Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-26
WHARF RENTS SMALL
Committee Declares Returns
to District Inadequate.
NEEDS ON WATER FRONT
Report Recommends Land Purchase,
Flat Restoration and Dredging.
BUILDINGS IN BAD CONDITION
Plans for Future Treatment of Har-
Dor Are Urged for Con-
sideration. IS
NEEDS ON WATER FRONT
BUILDINGS IN BAD CONDITION


commended by the wharf committee of the
District OF Columbia, composed of Daniel
f. Garges. chief clerk to the engineer
department.: William ]. Douglas. engineer
of bridges. and ]. r. Sutton. lieutenant
of the harbor police. In the annual report
today submitted to the Commissioners.
Accompanying the report is list of the
wharf property under lease to private
concerns by the District. The amount
received from rentals during the year
ended June 30 was about $4,000.
Improvements to Harbor.
The committee in suggesting harbor i'm
provements urges the Commissioners TO
ask for the following appropriations dur
ing the next session of Congress:
An appropriation of So, 900 for the pur-
chase of a strip of the Potomac river
front from Shepards Landing to Giesboro
Point.
An appropriation of $4,000 for the pur-
chase of a strip of land along the Ana
costa river from Giesboro Point TO Mas
sachusettS avenue southeast.
An appropriation of $1,000 for plans ana
surveys for the reclamation of the Ana
costa river from Massachusetts avenue
to the District line.
An appropriation of S462. 800 to continue
the improvement OF the Washington
channel as part of the total estimated
cost of S2,775.O00O for this improvement:
1t is the belief of this committee that
If the facts brought out in a detailed
report made by II to the Commissioners,
several months ago. regarding the future
treatment of the harbor of Washington.
are called to the attention OF congress:
the necessity for these appropriations VIII
be amply demonstrated
Present condition of wharf property is
bad according to the committee. Build
ings and wharf structures are generally
in a bad way. Valuable wharf space Is
wasted by existing poor and unsatis-
factory structural arrangement.
The present arrangement Is unsys-
tematic, according to the committee. IL
proposed plans are carried out. II CON
tends. not only will an improvement De
made IN this direction, but much wharf
frontage not now available on account
of the bad arrangement. can be onered
for rental.
Wharfage Rentals Inadequate.
In reference to wharf property now
leased the committee reported:
This wharf property is located on the
Washington and Georgetown channels OF
the Potomac river. on the Eastern branch
or Anacostia river, on the James Creek
canal and on Rock creek.
THE most important wharf property is
located along the Washington cnannei
between 9TH and 14th streets southwest.
1t is here that all the excursion and pas
Senger traffic is located and the most I'M
portant commercial wharyes.
These wharves are practically all under
lease for periods of five years from Marcn
10 1908. The leases were originally mace
March 15 1903. for a period OF I'VE years.
with the privilege in most cases of an
extension at the same rate OF rental TOT
further period of FIVE years.
"At the expiration of the original term
of five years-that is. March 10, l9oS-
your committee made appraisal OF the
veloped that the rentals being received
did not represent an adequate return on
the value of the property.
LAS. however, the lessees were entitled
to the privilege of renewal at the amount
of rental reserved in their original leases.
such renewals were granted at the old
rates. In three instances where there
were no privileges of renewal the amount
of rental was increased to that estimated
to be the proper rental by your COM
mittee."
Use of James Creek Frontage.
Regarding wharves along the James
Creek canal. the committee reports
James Creek canal formerly extended
from G street to the Eastern branch. On
account of the construction Of sewer
across the bed of the canal at L street
it is not navigable above that point 1t
it now being filled to about NJ street.
THE plans for the sewage disposal
system provided for the construction OF
dyke across the canal at y street. For
this reason no land has been leased above
y street.
practically all available frontage from
y street southwark. is under lease at a
rental of 10 cents per front foot abutting
on the canal. This frontage Is used for
the storage of sand. wood and building
material, which is brought to this point
by barges.
lon account Of the present lack of
wharf facilities it is believed advisable
that such use Of this canal be continued
for some years.
Formerly this canal was an open sewer.
The plans for the sewage disposal syS-
TEN provided for taking care of the sew
age which formerly entered the canal. 1t