Evening star., 1922-11-09
D. c. R|VER-HARb0R
FUNDS ARE URGED
Board Of Trade Committee
Support for Efforts to Get
Appropriations.

Liberal, appropriations from Con-
gress to carry on the work of river
and harbor improvement in the vicln-
river and harbor committee of the
Washington Board of Trade in a re-
port unanimously adopted by the COM
mittee yesterday.
The report, which deals with this
important phase of local development
from every angle, will be submitted
to the full board by Frank P. Leetch.
chairman of the committee, at the De-
cember meeting. The salient recon-
mendations. however, will be incor-
porated in the address of President
fore the annual meeting of the board
next Monday night at the Willard
Hotel.
Report in Full.
The report in full follows:
Since your committee on river and
harbor improvement submitted its
last report considerable progress has
been made in the matter of cleaning
up the Washington harbor front. A
number of the unsightly sheds and
buildings have been eliminated and
the wharves cleaned of debris and
waste material. While the removal
of these old buildings. etc. has to
some extent improved the appearance
OF the water front, conditions cannot
be materially improved until a COM
prehensive treatment of the whole
harbor front is undertaken.
In this connection your committee
desires to state that the recommended
tions made in our last annual report
were taken under advisement by the
Engineer Commissioner, and it was de-
ctded that rather than attempt the un-
certainty of obtaining congressional ac-
tion with reference to the appointment
of a committee to- survey. investigate
and report on a permanent plan Of
treatment OF the harbor front, the same
object could be accomplished by enlist
ing the interest and services of the
board of Engineers for rivers and har-
study of the subject.
Army Takes Up Study.
commissioner Keller was successful
in getting this branch of the War De-
partment to agree to make the study
suggested, and the work is now under
way
'It is hoped by your committee that
before submitting this report the re-
port of the board of engineers would
have been completed and in the hands
of the Commissioners of the District
for review. and that your committee
WOul0 De IN position TO make definite
recommendations with reference there
to: but as the plans have not vet been
completed. further action must be post
poned and made the subject of a later
report.
Wharf Leasing Improves.
"The matter of leasing of public
wharf space, which was a subject of
considerable concern and interest last
year, is being gradually adjusted in
such manner as not to cause undue
hardship or impairment of river traf-
fic. 1t is the present policy of the
Commissioners to fix wharf rentals
upon the advice of the assessor as to
the value of the property.
The following statement of United
States engineers office as to volume
and value of Potomac river commerce
; is OF interest:
Potomac River at Washington, ID. c.
Commerce for the calendar year
| 1921 Is reported as S91,19 short tons.
valued at s15.517,059; the principal
items in order of tonnage being sand
and gravel. coal and coke, general
merchandise, gasmaking oil, forest
products. crushed stone and brick
The entire commerce passed over the
improved sections. About 20 per cent
required the increased depth and
width afforded by the Improvement.
AnacostIa River, ID. G.
Commerce for the calendar year 1921
is reported as 223,172 short tons, valued
at $32,459,6 ,603. the principal items in
order OF tonnage being sand and gravel,
petroleum products, naval ordnance coal,
general merchandise and crushed stone