The Washington times., 1907-10-14
From the Governments Own Files

From the Governments Own Files.
Congress ought to begin the rec
lamation OF the Anacostia faa by
appropriating money this session as
a right to the District of Columbia.
Scores of thousands of our citizens
suffer from the existence of this
slough. Most of them are here be-
cause the Government is here, q
circumstance which adds to the
claim they have on the attention of
Congress.
But it may be the better strategy
to urge as of equal Importance to
Congress the effect of the present
conditions on certain Government
institutions. On that score Con-
gress has the unbiased, unsolicited,
unmistakable testimony CT the Gov
etnment's own officers.
Thus, in 1892, the Surgeon General
Of the Navy wrote:
1t Is undoubtedly true that the health
OF the United states navy ward cannot
be secured unless the Anacostia flats
be reclaimed.
AT St. Elizabeth's Hospital. lust oppo-
site the navy yard. the morbidity from
malaria has very largely increased in
the last few years.
The corresponding report for the
year 1899 says:
Attention Is again called to the con-
dition Of the mud fats off the yard. and
this conditton viii rema a menace to
the health of the yard as long as roeas-
ures are not Instituted for dlVertiue the
sewage from the Eastern Branch en-
ureiy, and delivering II into the Poto-
fats and walling in both sides of the
channel. as has been proposed, would
tend 70 improve matters.
Next year the Surgeon General
grows more specific:
The influence OF the fats OF the Ana
costa river occupies the most impor-
tant place In the consideration OF the
health OF this yard, which for some
years now has been a center of malarial
injection in the Naval Service and the
Marine Corps Men placed on duty at
TINS yard are afterward sent 20 otner
Shore stations or TO ships, where they
from time TO time have returns Of the
fever, resulting from infection at this
place. Undoubtedly the interests OF the
service, and Of the city demand the ex-
penditure OF money, however great Il
may be, necessary 10 remove such an
extensive cause of sickness and distress.
a year later he burns in his con-
illusions with figures, thus:
The flats OF the Anacostia river con-
unue 70 exert strong influence on the
health OF this yard, as during the year
1900 from an average complement OF $50
10 I Q sick list with malarial trouble.
This does not include a temperance
OF the disease, but simply represents
those infected during the yesr. .
This factor is. however. still suf-
nc entity great to occupy the most prom
incnt place in considering the health of
the yard. and the influence is suf-
ficiently strong to attract attention to
this yard as a center OF Infection for the
Naval Service. as men who have been
under instruction here, when transferred
to ships and other stations, are for q
long time liable to temperance Of the
disease.
More recently still, the board Of
visitors of the Government Hospital
for the Insane makes this rather
comprehensive statement of the
case:
This board would also most urgently
request that the attention of Congress
be called to the deplOrable condition Of
the Anacostia fats, from the junction
of that stream with the Potomac river
to the railroad bridge of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad Company. Bordering
the hospital grounds on the west, they
are a constant menace TO the health Of
the institution, and a fertile soil for the
a F4a So fae
malaria. These flats are perhaps a
half-mlle in width. the water covering
them is very shallow, leaving them al
most exposed at low tide, and during
the summer season they become covered
with rank growth Of weeds and water
moss, which decays as autumn comes
on. The decompOsing organic matter
the sluggish water, and the soft mud
bottom make a combination Of condi-
tons especially favorable 70 the produc-
ton ard dissemination Of the malarial
poison, and the hospital inmates have
been in large degree sufferers thereby.
We believe II to be within the
powc. Of Congress to remedy this condi-
ton IN large part by deepening and
widening the channel or the Anacosta
river and by filing up the fats Wen
would also be Of great value for truck
gardening. and would go far toward
recompensing the Government Tor the
outlay In The interest of the health
of this hosrital and OF the entire east
ern portion of the District. we nope Con-
Eress can be prevailed upon to make the
necessary appropriations 10 begin the
Improvement.
N the light of which it is hard to
believe any CT the four committees
ooncerned-two on the District 81
Columbia and two on appropria-
tions-win think it profitable longer
to neglect this menace to the gen
eral health.
Chairman Parsons, Of the Greater
New York county Republican commit