Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-13
DEMANDS BIG SUM
Wharf Committee Estimates
Cost of Improvement.
AGGREGATE OF 49, 900
Commissioners Asked to Renew Rec
ommendation to Congress.
RIVER FRONT IN BAD SHAPE
Suggestion That James Greek Canal
Be Filled and Abandoned.
Leases Discussed.
AGGREGATE OF $1,000, 900
RIVER FRONT IN BAD SHAPE

Declaring that the water front of the
city is far from being credit TO the
capital OF the country, the wharf COM
mittee has urged the Commissioners 20
ask again for the three million dollars
which was requested of Congress two
years ago for the improvement OF that
section. There is little commentator for
anything connected with the wharves in
the annual report of the committee, COM
posed Of Daniel T. GarSes, I. j. c.
Bailey and Russell Dean, which was for
warded to the Commissioners today. In
addition TO tine request for the carrying
out of the well known river and harbor
improvement plan, a suggestion is also
made that James Creek canal be filed
up.
important water front, that along Wash
ington channel. This is 1925 feet in ex-
tent, of which 4,6i5 feet, between the
arsenal and street southwest, is under
the Jurisdiction of the United States and
400 feet, between y street and Iith
street, is under the Jurisdiction of the
Commissioners to be leased for CONNER
cial purposes.
In Fair Condition Only.
The report says 1t is only in fair con-
OF lack of sewer and water facilities.
Special mention is made of a legal tangle
In which the District and one wharf
lessee are enmeshed.
AT the expiration of the term of the
original lease for this wharf" the re
port states, IAN effort was made to re-
quire the lessee to place the wharf in
good condition, and upon his refusal
to do so he was Informed that no fur
Their lease would be given him, and no
tice was served on him to vacate the
property. He refused 10 do so, and the
matter is now in litigation"
No rent has been paid for this wharf
since March Il. 1905.
The report further says of this impor-
tant wharf
The necessity for Improvement is
great, as this wharf receives all the Ash,
oysters and produce that comes to Wash
in2ton.'
James Creek Canal a Menace.
The question of filling the old James
Greek canal is put up 10 the Commits
sioners:
The wharf committee desires TO sub
nit for the consideration II the Com
missioners the question as 10 whether II
would be proper to abandon and fill the
entire canal from ~ street to the Po-
tomac river. or whether IL should be KEEP,
open for commercial use. The frontage
under lease is but small proportion OF
the total length OF the canal, and due "a
the lack of circulation. the water Is
stagnant and possibly unhealthfuI. IL the
canal is filled broad highway could be
CONSTRUCTED over il. extending from @ and
South Capitol streets TO the Potomac
river. affording a boulevard through this
section of the city and giving more con-
venient access TO the War College and
the Engineer School.
Resides this, IL would also do away
with insanitary conditions adjacent Il
the War College and Engineer School
which exist by reason of this canal On
the other hand, there is at present a
dearth OF available water frontage for
commercial purposes. and until the ques-