The Washington times., 1910-04-14
RIVER IMPROVEMENT
URGED BY TAGGART
Special Counsel Who Made
Report on Flats, Speaks
In AnacoStia.
WASHINGTON TINES BUREAU.


Citizens Of Anacostia are today dis
GUESSING the story Of navigation on the
Eastern Branch in colonial DAYS, which
they heard last night. coupled with a
plea that the stream be made ehe princi-
PAL harbor for Washington CITY in the
development Of the scheme for the i'm
movement of the river Tt-s speaker
was Hugh T TaSgarJ, whose DC I on
the ownership OF lands and thr ~ rian
rights along the river. fcdc wing his
employment as special counsei sto in
4 estiSate the subject, las been presented
10 Congress preliminary to any detsiI
plan for the reclamation OF the ma
costa fats
Mr. TaEgart delivered his address un-
der the auspices Of the Anacostia Citi-
zens- Association. in the Masonic Hall
The speaker sketched IN outline the re-
port he has submitted as special counsel
to Investigate the ownership Of the
lands IN question, and he summed up
Tor the benefit OF the citizens his con
cIusious. which were that the United
States under the Constitution, and the
ression from Maryland. Is vested, As
SOVEREIGN. with absolute title and DO
main iu and over life space between
high-water marks on the two sides Of
the Anacostia river. and comprising the
shores and the bed OF the stream
Afr. Tar-art described the uncert ainty
that has existed in the mind OF Congress
hrret7fore as TO the ownership OF the
lands in the event Of the work Of rec
Iamatlon being undertaken, bat this
uncertainty no longer is present, ne
said. under the opinion that he mas filed
In The matter Any nUing up along the
shore line that may be going on, then
said Nlr. TaEgsrt, - being done solely
for the benefit OF the United states
which holds the title 90 the lands.
he commerce that was once fea-
trre Of this historic river was touched
mon by Nj TagEaYt, who pictured the
restoration of much OF This through the
future development Of the river In the
widening and deepening the channe
and in the building or Wharves, so that
the river NAV become the main haTbOI
of the District. which now feels Ee
said the Inadequate facilities along the
Nh. Taz-art spoke for a wide, deer
stream. c1ufeudiuC that no piles for the
vHarres should De permitted, but thai
Z the docking should be built into fhf
river banks 60 prevent slualiuE ana tnf
+ further obstruction Of the stream.
Prior to AIr. FaEEarts address there
was a report by Eugene +. Thompson
/ chairman Of the committee Of the = S
Sociati0n dealing with the subject OF
the reclamation OF the Auacostia fats
who read correspondence that has
passed between himself and senator.
IIaiIinEer and Peur0se relative TO tht
problem
Nr. Thompson read letter from
COMMISSIONS Judson. iH which th'
COMMISSIONS expressed pleasure at Jlf
/ assurance OF an appropriation Of $500.
I for The improEemcu OF the river, witt
/ the proba bility - securing sddltiuna
sums in the river and harbor bill an
inuaUg IN the future on motion Of Mr
thompson. the association indorsed th'
I plan Of building a road along the south
hank Of the ADdcCStia river betweer
/ AnacCstia and Giesboro Point The a.
sociatiou also voted 10 lndOrse the bill
/ providing for the payment OF the deb