Evening star., 1933-08-20
CHANNEL Project
ON ELIGIBLE LIST
Government Officials Hold
Work Comes Under Pub
lie Works Plan.

Improvement Of the unsightly north
side Of Washington Channel, near
Water street, as recommended by Maj.
Gen. Lytle Brown, chief of Army In
gineers, is eligible to be done under
public works funds, in the opinion OF
competent Government officials. The
subject Is brought sharply into focus by
the distribution to the public of the
report by the Government Printing
Office yesterday.
The report was submitted to Chair
man ]. J. Mansfield of the House Rivers
and Harbors Committee, on June l..
Government authorities interested in
seeing the recommendations carried out
say the work falls within section 202
of the public works act, which was
passed by Congress after the submission
Of the report by the chief of Army en-
gineers. 1t Is not known officially II
the Public Works Administration is
studying the report as yet. with view
to releasing funds for its realization, but
1t is now available In final printed form,
with an attached map showing the
layout.
Would Cost $1,e5o,o 900.
Briefly, Maj. Joseph D. Arthur, jr.,
district engineer for the War Depart
ment for the Washington area, recon-
mends that the Washington Channel
water front be improved, in accordance
with plans submitted, at an estimated
total cost of $l,650 900, of which $780,
600 would be furnished by the Dis
trict of Columbia and 81 .261 900 by the
United States. The major recommends
that during the construction period
Jurisdiction over the entire water front,
save the Municipal Fish Wharf, be
vested in the Secretary of War, and that
administration of the completed facili-
ties be exercised by Q harbor board,
representing the District Commission
ers, the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission and the War De-
partment's district engineer. who is
now Mai. Arthur.
Channel Il Urged.
The major likewise recommends that
the project for the Potomac River here
be modhhed to authorize an approach
channel "a feet deep and 400 feet wide,
leading to, and a depth Of "a feet in.
Washington Channel. The report, the
major observes, has received the ap-
proval of the District Commissioners
and the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission.
Col. E. H. Schultz, senior member of
the Board Of Engineers for Rivers and
Harbors. observes in his approving re-
port: In view of the interest Of the
Federal Government in matters relat-
ing to Identification of the National
Capital, the board is Of the opinion
that Federal participation to the ex-
tent Of contributing one-half the orig
inal cost of the improvement would
be Justified"
In forwarding the report to Congress,
Gen. Brown said Of the fiscal prob
lem: Since under the provisions Of
the Federal Constitution Congress ex-
ercises exclusive legislation relating to
the District Of Columbia, and as the
policy with respect to financing public
improvements within the District rests
wholly with Congress, find no ground
for submitting q recommendation as
to the proper financing Of this improve
ment."
The program for improving the
Washington Channel water front was
laid some time ago before the Federal
Employment Stabilization Board and
interested officials hope that the Pub
lie Works Administration will study
the report closely and advance funds
for its realization, because of the
lengthy study made and approval given
by disinterested Army engineers"