Evening star., 1921-10-19
MAY Compromise
IN WHARF DISPUTE
District Commissioners Hear
Views in the Waterfront
b Controversy.

comnromise agreement under
which lumbermen and cord wooo
dealers would be permitted to remain
in business on the waterfront ny re-
I.airinE their wharves and structures
may result from the public nearing
held by the Commissioners TO-DAY on
the waterfront controversy
In opening the hearing Commission
er Rudolph read a statement rear
frming the purpose of the city heads
to improve the appearance OF the
Washington channe! and at the same
time promote water-borne commerce
by every reasonable nieans. He IN
vited constructive suggestions.
The way for compromise was
opened a moment later when the ).
Maury Dove company. tnrougn az.
torney Henry F. Woodward. onereo
to rebuild the wharf it occupies in re-
turn for a new lease of reasonable
duration.
The possibility of bringing the
waterfront question to an agreeaoie
settlement was further strength ened
by the testimony Of Frank f. Leetcn'
speaking for the Board of Trade.
Mr.. Leeth advised the Commits
sioners to ask Congress to appoint
n commission to investigate and draw
I'D definite, comprehensive plan lot
the Improvement OF the waIerIromi.' T.
In the meantime. he said. the Commls-
sioners can enter into a reasonable
agreement with the business men on
the waterfront, under which existing
conditions would be materially i'm
proved.
Proposed Boulevard.
Charles Moore. chairman of the Fine
Arts Commission, told the commits
Sioners that Water street could be
converted into a boulevard to connect
tho Potomac and Anacostia parks
without abolishing the use of the
wharves for commercial purposes.
Mfr. Moore added that the conversion
of Water street into such boule-
ward would interfere with the use
OF the wharves for storage purposes.
That the differences between the
Commissioners and the waterfront
business men hinge on the question
Of the extent to which storage or
wood and lumber should be permit
ted was indicated by Engineer Com
commissioners desire to know what
IS the minimum amount of storage
chat is necessary rather than the
maximum amount.
Aim Of Commissioners.
At the outset of the hearing Com
missioner Rudolph characterized as
nonsense" the belief which has gone
ing to destroy water commerce In
Washington or that they are endeav-
oring to help the railroads by abol-
shns , on nas she wsfef ssd
Sioner Rudolph, "it has been the de-
sire of the Commissioners to render
conditions on the north side of the
Washington channel inoffensive and
unobjectionable. while at the same
time promoting to the greatest pos
sible extent its efficiency and eco
nomical use for commercial PURPOSES
With this In mind the board of Com
missioners mas decided that as leases
of the various wharves approach their
termination. should the conditions un-
der which the lessees occupy their
be taken to remedy these conditions
so as to insure that business will be
transacted with little or no violence
to public sentiment"
Dove Company's Oner.
Attorney Woodward for the Dove
company declared the company has
Sioners on the fact that the wharf
needed repairing. He then presented
the company's offer to rebuild the
structure in return for reasonably
long lease.
Mr.. Leetch asked the Commission
ers If they have now any appropria-
tion with which to begin improving
the appearance Of the waterfront land
also if they have any definite pre-
pared plan for such Improvement.
The Commissioners replied that
they have no specific appropriation
and no definite plan at this time.
Mr.. Leetch then expressed the be-
lief that if the present tenants of
the wharves were ousted the river
landings would become even more
unsiEhtly during the period when
they would be idle awaiting improve
ment or reconstruction.
THE real solution" said Mr.. Leetch,
"lies in asking Congress to create a
commission to Investigate and report
q plan for the development of the
channel. In the meantime the Com
missioners can enter into reasonable
arrangements with the tenants with
out putting them out of business and
At the same time materially improve
conditions"