Evening star., 1909-08-19

SCiLultlOliS, dS q dASSA oSO "
the city."-Report Of Wharf
Committee to District Com
missioners.
Prcnouncing the harbor front of the Ma
donal Capital as disgrace to the city,
the wharf committee urges In its annual
report submitted to the COMMISSIONERS to-
day that Congress be asked at the next
session to take material steps for be-
ginning the work of making 100000
worth of improvements to provide proper
wharfage facilities and thus aid the de-
velopment of Washington commercially.
The waterfront development contem-
plates the construction of an enormous
recreation pier near the foot of 9th street
southwest as an adjunct to the play
ground system.
''One particular feature which the COM
E1ittee has included in its plans" says the
report, lis that of a recreation pier,
which, if constructed, would afford facil-
tiles to the mothers and children of the
city OF Washington for enjoying the river
breeZes during the hot summer days and
be q valuable adjunct to the playground
movement which has become such mat
ter OF popular interest in Washington.
The Commissioners are urged by the
wharf committee which Is composed Of
Harbormaster j. f. Sutton. w. j. Doug
las and Daniel e. Garges. to submit esti-
mates to Congress for the next fiscal year
for appropriations for carrying out the
general plan of Improvement previously
outlined in report to Congress. which
is printed as Senate documen. 510, Six
tieth Congress, first session.
The estimated cost of the work of i'm
provement outlined in this report" says
the annual statement submitted today.
was, In round numbers. three million
dollars. the greater portion Of which was
for the improvement of the frontage along
the Washington channel and the balance
for the purchase of strips of land not now
owned by the United States along the Po-
tomac and Anacostia rivers.
The Commissioners. in their estimates
to Congress for the fiscal year 1910, sub
mitted an estimate aggregating $3O5, 600
provement, but no appropriation was
made. We believe that an estimate
should again be submitted to Congress
at its next session for money to begin
the improvements, either on the basis of
the completed plans contained In the said
Senate document, or upon these plans
curtailed SO as to cut down the present
estimated cost without interfering with
the ultimate and complete development
of the river.
System Is Needed.
THE improvement of conditions along
the Washington channel is most urgent.
While the various lessees have spent con-
siderable money in buildings and re-
pairs. in order to improve their hold
ings and make them more available for
their various businesses, these improve
n.ents have not been made in any sys-
tenatic manner. nor in accordance with
any definite plan; they would therefore
be OF no value in any extensive improve
ment along this frontage and would prob
ably have to be torn down.
We believe the harbOr 'front.' OF the city
OF Washington should be model for
those of other cities. Instead. it may be
described under its present conditions, as
disgrace to the city.
development within the last year
would seem to indicate that ii proper
wharfage facilities were provided much
river and commercial traffic would be at
tracted to. Washington which now goes
elsewhere. As ii is. the demand for wharf
SPACE cannot be met
Declaring that 'insanitary conditions at
the iish wharf are menace TO health de-
mending immediate remedy the wharf
committee recommends radical changes.
The fish wharf needs special consider
alton because its present insanitary condi-
ton Is menace 10 the public health.
This wharf has water frontage of about
40 feet and area of about 1lSOU
square feet. The rental which has been
charged is about $3.50 per annum, with
"A provision in the original lease that the
lessee should expend at least 5000 in inn
provements.
Prior TO the expiration of his original
lease March II. 1908, an examination OF
the sanitary condition of this wharf was
made BY the health officer. who reported
that the fish and oyster houses located
here were not provided with proper toilet
facilities or sewerage. nor with floors OF
such material as would promote cleanli
ness and modern sanitation.
Status of Fish Wharf Lease.
, THE health officer recommended that
before granting the lessee a renewal ol
the lease-to which he was entitled under
certain condi;ions-he be required to plac.
the wharf in sanitary condition Motto,
was served on him to do so, but he neg
lected TO comply with the requirements o
TINS notice, involving expenditure OF
his part of about $4,000 and the Commits
sioners then refused TO renew his lease
entering legal proceedings to compel hin
TO vacate the premises. The lessee ap
pied Tor restraining order TO proven
such action, and the matter is now pend
ing in the courts. After the institution
OF these legal proceedings. an endeavo
was made by your committee TO arrive q
some agreement with the lessee SO as I,
insure the improvement of the property
but without success. AS consequenc
the lessee has been holding the propert!
since March 15 1908, without the paw
ment of any rental therefor.
Your committee Is of the opinion that
the existing insanitary conditions at the
fish wharf are a menace to health de.
manding immediate remedy. and, as the
present lessee has had ample opportunit,
TO make the necessary improvements and
has failed to do SO. recommends tha,
Congress be asked to terminate this lease
thereby saving time In the making Of this
much-needed Improvement, which canno
now be made without somewhat Pro-
fracted legal procedure. 1t Is further
recommended that the Commissioners bs
fn nj aSt tail tfsh 6sh
ket at this wharf. to be conducted as are
the other markets in the city, or to enter
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