Evening star., 1950-12-04
Fund Freeze
HaIfsHainsPoint
Flood Project
Channel Dredging
Postponed Indefinitely
For Lack of Money
By Nelson M. Shepard

By Nelson N. Shepard
Park officials disclosed today
that freeze" order on funds for
dredging Washington Channel has
postponed indefinitely the hope of
remedying flood conditions at
Hains Point, which is slowly sink
ing into the Potomac River.
They had counted on using
100000 cubic yards of deposits
pumped from the channel bed by
Army engineers to raise the level
OF f1ood-affected areas on the
roadways and public golf course
in East Potomac Park.
Edward J. Kelly. superintendent
of National Capital Parks, had
given this assurance recently to
the District Recreation Board,
which was then discussing ways to
get operating control of the golf
courses under Interior Department
jurisdiction. Army engineers had
offered to Cooperate and the
work of deepening the Washing
ton Channel was expected to start
about Deember /.
Estimated at 100000.
Park officials were anxious to
use the deposits from the channel
because it would void the neces-
sity of hauling earth at great cost
in another year to protect the
inundated areas of Hams Point.
Mr.. Kelly estimated the hauling
cost at about 81 per cubic yard or
100000. The plan was to the ad-
vantage also of the Army engi-
neers who otherwise would have
to dispose of the dredgings at ad-
ditional cost.
The freeze" order, according
to the engineers, also makes it
impossible to complete the deep
ening of the Washington Chan
mel from Anacostia River to a
point where Seventh street comes
into Maine avenue S.W. Con-
gress had appropriated $4,000
for the project, to start this win
ter.
Park officials were informed
recently that the funds seemed to
be tied up under the general
freeze ordered by Congress and the
Budget Bureau because of the
Korean war. Harry T. Thomp-
son, associate superintendent Of
parks, made further inquiries and
was told by the engineers that a
temporary freeze order had been
applied to that specific appro-
priation.
Freeze Likely to Remain.
Officials are of the opinion that
1.-THE freeze" on work of this sort
is likely to remain in effect a
, long while. especially in view Of
|. increasing expenditures for ma
tlonal defense. Mr.. Kelly said
the Mop has no funds available
to do the work on its own re-
sponsibility.
There isn't any danger Of
Hams Point sinking permanently
beneath the river at any early
time. 1t has sunk about 312 feet
since 1910. when the original fill
was made. Two years ago the
engineers pumped 10000 cubic
yards of earth from the George
town Channel, which helped
some, Mr.. Kelly said
Unless the Budget Bureau re-
moves the freeze" on the Army
funds, Mr.. Kelly said, the neces-
sary reclamation of the flood
areas might well cost nearly 81
million. Eventually the sea wall
around the point will have to be
raised at least another 31a feet.
Aside from the extra cost of haul
ing dirt, he said the wear and
tear on the roadway system by
the heavy trucks probably would
neceSsltate an expensive repaying
Job. Paving costs are going UP like
other costs.
Areas Most Often Inundated.
The areas most frequently in
undated are at the extreme point
and between the tea house on the
point and the golf club house. The
Recreation Board was told that
filling this area would necessitate
putting about nine holes of the
East Potomac Park golf course out
OF operation.
Last week end, the high tide
and waves inundated the lower
end Of the point and water seeped
into other areas. Roads were
closed to motorists from Saturday
to Sunday afternoon. Park police
reported "all well" yesterday.
Mr.. Kelly feared golfers will be
IN for many inconveniences not
only this winter but next spring,
especially if there is considerable
ice in the Potomac.
After any hard rain the East
Potomac course is unfit for golfing
for several days, at least.