Evening star., 1921-09-27
SUGGESTS BRIDGE
ACROSS CHANNEL
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Continued from FIRST Page.)
Potomac parks. the War College and
the Anacostia water park. Also, that
the Commissioners are providing for
commercial facilities along the Ana
costa river.
"A plan for the reconstruction of
the wharves along the Washington
channel, involving ferries to East
Potomac Park, has been approved by
this commission. Two other features
might be considered: First, a short
bridge at the head of Washington
channel, making a physical connection
between Water street and East Po-
tomac Park; and, second, a recreation
pier for the use primarily of chill
dren."
ers and harbors congress follows:
Action recently taken by the
board is interpreted by the business
interests of Washington, as repre-
sented by the citizens associations and
commercial organizations of the city
as indicating an intention on the part
of the board to decrease Immediately,
and possibly ultimately entirely pro-
Eibit. the use of the water front on
the Washington channel for CONNER
cial purposes. 1t is possible. of
course, that the intentions of the
board have been misinterpreted. but
We desire to respectfully submit some
facts which should be taken into con-
sideration before final decision Is
made in the matter.
Expenditures by the federal gov
ernment for. the improvement of
waterways and harbors are justified
by the fact that such improvement
eign commerce. According to the
latest published report of the chief
of engineers, the expenditures made by
the government for the improvement
of the Potomac river at Washington
had amounted. up to June 80. 1920. to
$3,564,885.S5.
1.-THE records kept by the Corps of
Engineers show that for the fiscal
years 1887 to 1905, inclusive, 1885,
6s5 tons of traffic were handled into
and out Of Washington by water.
During this period no figures are
borne commerce. For the years 1905
to 1919. inclusive, the tonnage
amounted to 11.405,755 tons. valued at
$1S1, 1,9sO,822. The total tonnage from
1887 to 1919, inclusive, was 24.o42,s6o
tons. the value Of which was prob,
ably somewhere in the neighborhood
of $500, 100000.
Some Of this tonnage was handled
at Georgetown and some in the Ana
costa river, but no figures are avail
able to show just how much OF it was
handled in the Washington channel,
but the amount and the value of the
total Water-borne commerce OF the
city is certainly sufficiently large TO
warrant very careful consideration
before any action is taken which VIII
interfere in any degree with Its pres
ent freedom and its future develop
ment.
"In the calendar year 1919 the total
tonnage Of commerce at Washington
was 1,111,959 tons, the value of which
was $24,918,557. OF this tonnage 50
per cent consisted of sand; gravel,
used in the construction of buildings
and the Improvement of streets; 22
per cent consisted of COAL oil and cord
wood, materials which are used Tor
fuel, both in homes and in factories.
and for the production of gas and
electricity.
"It appears then that no less than
81 per cent of the total tonnage con-
sisted Of materials which are of fun
damental Importance to all the peo-
pie of the city. Any decrease in the
total supply or increase in the cost
of these articles will interfere with
the construction of homes and the ex-
tension of street improvements which
were necessarily neglected during the
war, and will add to the cost Of living.
which ID still far too high.
Parks and bouleyardS are no longer
regarded as a luxury, but as ne
cessity 1t would be absurd, how
ever, to make the entire District OF
Columbia into a great park. threaded
with boulevards and dotted here and
there with government buildings, and
so compel the present population OF
the District to find homes outside OF
! its borders. 1t is respectfully SUB
mitted that it is inadvisable and un-
necessary to carry plans for the
beautification of the city to an ex-
tent which interferes with commerce
and makes the conditions of life for
| the people of the city more difficult
No one is in condition to enjoy the
beautiful things of life until the me-
cessities of life have been provided
The letter is signed by John H
Small, president. and 8. A. Thomp-
son. secretary, of the rivers and har-
bors congress.