Evening star., 1939-08-09
Board Of Trade
Group |nspects
Wafer Front
Complete Survey
Before Further
Work Is Urged
BY FRED H. MORHART, Jr.

water front and an examination OF
plans for the future, the Rivers and
Harbors Committee of the Board of
Trade yesterday decided that a COM
plete survey of the many miles of
frontage should be made before
further work is done.
The main consideration before
the committee is the development
of an adequate commercial and in
dustrial area. With this in view
the full committee will meet next
month to formulate plans for recon-
mendation to District officials, Army
engineers and Congress.
1t was generally agreed that in
the last year more constructive work
was done than during most of the
years since 1911 when the Govern
ment took note of Washington S
water front needs. With $500. .0OO
already spent for Improvements, the
general agreement is that $500, 900
is needed to complete the job laid
out to give Washington its proper
water setting.
The group which made a tour of
the water front yesterday laid most
stress on locations for commercial
and industrial development, includ-
ing Georgetown and the area about
the Navy Yard.
Designated Sections Sought.
Long fighting for special sections
to be devoted to commercial devel-
opment. the Board of Trade is seek
ing ways and means for designating
sections Of the water front for COM
merce.
The Georgetown area, it was
agreed. has nearly reached a satura-
ton point, but in the Anacostia area
there are thousands of feet of water
front which can, under proper plan
ming and supervision, be devoted to
water commerce.
The Engineer Corps launch No. II,
formerly known as the Parker, was
slowed down at many places be-
tween the War College and the
Pennsylvania Railroad bridge to per-
nit the committeeman an opportu-
nifty to give close scrutiny to avail
able spots for industrial develop
ment.
Today in retrospect, the men max
ing the inspection trip generally
agreed that the Georgetown water
front should be modernized and
cleaned up in keeping with the
general plan of greater and more
beautiful Washington
Satisfaction Voiced.
Much satisfaction was expressed
on the. development of the Wash
ington Channel. particularly with
the service building wharf and the
small craft mooring docks between
the foot of Fourteenth street and
the District brick yard. In this area
most of the Improvements have been
completed during the year since
board members made their last sur
vey). However. from the brick yard
to the Army War College grounds
there is considerable work to be
done, it was pointed out by Army
engineers who accompanied the
group.
Those making the inspection trip
started from the service building at
the head of Washington Channel,
went up the Anacostia River as far
as the District line, back to the Ma
tional Airport across the Potomac
River and then up above Key
Bridge.
John Remon, chairman of the
Rivers and Harbors Committee, SAID
he hoped Congress and District
officials would give immediate atten-
ton to the problem of commercial
facilities before the general plan was
carried too far. He pointed out that
much of the commerce for Washing
ton comes by way of Baltimore. This,
he said, was undesirable when
Washington can develop its own IA
cilities for water-borne commerce.
However, he pointed out that it was
not the intention of the city ad-
ministrators to offer Washington as
commercial center, but rather to
represent it as place with accom-
modations to care for its own incom-
ing water shipments.
Much qualification was expressed
by the inspectors when they arrived
near the Maryland boundary to learn
that work was under way to continue
the river improvements up as far as
Bladensburg. 1t was pointed out
that much of the District improve
ments in the Anacostia section would
be nullified if Maryland did not par
ticipate in the general improve
ment plan.
Sea walls have been completed as
far up the river as the railroad
bridge near the District line.
Center Great Problem.
The committeeman found during
the survey that one of the greatest
problems confronting them is the
location of commercial center
With the Georgetown area well
crowded and most of the remainder
of Washington's water front devoted
to parks and recreational areas, not
more than two miles was found
available in the vicinity of the Navy
Yard for commercialization.
The area, it was pointed out, is
split by the naval establishment
However, it was found that rail-
road spur feeds the area and with
a good channel and improved streets
leading in and out of the place
much could be done to provide deep
sea navigation direct to the south
ern water front.
Those making the trip on the
Corps of Engineers boat with Mr..
Remon included Lawrence E. Will
hams, president of the board; w.
B. Clarkson, Harrison Brand, jr.,
William H. Press, Earle w. Sapp,
Charles B. McInnis, John De La
Mater, r. H. Davidson, F. r. Smith,
Thomas S. Settle, Col. r. S. Thomas
end P. c. Dorr.
Bond Concerts
BY the United States Marine Band