Evening star., 1936-03-22
CITES LOST VALUE
AT WATER FRONT
Remon Outlines Improve.
ment Needed-Magathan
to Talk This Week.

Much of the value which should
accrue from Washington's rivers and
water front is being lost because it has
not been improved. according to John
A. Remon, chairman of the River and
Harbor Committee of the Washington
Board of Trade.
He stated this belief last week dur
ing the radio program sponsored by
the Federation of Citizens Associa-
tions. This weeks speaker will be
Wallace C. Magathan. president of
the Citizens Association of Takoma,
D. c. He will discuss zoning problems
and the proposal that consents" be
eliminated from the zoning regula-
tions.
Magathan, an attorney. is connected
with the law firm of Lybrand, Roth
Brothers g. Montgomery. He Is mar
ried and has two children. In addi-
ton to being president of the Takoma
association. in which office he is serv-
ing his fourth term. he is one Of the
associations delegates tc the fedora
ton. :
Appearance Criticized.
To last weeks talk, Remon called
attention to several parts Of the river
which are not in keeping with the
rest of the city. "On the north side
of the Washington Channel there
exists a scene which is definitely not
I'M keeping with the surroundings: a
scene of tumble down warehouses and
decaying wharves. On the Potomac
Park side OF the Georgetown Channel
there exists a condition which is not
only unsightly, but which is a real
mud banks which, particularly at low
tide, stagnate the water and collect
all manner of debris"
Remon requested the support OF all
civic organizations in the city, as well
as the support of individual citizens,
for three projects proposed by the
Board Of Trade. These projects in
clude the deepening of the channels Of
both tie Potomac and the .Anacosaia
Rivers, improvement to the north side
Of Washington Channel between the
Tidal Basin and Hains Point and the
removal of the mud bank along the
south side of East Potomac Park be-
tween Highway Bridge and Hams
Point. d.
The first project, providing for the
deepening of the river channels to a
depth of "a feet and the construction
of two turning basins, will permit the
entrance of large boats. A channel
depth of "a feet has already been au-
thorized in the Potomac River from
the District line to Chesapeake Bay.
The cost of this work is estimated at
1925 900. Remon claimed that q saw
ing exceeding 100000 per year would
result from the entrance Of larger
boats.
Details of improvements.
The improvements proposed for
Washington Channel consist Of the
construction Of piers, yacht basins and
bulkhead walls. Not only are these
facilities needed at this time, but they
will also place the water front In a
presentable appearance. The estimate
for the cost has been placed at 81 $780,
600. Rentals which would accrue from
the lease of piers and yacht basins
would total S39, 1000 q year, in addition
to an estimated savings in Transports
ton costs of about $4,000.
The removal of the mud bank would
place the south side Of East Potomac
Park in a condition more suited for
recreational purposes, Remon stated.
This will eliminate very definite
health risk and remove an unsightly
condition. Those objectives are GER
tainly worth while.
THE three projects just named have
been surveyed and plans prepared.
The next step toward their realization
is the provision of funds. 1t is hoped
that Affirmative action toward that
end will be taken by Congress in the
near future"