground
hat Washington, being the capital Of the
nation, should have extensive and a
broad sweep of water front.
This opposition, it will also be recalled
was met by the argument that Washington
was not destined to be a commercial c..y
and that the narrow channel of about 600
feet, or thereabouts, allowed, was of suf-
fcient width for all harDor purposes These
latter arguments prevailed, with the conse-
quent narrowing of the channel as 1t stands
today. 49, ,-.
% Advantage Of More Room. e
vessel has more than doubled. and with
the increase of tonnage and shipping we
now find our harbor circumscribed and
cramped. The larger boats have to back
out of their slips, go forward and back
again two or three times, according to the
length of the vessel while the additional
width of waterway of a couple of city
blocks would enable them to make a com
plete turn easily, and afford additional and
needed anchorage and navigation space
THE f1lled-in land area to afford this ad-
ditional free water space would not have
been missed from the parkage, while in
creased water width would have made all
and sailing vessels. as water areas are
difficult to obtain, as compared
with superficial land surface
THE Stars energetic efforts for the de-
velopment of a Greater Washington have
proved conclusively that the capitals COM
mercial possibilities are not evanescent but
are real and susceptible of control and ex-
pansion. And in this initial contemplation
Of the city's future greatness, both as a
residential and a business center our ship
ping facilities and their ultimate expansion
should be taken into consideration with the |
commercial and concomttant growths.
ITO this end therefore. the heavy In
crease in shipping and the annual aug
in the tonnage passing through
the port Of Washington is worthy of note
and attention. Already huge factories are
to appear upon the water front
Of the capital, and others are in course
Of contemplation. 1t cannot be doubted
that the coming Of the few will be fol-
lowed by the many. and to this end greater
wharfage extent and harbor area will be-
come imperative.
Eastern Branch Conditions.
1.-THE proposition for extended wharfage
and waterway In the Eastern branch to the !
east Of the arsenal grounds, extending to
the navy yard. becomes Of immediate po-
And in mapping out this new