Evening star., 1925-03-02
WATERFRONT LAND
TRESPASS|NG SEEN
Engineer Claims Private In
teTests Have Encroached
on Federal Property.

Development of Washington's wa
ter front Is being seriously hampered
and the interests of the United States
therein jeopardized by delays in as
serting the right of the Government
to considerable areas of valuable
water front property" it is declared
IN letters sent Secretary Of War
Weeks and Senator L. Wesley Jones
by H. c. Gauss, commercial engineer
who was employed by the Depart
ment of Justice several years ago TO
make a survey of the water front.
Senator Jones is asked to secure
report from the War Department
concerning the allegations made oy
Mr.. Gauss. In a reply to the letter
however. Senator Jones stated that
annarentfv nothing could be done at
this time.
Eucroachment on Land.
According to the Gauss letter taiiure
Of the Government to push It's Claims
of ownership to numerous pieces oi
water front property near dtn.s
town, at the south END OF the
way Bridge and along the ana
costa. Park development has led TO
.ncroachment by private interests on
what he declares to be land OF the
United States, threatening the feu
eral interests.
Although. as result or congress
sional investigation. large hunioei
of equity suits tended to clear 'he
titIe of the Government to water
+ror+ Dronertv were fled, mot one or
these suits has been brought 70
hearing, even in the court OF nrst IN
stance" the latter states.
Land Sold for Taxes.
As a consequence of this delay, IL
is asserted, the disputed land has oeen
sold for taxes, and extensive private
improvements are going on. The con-
nection of the Rock Creek and 70
tomac Parks is being obstructed by
two such stagnant suits, the latter
saws while there is Substantial en-
croachment on the Anacostia Park on
the east side of the Eastern Branch,
which has long been known, but which
has never been the subject OF any &C
tion by Federal officials"
Very active work is proceeding by
private parties in filing in, fencing,
Improving and otherwise occupying
land in the District of Columbia ad-
jacent to the Virginia shore, which
has been made from the bed OF the
Potomac River, and Is property or
the United States" Mr.. Gauss con-
tInues "A large and well defin ed area
near the Key Bridge, has been staked
and still remains claimed both by the
United States and private parties,
he points out, adding that very sig
nificant facts as to- the probable pub
lie title to the Georgetown water
front have been ignored so far as any
steps to determine this question are
concerned"
No Doubt Of Law.
There is not the slightest doubt
as to the law in the matter, 1T is
stated. TT has been finally and
completely settled by the litigation
known respectively as the Potomac
Flats and Battery Cove cases. Most
Of the pending cases are in such shape
that they could be quickly completed
by a lawyer who has sufficient de-
termination to go into court with
them. and there have been sufficient
rulings by the Supre me Court of the
District OF columbia to make the
progress Of additional cases rapid and
probably successful from the point OF
view of the United States"
Referring to alleged delays by the
Department of Justice in three cases
filed against the Chesapeake and Poto-
mac Canal Co, Mr.. Gauss says: Il
have seen the various alibis presented
by the Department of Justice as rea-
son for not proce eding with these
cases.