Evening star., 1938-02-13
R|VERANDH HARB0R
GROUP IS ACTIVE
Board of Trade Unit Still
Working on Program to
Improve Waterfront.
BY JOHN H. CASSADY, Jr.

ny JOHN II. CASSADY, Jr.
In rather quiet manner and with
out as much public attention, perhaps,
Is has been accorded other committee
units, the Committee on River and
Harbor improvement of the Board
Of Trade has established a reputation
as one of the most active and effec-
tive departments OF the trade or
ganization
When the Board of Trade was or
eanized 1t Immediately set up Com
mittee on Improvement OF the Po-
tomac River and another Committee
on Harbor Improvements. During
their first year of existence the COM
mittees appeared before a Senate
committee and submitted an exhaus-
tive report showing the needs of
deepening the Potomac River channel
and urging the necessity of continuing
work in the reclamation of Potomac
Flats,
In 1893, however, the two commit
tees were merged and Immediately be-
came active in recommending con-
struction of the present Highway
Bridge to replace the Long Bridge.
The following year the committee
made report calling attention to the
evils and the needs of commercial IA
clllties OF the Anacostia River.
Active 40 Years.
The unit has been one Of the most
active and consistency successful
groups in the Board OF Trade during
its 49 years existence and has, with
out a great deal of publicity, exerted
wholesome influence in securing
large grants from the Federal Gov
ernment for river improvement.
1t has kept in close contact with
the Army engineer Office for this area,
committees in Congress, responsible
officials and many quasi-official and
unofficial bodies which are concerned
with the rivar and harbor problems.
In March, 1896, the committee took
members Of the House Committee on
Rivers and Harbors and the Senate
Commerce Committee on a sail around
Washingtons Harbor and the Ana
costa River to see some of the i'm
provements which were being made
on recommendation of the board COM
mittee. Practically every member of
the congressional committees made
the tour and was distressed to find
the poor conditions existing along the
Anacostia.
For several years the committee
strongly recommended erection of
public wharves. This was deemed a
necessity because of the injurious ef-
feet on commerce due to the fact
that every ship docking in Washington
was required to pay heavy tribute to
owners of private wharves.
Fight Pollution.
Probably the committees most out
standing bit Of work in recent years
was in connection with the con-
ference on Potomac River pollution,
which was held in Washington last
March.
M. o. Leighton, chairman of the
subcommittee in charge of that
project. is Well-known engineer
who prepared a survey. the first of
its kind, on this subject for the
United States Government some 80
years ago. The committee forwarded
copy Of its report on pollution.
written by Mr.. Leighton, to all State
and local Officials in the Potomac
River Basin.
Subsequently meeting Of those
officials and representatives. of in
terested organiza tions was held in
Washington under sponsorship of the
Board of Trade. Approximately 200
persons from Maryland. Virginia,
Pennsylvania and West Virginia at
tended the conference. Papers by
recognized authorities were presented
and the group pledged itself to work
for the establishment of Potomac
River conservancy district. Such
district, it is believed, will be eligible
to receive special Federal funds to
be used in the elimination of pollu-
ton.
Permanent Group Formed.
A permanent organization to work
for these aims has been set up It
Is known as the Potomac Valley Joint
Conference on River Pollution.
Al dOO4eAOll W CllC lUllk-UEIIu pTOs
gram for cleaning up the river, the
board Committee on River and Har-
Dor Improvement has definite plans
for developing the Potomac as a COM
mercial waterway. The committee
has also done great deal of work
in popularizing the Potomac at WASH
ington as q world-renowned aquatic
sports center, and has co-operated
to this end with the Presidents Cup
Regatta since its inception.
The committee is headed by John
A. Remon, vice president of the
Chesapeake g. Potomac Telephone
%. Earl w. Sapp, who is vice chair
man, also Is chairman of the SUBJ
committee on Port Development.
Harry Baker is secretary.
Other subcommittee and their |
chairmen are: Wharves, Kirby Smith;
law and legislation, R. A. Van Orsdel,
who Is general counsel Of the tele-
phone company. and miscellaneous
projects, Mr.. Leighton.