Evening star., 1934-01-31
WATERFRONT PLAN
FINANCING STUDIED
House Committee Takes Up
Division of Cost for Improv-
ing Washington Channel.

With the House Rivers and Harbors
Committee virtually agreed that i'm
prOvement Of the north side of the
Washington Channel should be author
lied as part of the Capitals beauti-
fication program, the division of cost of
this project. estimated at 81 $50 900. as
between the Federal Government and
the District will be discussed in an eX-
ecutive session of the committee. Chair
man Mansfield said he hoped to call
the executive session this week.
The property is entirely Federal
owned but the District government Is
to have exclusive use Of two WharveS,
and this part of the improvement is
estimated to cost 1889 900. There are
to be three new piers for commercial
use and a yacht harbOr in four sections.
The annual revenue is estimated at
36.50O about half of which would
come from rentals and repairs in the
yacht harbor. This income would
probably be less than the annual
charges.
Cost Plans Offered.
Mai. A. J. Arthur, jr.. War Depart
ment engineer tor this district. has
recommended that the United States
should bear the entire cost of the I'M
provement on its own property except
that portion used wholly by the District
estimated at 1889, ,000-and that
whatever revenues are received should
60 into the Federal Treasury.
The Board of Engineers for Rivers
and Harbors recommended that the
cost of the development be divided on
a $3.50 proportion between the Federal
and District Governments and that
maintenance and administration should
be intrusted to the District Commls-
sioners.
Maj. Gen. Lytle Brown, when CHIEF
of Army Engineers. approved the pro-
posed Improvements to be made by
Army Engineers in the same manner
as the reclamation and development OF
the Anacostia River and flats and also
recommended that the administration
of the developed area be intrusted to
the District Commissioners.
Members Favor Plan.
When Representative Strong of Penn
sylvania. ranking Republican member
of the committee, raised the question
at the hearing yesterday whether the
Rivers and Harbors Committee should
make a recommendation on this sub
ject, Chairman Mansfield said it was
quite proper function of the committee
and it should be considered in executive
session
Chairman Mansfield, Representative
McDuffie of Alabama, ranking Demo-
crat on the committee, and Representa-
tive Strong all declared emphatically
in favor of authorizing the project as
an essential feature of the Capital
Identification program and as public
improvement that would offer consid-
cradle employment in line with the
Presidents recovery program.
Representative Culkin and Represent
ative Parsons. Democrat, of Illinois dis
cussed briefly the subject Of District
taxation and finances but in an entirely
friendly manner Both of them are in
favor of the project. Chairman Mans
field interjected that assessments on
District property are much heavier than
in many States
The recommendations of the Army
engineers were explained by Maj. Ar
thur, while Frank P. Leetch appeared
as chairman of the Rivers and Harbors
Committee of the Washington Board OF
Trade, and John H. Small, formerly
chairman of the Rivers and HarbOrs
Committee, appeared for the Washing
ton Chamber of Commerce. Maj. P. A.
Hodgson, Assistant Engineer Commis-
sioner and Roland Brennan, clerk of
the engineer division, appeared for the
District government. The former op-
posed the proposal to make the District
pay more than the 1889, 900 for its own
two wharves The National Capital
Park and Planning Commission was
also represented favoring Maj. Arthurs
recommendations.