Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-24
Board of Trade Would Not
Change 18th Street.
PROPOSAL is VOTED DOWN
Recommendation for Later Date for
Inauguration Approved.
REPORT ON ANAC0sTIA RIVER
Urges Channel to Navy Yard 400
Feet wide-Improveme Up
to Benning Bridge.

Al largely attended meeting of the
Washington Board of Trade held at the
New Willard Hotel last night that or
canization went on record as opposing the
proposed change of the name OF 18th
street. A change that was strongly IA
vored by the board. however. was in
the date of the Inauguration.
The meeting was lively. Much routine
business was disposed of. The president
OF the board. ]. II. Small, jr.. presided.
Although it's place was lower down on
the list, the report of the committee on
river and harbor Improvement was first
taken up. This was at the request of
M. l. Weller. chairman of the commit
Tee, who had an engagement he wished
TO keep.
Report Under Discussion.
The report. which dealt fully with the
question of improving the Anacostia river
front and the ownership of lands there.
provoked discussion. The sauatters came
in for their share of the attention In the
debate which followed. The report of
the special committee Of the flarbor COM
mittee, appointed by the District Commits
sioners to Investigate conditions along the
Anacostia river. was severely censured.
This report. it WILL be recalled. is to the
effect that the Anacostia river front is
little developed. The feature that ap-
peared particularly Objectionable to GER
tain members of the board last night was
the conclusion by the special committee
that navigation of the Anacostia river
should not be extended to any consider
able distance beyond the Pennsylvania
al nd haf limit Of
igatiOn should be placed about Massa-
chusetts avenue. The recommendation Of
the Board of Trade of last year was that
navigation should be extended to the Ben
ming bridge.
Although subjected to attack in several
respects. Mr.. Weller's report was adopted
without amendment upon final vote The
principal recommendations of the report
were: That channel of the Potomac
river, from its mouth to the navy yard.
should be dredsed to the depth of twenty
eight feet. with a width of 400 feet, IL
possible. or 200 feet, if the expense of a
larger channel proved too great: the i'm
provement of Anacostia river to the Ben
ming bridge: the acquisition by the United
States of all lands on that section of
Anacostia river now owned by private
persons. and the inauguration by the
government of a system of permanent
dock improvements along the city front
up to Benning bridge.
Public Buildings Criticised.
Several sections Of the report of the
committee on public buildings, made by
Charles E. Langley. secretary Of the COM
mittee. in the absence of the vice chair
man. George Gibson were stricken out.
The report contained criticisms Of GER
tain public buildings. recommendations re-
garding workhouse buildings and recon-
mendations for the erection of an armory
for the District National Guard upon the
site Of the old Pennsylvania railway sta
ton.
The discussion regarding the proposed
change in the name of 10th street came
when the report Of the committee on
streets and avenues was presented by
the chairman, William G. Henderson. One
of the recommendations contained in this
report was that the name Of 18th street
be changed to avenue of the Presi-
dents"
In support Of this recommendation Mr.
become one Of the most beautiful streets
in the District. and that 1t deserved a
special designation not carried by SIM
pie numeral appellation.
Objections were made chiefly on the
ground that there should be no further
changes In the names of streets and
avenues which had existed from the ear
lest days Of the city. and that 18th street
had acquired an individuality Of its own
under that name and should keep 1t. The
recommendation was stricken out
The other findings Of the committee.
which were that all streets and avenues
should be extended in straight lines
wherever practicable: that the United
States and the District should divide
equally the expenses arising from the ex-
cess of damages resulting from opening
new streets. and that such damages be
paid Immediately upon the confirmation
of the proceedings instituted for the OPEN
Ing of such streets, were adopted by the
board.
Later Inaugural Day Wanted.
No objection was offered to the resolu-
tion introduced by Thomas W. Smith in
dorsing Senator Depew's bill to change
the date Of inauguration from March 4
TO the last Thursday in April. 1t was
unanimously adopted. Some discussion
arose over this resolution as to the proper
method to put the Depew bill into effect.
No action was taken.
Other reports adopted without much
discussion were those Of the committee
on public order. of which Walter A. Brown
is chairman. in which the CHIEF recon-
mendation was that 100 men be added to
the police force and that a central police
station be established: the report of the
special committee on codincation. Adds b
Browne. chairman: that OF the committee
on insurance. Edwin c. Bladenburg. chair
man. which favored the installation Of .
high-pressure water service: the COM
mtt:ee On conventions. of which Otto
Luebkert is chairman. recommending the
erection OF a convention hall for wash
ington: the committee on mercantile in
terests. e. c. Graham. chairman: on rail-
roads. Alexander Britton. chairman, and
on commerce and manufacture. William
= GalIiher, chairman
The reports Of the committees on parks.
assessment and municipal arts were post
poned until the next meeting. Upon the
adjournment of the board a buffet lunch