Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-11
Reclamation Plan Revived
For Anocostio Swomps
By JOHN W. sTEPP

By JOHN w. STEPP
The long-delayed project Of
retaining the Washing ct o n
swamplands Of Anacostaa River
for park use viii be revived next
month with the launching Of q
needs and cost survey by the
Army Engineer Corps, The Star
learned last night.
The CongreSs-authorized I'M
dertaking acquires greater sig
nificance with its close relation
to the Anacostia food control
project and the construction Of
q new sewer line from Bladens-
burg into the District that win
20 far to Kidding the Anacostia
Of its overwhelming pollution.
: The study win cost an esd
mated $25. 900. About half Of
this sum has been allocated from
Engineer Corps funds for use
this year. The balance win be
spent during the first part Of
1856.
BY October, 1855, the WASH
ington District Engineer ONCE.
which win make the study with
its own staR members. expects
the findings to be complete and
ready for presentation to higher
authorities.
Purpose Of the study is three
fold.
1t viii determine changed con-
ditions, such as additional sitting
that have occurred along the un-
reclaimed sections Of the Ana
costa fiats since 1912. That was
the year reclamation work slith-
cred to o halt in the AnacoStia
muck because the District gov
eminent lacked funds to keep
paying for 1t.
It win provide up-to-date es-
Inmates on the amount Of work
that will be needed to complete
the reclamation task and what
1t win cost.
And finally. the survey will
produce recommendations, ulti-
mately to reach Congress. on
how best to finance the COM
pletion job.
District Engineer experts. fam
liar though they are with the
project that began in 1912. are
reluctant to hazard estimates at
this time on what the cost Of
completion may be.
Actual reclamation-most of it
between Benning road NE. and
the confluence Of the Anacostia
with the Potomac River-cost a
relatively low 81 million between
1912 and 1912 Higher construc-
ton costs and changes in the
Anacostia itself since 1912 have
led the engineers to fear that
to finish the reclamation project
viii cost at least half again that
amount.
The irony Of this situation, ac-
cording to William j. Yarnoff,
planning engineer. Is that from
$3.50. 900 to 81 million could have
brought the project to fruition
In 1912.
The glum expectation Of the
engineers Is based largely on the
fact that In the last Is years an
additional LIS million cubic yards
Of silt has accumulated In and
along the AnacoStia.
Another element in the higher
cost Is the deterioration Of sea-
walls and conduits that remained
unfinished or were exposed un-
duly to river wear at points bor-
dering On the unimproved Sec
tions Of the Anacostia.
And, Of course, there is the
ever-present specter Of rising ex-
pense Of materials and labor.
World War II was responsible
for suspension of the project
Aside from the diversion Of En-
gineer Corps services TO more
pressing theaters than the Ana
costa, the District government,
which had footed the bill fo1
all 80 years. found wartime
needs eating into its finances.
Few Objections Earlier
The District raised few II any
objections to financing the Ana
costa reclamation heretofore
principally because In those
early years the Federal Govern
ment was sharing overall city
expenses substantially more
equitably than In later years.
From 1912 to 1921 the Federal
share was $3.50. Since that time,
however. the amount has grown
progressively smaller so that cur
rently Federal money represents
less than IL per cent Of the city's
general fund appropriation.
In the meantime. the Districts
financial condition has been
growing progressively more des-
perate. All Of which boiis down
to the apparent fact that II
Anacostia reclamation is to re-
sumo, the money will have to
come from Federal sources.
There is a precedent for Fed
eral financing Of such projects
here. The Potomac River recla-
nation nnArnfinn which nrAdafA1