Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03

In the District appropriation act for
the fiscal year 1912 an appropriation Of
100000 was made
Anacostia River toward the reclama-
.rl A.. m. ton and development
aAu tne rIatS. of the Anacostia
river and flats, from the Anacostia bridge
to the District line, and for the fiscal
year 1913 an additional appropriation of
100000 was made to continue the work
In their estimates for the next fiscal year
the Commissioners have included an addi-
tiOnal item of 100000 for the same pur-
pose. In connection with these improve
ment, which the law directs shall be eX-
pended under the supervision Of the chief
OF engineers. United States Army. upon
plans prepared by a board of engineers,
consisting Of the Engineer Commissioner
the officer in charge of public buildings
and grounds and the engineer officer in
charge of the improvements of the Poto-
mac river. the Commissioners believe it
will be necessary to acquire by condem-
the Anacostia river. between the high
water line and the ten-foot contour line,
and also the title to any land in the river
bed between high-water lines on either
side. which is not now in the United
States. This will be necessary in order
that any filling done in connection with
this improvement, and any land made.
will become the property of the United
States. In their estimates they have
recommended legislation to accomplish
this result. AS the benefits which will
arise from the reclamation Of these flats
and the making them into a public park,
as recommended by the park commission,
will be largely enjoyed by the territory
in the section of the District through
which the stream runs, the legislation as
drafted provides that the cost of acquir-
ing the land shall be assessed as benefits,
on an assessment area bounded by the
District line on the south and east, Rhode
Island avenue on the north and New Jer-
Sey avenue on the west.
X
The total amount received from rem
the District of Co.
1OLal heVenue OF lumbia, placed by
Harbor Front. law under the
control of the
Commissioners. was $1s.464. divided as
follows:
Potomac river front $17 1S3 90
Anacostla river front ................. 89S %
James creek canal ................... 1,5S27 10
Total Observation-Disclosures. $19, 464 90
The actual water frontage of the Dis
trict of Columbia devoted to commerce is
about two miles The total available
water frontage is about eighteen miles,
including that set apart for parks and
for purposes of the United States, which
amounts to about eight miles.
me most important frontage Is that
along the Washington channel, Of which
4.67o feet between the grounds of the
War College and Engineer School. and
the south curb line of n street south is
under the jurisdiction of the United
States and the remaining 1900 feet is
under the jurisdiction Of the Commission
ers! Along this frontage are located the
harbor police station. dock of the har-
Dor boat. dock of the fire boat, the Dis
trict morgue and the District sand and
gravel wharf and yard. The lower Dor
ton Of the frontage is used for river ex-
cursion traffic and steamboat traffic be-
tween Washington. Baltimore. Norfolk,
and points along the lower river, and the
yards. Ice houses and the fish and oys-
ter wharf. The larger portion of the
frontage is leased to private parties.
most Of which leases expire March Is.
1913. 1t is proposed at that time to
grant new leases at increased rental.
Along this frontage is located the fish
wharf, where under law all fish and
oysters coming to the city by water are
required to be landed. This wharf was
leased to w. w. Riley for a period of
five years ending March Is, 1908, with
the privilege Of renewal for an additional
five years on certain conditions These
conditions were not fulfilled and a renew
al was refused the lessee and he was Or
dered to vacate. He instituted injunc-
ton proceedings against the Commits
sioners, and at this date the case has not
been settled. The additional term
claimed by him, however. expires March
Is. 1913. and the Commissioners have
recommended in their estimates that on
that date the fish wharf be operated as a
municipal fish market and wharf under
the direction of the superintendent of
weights and measures. The condition Of