Evening star., 1913-12-03
ROCK CREEK PARK.

very desirable addition to the park
drives. The total cost Of the roadway.
which was graded "A feet wide and
macadamized 16 feet wide, was $16574
The stone used in the macadamizine
was Quarried in the park.
On the completion Of this road work
was begun on a road extending west
erly from Beach driveway across the
northern end of the park. about one
half mile in length, and this work has
been nearly completed.
The macadamized roads in the park
were all oiled and kept in good re-
pair and the bridle paths and footpaths
were maintained in good condition Re-
tanning walls and new approaches were
completed at the east end Of the bridge
at old Pierce's mill, and a public con-
venience at Pierce's mill was completed
The mileage OF the roads in the park
at the. close of the year was as follows:
Miles.
MacadaaiiEed county roads. used for all
Macadamized park roads, restricted to light
Earth roads. restricted to horse tranic.. 10
iotai Ill
There are in addition about twenty
miles of bride paths and about miles
OF footpaths.
During the next fiscal year it is in
tended to complete walls at the west end
of the bridge at Pierce's Mill, TO con-
struct connecting roads in the park. and
to expend the balance of any appropri-
alton made for the care and maintenance
of existing roads, paths, etc, in the
park.
the park during the year to feed the
horses used in the work Of Improvement
With the cooperation Of the bureau Of
forestry. Department Of Agriculture, an
arboretum was established on the north
side Of Military road near Camp Good
Will and a large number OF trees Of
various kinds We're planted.
A dwelling and barn at the north end
OF the park caught on fire and were
completely destroyed during the year.
The construction of bride paths and
footpaths was continued and many ex-
tensions were made The meadow at
the north end of the park was fenced
in and was planted in corn.
Anacostia River and Flats.
Appropriations aggregating $500. .OO0
have been made in the past three years
for the reclamation and improvement
of the Anacostia river and flats from the
Anacostia bridge to the District line to
be expended under the direction of the
chief Of engineers, United States Army.
In connection Herewith. the District
appropriation act for the fiscal year
1914 authorized the condemnation of the
water frontage on each side of the Ana
costa river. from the Anacostia bridge
to the District line, between the high
water lines and the 1O-foot contour lines,
and all land in the river bed within
these limits between high-water lines.
the title to which was not in the United
States. in the event that such could not
be purchased a. price satisfactory to
the Secretary of War. In this act the
N0n tn1
tute condemnation proceedings. at the
request Of the Secretary of War, and
such request having been made as to a
portion of these lands, condemnation pro-
ceedings are about to be undertaken.
An additional appropriation Of 100000
for this work has been included in the
estimates of the Commissioners for the
fiscal year 1915
Harbor Front.
The total amount received from rent
ais of wharves and river frontage
placed BY law under the control of the
Commissioners, was s25,61224, divided
as follows:
AHaeostia river front. t....-........... Lilo 15
James Creek camel observation-disclosures. 1855. q,
Total .....................$2 .$25 ,612 "A
The actual water frontage in the Dis
trlct OF Columbia devoted to commerce
with the exception of canals, is about
miles The total available water
aron,age .hn,,, : Is about Is miles. of which
and purposes of the United States. The
! largest amount of wharf property un-
der the control of the Commissioners
is that along the Washington channel
is 1916 linear feet, of which 4,67s
| linear feet, between the grounds OF
: the War College and the south curt
Hne or y street. IS under the control
OF the United States. and the remaining
| $500 linear feet Is under the control
OF the Commissioners. Along this
! frontage are located the harbOr police
station. dock of the harbor boat. house
and dock of the fireboat, the District
morSue, District property yard anC
the municipal fsh wharf and market
! The lower portion of the frontage ii
used for river excursion traffic anG
steamboat traffic between Washington
| baltimore. Norfolk and points along the
lower river. and the upper portion i.
used for wood. lumber yards. etc.
The leases along this frontage were
for periods not exceeding 10 years
| and most of them expired on Marct
is. 1918. New leases have been entered
into for I-year periods from that dat.
at an increased rental The basis o
these rentals is net return of pei
cent on the estimated value of the
that the lessees shall maintain ant
keep the property in repair.
| The property along the Anacostia river
is largely undeveloped. owing to the un-
certainty Of ownership of abutting land
and riparian rights. and steps are being
taken by legal proceedings under the
direction of the Attorney General TO set
tie the question of title.
| The wharves along the Georgetown
channel of the river are privately owned
except the foot of streets. TWO leases
have been entred into with private
parties. one for the foot OF Thirty-third
street and one for the foot of G street.
The portion OF James Creek canal from
y street to p street, a distance of ,O0(
feet. is under lease for commercial pur.
the canal on the Anacostia river a dis.
tance OF about 5000 feet, the canal ex.
tends along the grounds of the War Col
lege and Engineer School.
Harbor Front Improvement.
1t will soon become necessary 10 re.
build the wharf structures along the
Washington channel. and when this is
done 1t should be along some definite
plan. The Commissioners believe the,
should be authorized 10 prepare such q
plan and submit it TO Congress. and
they have included in their estimates tt