Evening star., 1921-07-10
WAGES WAR UPON
. UNS|GHTLY HARBOR
Commissioner Oyster Would
Remove All Old Shacks
and Useless Landings.
MAKES INSPECTION TOUR
Speedway's Charms Marred by
View Across Channel-New
Police Station Needed. .
MAKES INSPECTION TOUR

Believing that the beauty of Po-
tomoc Park is being marred by the
appearance of the river front from
the foot Of 14th street to n street
southwest. Commissioner Oyster yes
terday launched a campaign to i'm
prove existing conditions
The first step of the Commissioner
was to go out in a motor launch
with Lieut.. Russell Dean, harbor
master. and personally inspect the
motley collection of wharves and
shacks which line the channel from
the bureau of engraving and print
ing down to where the Districts ju-
rtsdiction ends. at the foot of n
street southwest
Sure Action Is Needed.
Il am satisfied now," said the Com
missioner. when he had completed
the tour, that something should be
done to improve this section of the
water front. I do not know at this
time what the Commissioners can do,
but it is my purpose to keep the
question alive until action has been
taken.
''of course. realize that a city of
the size of Washington must have
commercial water terminals and that
the harbor side of the channel can
not be made as beautiful as the
speedway, which lies in striking
contrast across from the wharves
But my trip today convinced me that
there are some shacks and landings
that should be demolished and others
that could stand extensive repairing"
The Commissioner carried with him
on his tour a report of the District
wharf committee, which bore out the
conclusions he himself reached. This
report was signed by r. NJ. Brennan.
chief clerk Of the engineer depart
ment Of the District. and reads in part
as follows:
Leases Delay Removals.
THE majority Of the wharves and
structures are in a dilapidated conSii-
ton. Unfortunately. the greater part
of the buildings are under lease and
cannot be removed until the leases
expire, unless the leases are terminal
ed by Congress.
There are some buildings, however.
which can and should be removed
as soon as possible, notably those on
the workhouse wharf, the Amusement
Security Corporation and the wharf
under control of Col. Sheriff. and
leased to Ottawa Holmes.
while it may not be possible to
effect any immediate Improvement of
conditions along the water front, it
is believed that such buildings as can
now be removed should be taken down
and additional ones demolished from
time to time. as the Leases expire"
According to Lieut.. Dean. harbor
master. all Of the frontage above the
north side of N street is under the
jurisdiction Of the District govern
ment, which leases many of the
wharves and warehouses for CONNER.
cial purposes. From N street down
the frontage is under the federal
government. he said. There is only
a short stretch of wharves. however.
between N street and the Washing
ton barracks. the bank Of which is as
attractive in appearance as Potomac
Park.
Under District Control.
Practically all Of the frontage
which the Commissioner feels should
be improved lies in the area SUPER
vised by the District.
At the very outset OF his trip Of in
spection Capt Oyster expressed dis