Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-19
LARGE PLANT IN PROSPECT
at Washington Bar
racks and Reclamation of Flats.
BRANCH RAILWAY STATION
Some Changes Noted Along the
River Front-Proposed Truck
House Construction.

Like all other parts Of the District OF
Columbia. Southwest Washington has
shared materially in the growth and
prosperity which have been the portion
of the Capital city in recent times. The
area OF the southwest section is. how
ever. somewhat limited. Obviously South
toward the south than the Potomac river.
while to the north and west its expan-
sion must cease at the lines Of the Mall.
In all Of its history there has been no
greater benefit conferred upon the south
west section than that which was in
augurated at the time Of the inception
of the plan for the Union station, and
which has been worked out to practical
completion within the past year-namely.
the elimination of grade crossings. Dur
ing the years which went before. the
progress of daily affairs found practically
all of the residents Of that part of the
city in fear of the loss of life or limb
in crossing the tracks of the railroads
entering Washington from the south. Now
all Of the streets interesting the railroad
tracks from the line of 14th street on
the west to South Capitol street are
either depressed below the tracks or ele-
waited above them. and pedestrians. driv-
ers of all sorts of conveyances and pas
sengers on street cars can enter or leave
South Washington without danger.
Reclamation of Flats.
Another civic improvement which has
meant much to South Washington has
been the reclamation Of the Potomac river
fats long waste of morass and Jungle
like growth of weeds and underbrush and
their transformation into the beautiful
Potomac Park of the present day. Added
to this will be the ultimate extension Of
Potomac Park to the east Of the rail-
way embankment all the way to the point
at the junction of the Washington and
GEORGETOWN channels of the river oppo-
site the arsenal. Similarly the construc-
ton of the new Highway bridge and its
approaches and the building of a modern
cement bridge across the upper end of
the Washington channel have been count
ed as assets by the residents and property
owners In the southwest.
The United States government has been
a benefactor of this same part of the
Capital city in its very great improve
ments of the Arsenal and the surround
ing grounds. Scores Of acres of marsh
land have been reclaimed from the river
and added to the arsenal property, and
probably more than 100000 have been
expended by the government in beauti-
flying the property and in constructing
modern buildings. Another government
project. largely IL not wholly inspired
By the District authorities, is the filling
in OF the James Creek canal, which work
Is now In progress. For many years this
turbid stream was not only an eyesore
to the community. but 1t was considered
a menace to health. Its existence was
long q necessity both to the shipping in
terests. which required the wharves along
its Sides and to the whole city because
1t offered an outlet to many of the princi-
pal sewers. The construction of the
sewage disposal plant terminated the use
fulness Of the canal in this latter re-
spect, and accommodations have been
found elsewhere for the one-time users
of it's wharves James creek has gone
the way of the once famous and noisome
Tiber creek.
Progress Along Water Front.
Much Of the Importance of Southwest
Washington lies in it's water front, and
here too. the march Of progress has been
in evidence Modern wharves have taken
the place Of the once ramshackle struc-
lures which lined the Washington cham
mel, and it is expected that the very near
future will see the vanishing of the last
of these relics of earlier days. The Nor
folk and Washington Steamship Company
has constructed new wharf and ONCE
building of substantial character. as has
also the management of the Randall lines.
The wharf and mill of Johnson Brothers.
which was destroyed by fire in January
1906, has been replaced with a new
structure Of approved design. and the
American Ice Company has also added
to the commercial importance of that
portion of the city by the construction
of a large, new icehouse at the foot OF
9tn street.
Square 3AS. between f and + and 11th
and 18th streets, ii is said. will soon be
improved by the building of an up-to- date
COLI storage plant by the Washington
Market Company. and il is thought this
new structure will cost in the neighbor-
hood of 100000. Still another industry