Evening star., 1937-03-07
Bv William A. Millen.
I Y WASHINGTON, on tidewater,
W. but 1876 miles from the sea,

w will soon have a modern
harbor, thanks to the funds
to be supplied by Congress shortly
and the studies made over several
years by Army engineers.
The Washington Channel water
front, along Water street, will be one
scene of the transformation. Yacht
basins and piers, to accommodate sea-
going vessels up to "a feet draft, will
be constructed there.
Improvement of the Port of Wash
ington will be double -barreled af-
fair, for not only will the Army engi-
ueers dredge the navigational chan
nels to a depth of "a feet but the
ramshackle piers will be supplanted
by modern terminal facilities, minus
the railroad tracks. The dredging job
will 60 forward soon. Funds have
not yet been supplied for the Wash
ington Channel improvement, but
they are expected in the near future, as
Congress has already officially ap-
proved the project.
A modernized Port of Washington is
the result of many years OF agitation
on the part of business and pleasure
interests here. Public hearings have
been held from time to time on the
subject, and the plans have been re-
vamped in accordance with the re-
quirements of shipping, yachting and
other maritime groups. The Fine Arts
Commission and the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission have
had hand in the program.
Airmen of the Army Air Corps have
flown over the Washington Channel
water front and taken pictures show
ing the present conditions. The i'm
provement is to take place on the
north side of Washington Channel.
as the south side is the improved East
Potomac Park.
7 INDER the program there will be
no alterations to the Municipal
Fish Market, but the harbormaster's
pier and the District Police Depart
ments pier are to be combined and
enlarged The police and flremen will
be together on the same pier.
Yacht basins will be built on either
side of the fish market, from Four
teenth street to Eighth and K streets
southwest. Downstream the st amer
piers will be constructed, with space
allowed between o and P streets south
west for a future pier, which is not
provided in the pending scheme.
Some 300 yachts will be accommo-
dated in the present plan, with future
expansion allowing for 100 additional.
Mooring in the stream will still be per-
mitted. A survey conducte, by the
United States engineer Office has con-
vinced the authorities that the number
of yachts has increased as much as
40 to SO per cent since 1882.
A timber bulkhead will be built along
the outer edge Of the yacht basin to
prevent the wash from steamers and
Other srge craft from interfering with
the Smaller yachts.
Linh~i no with the improvement pro-
gram is the plan to widen Water street.
Downstream Of the outlet bridge, in
future years, a new bridge will be con-
structed, but there is no provision for
this in the current movement. This
bridge would connect with Potomac
Park.
The work will be conducted under
the supervision of Maj. Walter D. Lup-
low, the new district engineer for the
War Department for the Washington
area. The preliminary plans, as re-
viSed, have been prepared thus far
under the direction of First Lieut.. Will
liam j. Matteson, who has been dis
trict engineer until recently and is the
son-in-law OF Maj. Gen. Edward M.
Markham, chief of Army Engineers.
Lieut.. Matteson has received orders
directing him to sail shortly for Ha-
waii, for duty with the Sd Engineers
a Schofield Barracks, Honolulu.
THE plan for the new development
is to move out the pierhead lines
q maximum of 70 feet from the shore
at the yacht basin at the northerly
end of the Washington Channel, to ac-
commodate the greatest posSibl- num-
Der of pleasure craft. The total cost
of the development is 81 $50. 900, of
which the District of Columbia will
contribute $4,000 for its own facili-
ties.
Thus far Congress has made avail
able $4,000 for the preparation of
plans and specifications. A special
force has been built up, with the aid
Of e. A. Schnlitt, senior engineer in