Evening star., 1937-07-10
DELAY CONFRONTS
WATERFRONT JOB
Army Engineers Decline to
Allocate Funds Until DC.
Share Is Put Up.

improvement OF the Washington
Channel water front-long desired by
civic interest-today appeared to have
struck snag as it was learned the
District Commissioners have been ad-
vised that Maj. Gen. Edward M. Mark
ham, chief Of Army Engineers, de-
clines to allocate any funds for the
program until the District puts up
$389,000 as its share Of the ST 500, 900
undertaking.
This news came as a shock to local
interests, which had confidently ex-
pected the War Department would ap-
-tion s285000 without delay to
initiate the first years work on the
eight-year program out of the rivers
and harbors appropriation, now near
ing the end Of the congressional gamut.
Now comes the word that the chief
OF Army Engineers is legally barred
from advancing funds until the Dis
tricts Golfers are opened
Hitherto those in close touch with
developments we're under the impress
sion Gen. Markham and his associat tes
would allot s285,000 to begin the
work early in this new fiscal year,
leaving the Districts share to be paid
later. The understanding was that
the Districts money would be forth
coming when the municipal structures
were to be erected along the Washing
ton Channel, about the third year
OF the project, as approved by Con-
gress. Under the latest development
the District will have to pay its share
before the Federal Government does
any work at all.
Army Engineers Requirements.
Ordinarily the Army Engineers re-
quire that city, county or State put
up its share Of a river or harbor i'm
provement before the Federal Gov
ernment advances any funds. The
District. civic interests argue, is in q
different category, inasmuch as Con.
gress appropriates funds for both the
Federal and District governments
Hence, they say. the District should
not be required to lay its cash on the
table first. because Congress will be
oSOa Aol ~, ally yWdy.
Under the program as set up by
Maj Walter D. Luplow. district en-.
gineer for the War Department fol
the Washington area, the first year.
work would not include structures TO,
the District, but the s285,OO0 required
would embrace parts of the two new
yacht basins and yacht service anc
supply building.
The District Commissioners Wer,
of1lcially advised by Maj. Luplow O.
the chief of Army Engineers action
Fund for Plans.
| Congress and the Army Engineer
have given $4,000 for the prepara
ton OF plans for the Channel waite
front improvement, and these hav,
been Endorsed by the National Capita
Park and Planning Commission ant
the Fine Arts Commission. The plan
now are ready for execution, and tn,
allotment for starting the program
is all that is necessary to set tn
machinery in motion.
Maj. Joseph D. Arthur IT., now i,
Ohio supervising flood control on tn
Muskingum River, who was distric
engineer for the War Department TO
the Washington area a few years age
recommended the District pay $3.50 ,O0
Tor improving the Washington Chan
mel, and that the balance be paid b
the United States Government. Tn
DIVISION engineer concurred, but whe,
it came before the Rivers and Harbor
board at Army Engineers headouar
tiers here, that body urged the ex
pense be divided equally between tn
District and Federal governments
congress, however, in the enablin
legislation adopted the view of Ma.
Arthur and set the Districts share a
s38s,00o The chief of Army Enqi
neers said it was none OF his busines
to recommend details of the f1nancin
ana left that up to Congress.
AZ civic interests now view the prob
lem In the light of the newest devel
opment. it is a question as to i,,s
when the District should nav it
$389,0o0. Ordinarily when a mn
nlclpality, county or State pays In it
share OF money for a rivers and har
bors project that moey loses its identi
ty and the Army Engineers can pro
ceed with construction as they se
ht-erecting National Government
improvements first if they desire /
that way.