The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-19
Wharf Committee Makes Ac-
cusations in Annual Report
to Commissioners.
ASK APPROPRIATION
FOR PASTIME PIER
Would Have Ii Conducted in Con-
junction With Children's
Fairgrounds.

Characterizing the harbor front as a
disgrace 10 the city. the wharf COM
1nittee, consisting of }. r. Sutton, har-
Dor master, ". ). Douglas, engineer of
bridges, and Daniel E. Garges, chief
clerk Of the Engineer Department,
urgently recommend an appropriation
for its improvement in the annual re-
port submitted to the Commissioners To-
gay.
The plans include the establishment
OF 3 recreation pier at the foot Of Ninth
street, which If constructed, the report
says. will afford facilities to the moth
ers and children Of Washington for en-
joying the river breezes during the hot
summer days and form a valuable adj
junct to the playground movement.
The wharf committee calls attention
TOT the report on the improvement Of
ths water front, which was forwarded
toSCOngress by the Commissioner May
IS, 1908. The estimated cost Of the
work Of Improvement outlined in this
report was, In round numbers, S30Oo,000.
the greatest portion of which was for
the Improvement of the frontage along
the Washington channel, and the bal
ance for the purchase Of the strip of
land along the Potomac and Anacostia
rivers.
No Appropriation Made.
The Commissioners. in their estimates
20 Congress for the hscal year 1910 sub
initted an estimate aggregating $4,000
toward carrying out this plan Of inn
provement, but no appropriation was
made. The Commissioners believe that
an estimate should again be submitted
TO Congress for money 10 begin these
improvements.
The Improvement Of conditions along
the Washington channel is most uT-
gent. reads the report. while the va
Iiods Iessees have spent considerable
money in buildings and repairs. IN order
70 improve their holdings and make
them more available for their various
businesses, these improvements have
not been made i'm any systematic man
ner. nor IN accordance with any definite
plan they would, therefore. be of no
value in any extensive Improvement
along this frontage and would probably
have TO be torn down.
I'VE believe the harbcr front Of the
city OF Washington should he a model
Tor those of other cities. Instead. il
may be described, under its present
conditions, as disgrace TO the city.
Development within the last year would
seem t. indicate that If proper wharf
age facilities were provided. much river
and commercial trafIic would be at
tTacted 10 Washington which now goes
elsewhere As it is, the demand for
wharf space cannot be met
Calls Fish Wharf Menace.
Declaring that present conditions at
the FISH wharf are a menace TO health.
The committee recommends that Con-
Rress be as1ed TO terminate IA lease
The present lessee, continues the report,
IS ". ". Riley. who has occupied the
wharf since March Is, 150S. without any
payment therefor The lease provides
that the lessee should expend at least
g coo in improvements RILEY according
10 the report. declined 20 place the
wharf in sanitary condition and the
COMM ssiOEers entered legal proceedings
% compel him 10 vacaIe the premises
The lessee applied for restraining or
DER 10 prevent such action and the mat
ter Is nov pending in the courts
Our committee is OF the opinion"
says the report. that the existing uu-
sanitary conditions al the fish wharf are
a menace 10 health demand immedi-
ate remedy, and, as the present lessee
has had ample opportunity 10 make
The necessary improvements and has
failed to do so, recommends that Con-
eress be ask ed 70 terminate this lease,
Ihereby saving time in the making Of
this much needed Improvement. which
cannot now be made without a some
SHAT protracted legal procedure.
Want Market Established.
TT is further recommended that the
Commissioners be authorized either 10
establish a FISH market at this wharf
20 be conducted as are the other mar
kets IN the city. or to enter into a
lease with fish dealer, or an associs-
ton Of fish dealers. 10 operate a sani-