Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-24
CONFORMS 7" IAN GIVEN HIGHER RANK
Fine Arts Commission Favors Brig Gen. Wotcrspo0n Sue
Reclamation Scheme ceeds Maj Gen. Grant
AL oNG AMACOSTIA RIVER PROMOTED BY PRESIDENT
Three Other Army Officers Also Ad
s2o5oooo varced Grade Each.
PROVIDES PARK ACRES PLACED IN BRIGADIER LIST
sluice Gates and and
Navga nand
Fine Arts Commission Fdvors
Reclamation Scheme.
ALONG ANAC0STIA RIVER
Cost of the Improvement Estimated
to Be s2,05o,0oO.
PROVIDES PARK OF 1.4O0 ACRES
Dam to Be Built With
Sluice Gates as Aid
Navigation.

The project designed by the I.angfitt
engineer board for the reclamation and
development of the Anacostia river and
the adjacent flats. from the Anacostia
bridge To the District line near Bladens-
burg. has been formally approved by the
national commission of fine arts as being
in accord with the general scheme for the
development OF the park system Of the
District
The main features Of the Improvement
arc the building of an immense earth dam,
With lock and siuice gates. across the
river on a line with Massachusetts ave-
nue. extended and the Enclosure of the
river within masonry walls for part OF
us lower length and within sloping banks
Or gravel and grass along the upper
reaches to the District line,
At the dam the river vii! be reduced to
width of about 100 feet Below that
point il will widen gradually to an aver
age width of 1co feet as far as the Ana
costa bridge. from which point it in
crcases gradually in width 10 its, juno
ton with the Potomac nearly opposite
,.iesooro Point.
Walls Eight Feet in Height.
The water section between tne Ana
costa bridge and the dam al Massa-
chusetts svenue viii be confined within
masonry walls rising eight feet above
mean low water. The large basin to he
created above the dam. extending to the
District line. will be confined within low
Masonry walls for a short distance ABOVE
the dam. and within slopinS banks OF
gravel in the upper stretches.
The basin above the dam Will be OF
irregular conformation. being very
m nlapeS
others. according to the contour OF the
valley. but except at the upper reaches
the entire basin will be wider than the
proposed channel below the dam. All
the high spots in the upper section
viii be converted into small islands,
planted with trees and shrubbery. and
connected with rustic bridges wher-
eyer poSsihle. n large pool Will be
formed near the Washington shore be-
tween Benning road and Maryland ave-
nue. designed especially for boating
and skating.
When the river has been dredged and
the fats along the shores have been
eliminated. 1t is designed to construct
a boulevard along each bank of the
reclaimed area to connect with the
proposed Eastern boulevard 81 the
District boundary.
Park Of Large Area.
II is calculated that the reclama ton
operations will provide park OF about
400 acres, in addition to the immense
park area now being reclaimed be-
tween the Anacostia bridge and the
mouth of the river.
Col Langfitt estimates that it will cost
about s2OJ0.O1O to complete the improve
nlent above the Anacostia- bridge eN-
elusive of roads and bridges. He already
has 100000 for beginning the improve
ment and a bill favorably reported 10
Congress provides 100000 more to con-
tinue the work. 1t is proposed to contine
work under the available appropriations
10 the Improvement OF the river 10 places
where the United States government
holds undisputed title TO the adjacent
land leaving the other places for future
consideration. after the legal questions
in dispute have been passed on by either
Congress the courts. Therefore the
first work to he undertaken on the
project will be the building OF high
masonry wall The west or city side
OF the river, between the PENNSYLVANIA
avenue bridge and the sit. 81 the pro
posed dam at Massachusetts avenue.
That involves tie river shore back OF
Congressional cemetery and reservation
number IL. on which are located the
District jail almshouse. hospital, etc.
Partly Occupied by Railway.
Part of that land is occupied by the
tracks OF the Pennsylvania railroad, but
they will in no way interfere with the
proposed building operations. The rail-
road bridge crosses IN RIVER below the
line OF the proposed dam. The masonry
walls will form the water boundary III
the new banks OF the river. which will
be composed in part by the material
dredged from the bed or the stream.
The making of the annual appropria-
tions by Congress for the Improvement
of the Anacostis river In continuation OF
the work already In progress is the only
egislative approval deemed necessary to
the execution of the general project de-
signed by the Langfitt board.