Evening star., 1932-07-01
COST ANGLE HALTS
|. ANY DECISION ON
CHANNEL PROJECT
Hearing Before Mai. Arthur
Brings Out Views of Nu-
merouS Interests.
REICHELDERFER SEES
NEED OF CITY PIERS
Letter Read and Representatives of
Planning Commission, Scouts
and Others Heard.

Arguments for expansion Of the
Washington Channel waterfront were
presented yesterday at public hearing
conducted by Maj. Joseph D. Arthur,
ir, War Department engineer for the
Washington area, but little information
was forthcoming about the real point
at issue-who is to foot the bill for the
projected improvement.
Representatives of the District Com
missioners, the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, the Sea
Scouts. small boat operators, steam
ships and civic groups told Maj. Arthur
their plans to aid him in bringing up
to date a report submitted to the House
Rivers and Harbors Committee, but in
formation on the fiscal aspect was
sparse indeed.
DR.. Luther H. Reichelderfer, chair
man of the Board of Commissioners,
in letter said Washington could util-
ize two or three piers for steamships in
the Washington channel, one for gen
eral public use, another for policemen
and f1remen, and one for the work
house and reformatory. He urged that
the municipal fish wharf and Capital
Yacht Club should be retained. Work
of the magnitude contemplated by the
November, 1929, report to the House
Rivers and Harbors Committee cannot
be undertaken soon. he said, holding
that the proposed bridge at the head Of
the channel and the waterfront ave-
nue. cannot be supported out of District
revenues.
Street Work Planned.
Can't. H. c. Whitehurst, District di-
rector of highways, said the Commis-
sioners contemplate improving Water
street from Eleventh to M street south
west during the current fiscal year by
improving the service. Plans have been
made for improving the highway be-
tween M and P streets up to the Army
War College for the fiscal year 1888,
but 1t is doubtful II this can be carried
forward, in view Of the fiscal situation.
Mai Gen. Anton Stephan, com
mander of the District Of Columbia
Militia, wrote that the 260th Coast
Artillery Armory at Water and o streets
southwest should be retained, or a
permanent armory secured. War Col
lege authorities said present facilities
on the water front are sufficient Tor
current needs.
Capt. E. N. Chisolm, jr., engineer of
the National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, said the bridge from Water
street to the Potomac Park speedway,
at the north end of Washington chan
mel, should be retained and that the
Waterfronts of Georgetown, the wash
ington channel and Buzzards' Point
should be developed as unit. Thomas
S. Settle, the commissions secretary,
pleaded for unified control in the de-
Velopment Of the Port of Washington
and spoke Of legislation to achieve that
objective. He pointed out that Wash
ington as port does $50 100000 worth
Of business annually.
Yachting Facilities Plans.
A number of witnesses told Of the
desirability Of improving facilities for
yachting here. A. H. Gregory said
there are now about 212 yachts. motor
boats, etc, here and that the pro-
jected yacht basin would have to be
enlarged from previous estimates to
care for future growth.
When the people Of the District want
to utilize the Potomac River fully and
build up an adequate commerce, that
status will be realized, Maj. Arthur was
told by John H. Small, chairman Of the
Committee on Harbors and Waterways
of the Washington Chamber Of Com
merce. He called attention to the point
that Baltimore, Philadelphia, Trenton,
Portland, Ore, and New Orleans-all
some distance from the open Sea-have
built up commercial interests and over
seas trade. Washington should have
water terminal, and '' it cannot be
placed on the Washington channel. an
investigation should be initiated to de-
termine the best location, he said.
Most Of the witnesses agreed that
the Washington channel should not
be made a center for rail terminal in
conjunction with water facilities, sug-
gesting that in view Of recent legiSla-
ton, indications are that Buzzards Point
will take over this function.