The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-09-03
BOUNDARY
LINE IN
DOUBT
Salvage Company In Business
There Demands Fire Pro-
lection from District

Property located at Jones Point,
on the Potomac river near Alex
andria, Va, and valued at $1,000
900, may be assessed and taxed by
the District of Columbia, it became
known today.
Commissioner Cuno H. Rudolph
has instructed William P. Rich
ards, District tax assessor, TO in
vestigate claims of the Western
Marine Salvage Company, now
using the land, that the property
is located in the District.
No Taxes Paid.
Heretofore. District officials have
believed the property belonged to
the State Of Virginia. Inquiry re-
veals, however, that no taxes are
paid either to the District or Vir-
ginia.
The question Of. the ownership
Of the land arose the early part of
August, when an official of the
salvage company demanded Of Chief
George S. Watson. of the Washing
! ton fire department, fire protection
for the property.
The Dellbrook, a ship owned by
the salvage COMPANY, caught fire
early in the morning of Saturday,
August 2, and the District fireboat
responded. At noon on this day
the Alexandria fire department left
the fire, leaving the District fire.
boat to complete the job. Lieuten-
ant Wells, of the fireboat, at
p. m. notified officials of the com
I pany he also was leaving. An Off
cial of the company protested and
called Chief Watson on the tele.
phone.
Question of Boundaries
Let the Alexandria fire depart
ment remain and finish the job, y
Chief Watson told him.
Watson then learned that the
Alexandra engines already had
left. He told the official that the
land was on Virginia property and
it was Alexandria's duty to give
further protection. Then the Off
cial countered by stating it was
Chief Watson told the official HI
was unaware of it, but consented
to allow the fireboat to remain
The fireboat left at O'Clock the
next morning.
The fire chief then visited City
Manager Rich, of Alexandria. Riot
told him this property was, accord
ing to a ruling of the courts, Gov
eminent land, located in the Dis
trict of Columbia" He said tn
Alexandria department had never
refused aid there, although it wa
District land
Further investigation has showl
that this land is reclaimed prop
erty. The District boundary, &C
cording to law, is the high waite
mark on the Virginia shore Of tn
Potomac. During the war, tn,
Government filled in a part of tn
Potomac, thereby extending tn
land. It is this reclaimed propert,
which is in dispute.
5 Rudolph Orders Probe.
Chief Watson reported to Com
missioner Rudolph who ordered a.
Investigation.
IF this property is on Distric
. land, it will be assessed and take
I collected" Mr.. Rudolph said, wv
WILL Of course, furnish fire pre-
h lection, but also we must insist o.
|, collecting taxes for the property.
!. The City of Alexandria sometim
q ago tried to collect taxes and tn
= case went into court, the cour
4 ruling 1t was Federal propert
:, located in the District. The shiI
building Company is claiming tn
Y ownership of the land This con
f pany has rented the property,
a was said today, to the salvage con
pany at $500 day.
The question Of the DistriC
o boundary line ON the south side {
l. the highway bridge is also /
It dispute. Considerable property ha
= been reclaimed in this section
t Congress has made an appropri;
b ton for a survey to determin
& whether this is District or Virgini
g property.
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