Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-07-15
CHANNEL BRIDGE
TO SPEEDWAY MAY
co IN ESTIMATES
Commissioners Plan $780,.
600 Item as First Step in
River Front Improvement.
QUAY WITH BOULEVARD
TO FOLLOW GRADUALLY
Proposals for Next Years Budget
Will Probably Include $25, 900
for New Fairgrounds.

A small bridge across the upper
end Of Washington channel, con-
Meeting the Speedway with Water
street. may be recommended to Con-
gress by the Commissioners this
year as the first step toward recon-
structing the National Capitals an
tiquated river front.
The proposed structure would not
cost much more than 100000. Aside
from the part 1T would play in the
rebuilding of Washington channel,
such a bridge would open UP a new
traffic exit for machines coming up
from Hams point at the end of the
Speedway.
Commissioner oyster has been ad-
vocating improvement of the Water
street front since he took office two
years ago and Maj. j. Franklin Bell
has already displayed a strong in
terest in the~project in the two
weeks he has been Engineer Com
missioner
Bridge Comes First.
1t is believed that if the Com
missioners decide to begin estimat-
ing this year for the river-front i'm
provement the first request will be
for the bridge across the upper end
Of the channel.
The entire scheme, of which this
bridge would be but small part. is
a most elaborate one and would have
to be carried out gradually over a
number of years
1t calls for the construction of q
quay below the level of Water street
and extending along the channel
from the proposed bridge to the
grounds of Washington Barracks. At
present that side of the channel is
lined by an irregular row of old
wharves that stand in striking. con-
trast to the beautiful Potomac Park
across the stream.
Warehouses Part of Plan.
At higher level than the may
there would be a boulevard drive and
further back on Water street modern
warehouses would be built to take
care of the city's waterway commerce.
Produce or other freight landed on
the quay from boats, would be taken
under the boulevard to the ware
houses through viaducts.
This Is an outline of the plan as
now drawn at the District building.
but, 1t is understood. the Commission
ers will not seek funds for more than
the small bridge across the channel
In next years budget.
The Commissioners held savanna,
conferences on the estimates last
week. at which they took up a few
individual departments They have
not yet attempted to add up the fig
ures submitted to them by their sub-
ordinates to find out what the tenta-
tive budget will total.
Main Items Not Reached.
They have not yet conferred on the
major items. such as schools, street
paving. sewer and water departments.
These four groups alone will aegre-
gate close to s15.000,O00, and will he
the deciding factors in arriving at
the total. Last year the tentative
budget amounted to s31,5oO, 600. and
present indications are that at least
that much will be requested this
year.
A year ago the budget bureau. upon
receiving the preliminary estimate
directed the Commissioners to trim
them to s24,500.000. What Limitation
the budget bureau will impose this
year will not be known until the city
heads present their first report to
Gen. Lord on August l.
1t was learned yesterday that the
estimates will contain a request for
the purchase of several more sites
for municipal Fairgrounds and a
larger appropriation for the opening
of school yards as Fairgrounds next
summer. This year Commissioner
oyster has $1,000. with which he
opened thirty school grounds. 1t Is
believed at least $4,000 will be re-
quested for next year.
No Sewer for Dcanwood.
Although the sewer department has
dShou the ioA dp-
proximately 100000 for next year.
even that amount will not enable
the department to begin construction
Of q storm sewer in the vicinity of
Deanwood, which has been flooded
twice this year during heavy rain
falls
1t was learned at the District
building yesterday that storm
sewer for that suburban area is list
ed as a necessary future project. but
officials of the sewer department say
they have many drainage conditions
in other sections that are held to be
more urgent.
Not all of the s2,00o,000 requested
is for storm sewers. 1t includes OPP
Grafton of the pumping stations,
cleaning of existing sewers and the
money needed to install sewer con-
necticns for the scores of new houses
being erected in every corner of the
District.
One official of the engineer depart
ment pointed out yesterday that.
while 100000 may seem a large
sum in comparison with the amounts
allowed the sewer department in the
past. 1t Is modest request when the
present condition Of the sewer sys-
tenn Is considered.