Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-18
DUMPING MUST STOP
Lower Rock Creek Valley to Be
Preserved.
FORMAL ORDER is ISSUED
Penalty for Depositing Refuse on
East Bank of Stream.
NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNERS
Col. Langfitt to Enforce Provisions
of River and Harbor Law,
Recently Enacted.

With a view to developing the natural
beauty of the lower valley of Rock creek
formal notice has been given that the
dumping of ashes or rubbish Of any kind
on the east bank of the creek. between
n and r streets, Is misdemeanor. pun
ishable by heavy fine or Imprisonment
or both. Action in that direction has
been taken by Col Langfitt, tho engineer
officer in charge of river and harbor
works in this vicinity.
Under National Supervision.
After full consideration of the subject
by the officials of the War Department
and the Commissioners of the District of
Columbia the conclusion was reached
that the protection and preservation Of
the beautiful tributary OF the Potomac
came within the purview of the War De-
partment as directly represented by the
chief Of engineers of the army.
Several months ago the District Com
missioners suspended the permit issued
ashes to dump such material on the
banks of the creek below street. That.
however, did not stop the dumping of all
sorts of refuse material on the banks
of the creek on private property in that
neghborhood.
A few days ago District Inspector Brad
shaw reported that this dumpage had be-
come 50 extensive and hedged the stl cam
so closely that full stream undoubtedly
would cause the banks to slough and in
terfere with the proper flow of the water.
Owners of Property Notified.
Acting on that information and his own
personal knowledge of the situation. Col.
Langfitt has sent an official notice to
ch nr hn Of ba ;y,
question that further dumping OF material
at the point indicated between \ and P
streets will be treated as violation of
law. and subject the offender to criminal
prosecution. To show his sincerity m the
matter he sent each of the property own
ers copy of the law bearing on the
subject.
Col. Langfitt is acting in this matter
under authority of the provisions of the
river and harbor act. approved March 3,
1899. for the protection and preservation
of the navigable waters of the United
States"
Section 1s of that act provides that it
shall not be lawful to throw. discharge
or deposit, or cause, suffer. or procure
to be thrown, discharged or deposited
either from or out OF any ship. barge, or
other floating craft Of any kind, or from
the shore, wharf, manufacturing estab-
lishment. or mill of any kind, any refuse
matter of any kind or description what
ever, other than that nOW1nS from streets
and sewers and passing therefrom In a
liquid state. into any navigable water of
the United States, or into any tributary
of any naviGable water from which the
same shall float be washed into such
naviGable water: and it shall not be law
full to deposit, Or cause, suffer, or pro-
cure to be deposited material of any kind
in any place on the bank of any naviga
BILE water on the bank of any tribu-
tary of any nayigable water where the
same shall be liable to be washed into
such navigable water. either by ordinary
or high tides, or by storms or floods, or
otherwise. whereby navigation shall or
may be impeded or obstructed.'
Penalty Clause.
Section Is of the same act prescribes
penalties for violation of it's provisions
as follows: That every person and
every corporation that shall violate, or
that shall knowingly aid. abet, authorize
or instigate a violation of the provisions
Of sections L.. IA and II Of this act shall
be guilty Of a misdemeanor, and on con-
viction thereof shall be punished by
fine not exceeding $500 nor less than
SJlU or by Imprisonment lin case of
natural person. for not less than thirty
days nor more than one year or by both
such fine and Imprisonment, In the dis
cretiOn OF the court, One-haf OF said
fine to be paid TO the person or persons
giving information which shall lead to
conviction.