Evening star., 1961-09-17
The Role Of a River

Great cities are most often found on famous
rivers-Londons Thames, Paris Seine, Romes Tiber,
Viennas Danube to name few.
Washington is exception.
Although the Potomac is not, geographically
speaking great river it is famous one with its
own special brand of political and historic greatness
And it compliments in very special sense the world
famous city now rebuilding where its turbulence
meets the quiet tide
It's waters and the land they have nodded are
the matrix into which the Capital of the United
States of America is set Yet the Potomac is more
than a geographic feature. 1t is symbol, too
The physical fact of the Potomac has been inter
woven inextricaby with the building of Washington,
and always will be.
If one analyses the many facets of the rebuilding
of Washingtons Metro Center, one finds the Poto-
mac appearing in various roles, with the direct use
of it's waters not necessarily the most important
consideration. For instance:
The Potomac is at the time barrier that
must be bridged and opportunity to create beauty
in stone and Steel to symbolic the greatness OF men
and ideals
The necessity for confining its spreading waters
offers the opportunity to create the riverside park
lands and parkwayS that mean a richer and fuller
life for WaShingtonianS and visitors alike.
The Potomac provides wide recreational oppor-
tunities that all planning for the New Washington
takes into account 1t also affects the economy of
the Capital and this too is taken into consideration
Here some of the ways in which direct plan
ming for the waters of the river itself helping to
create richer life along its banks:
$100 million program is now under way to
reduce pollution.
The Army's Corps of Engineers is scheduled to
complete by next June more than 81 million study
ways to reduce pollution control floods insure
an adequate water supply and provide additional
reatonal opportunities.
Better harbor facilities, both for commercial craft
that already sail for Bermuda and the Caribbean
and for pleasure craft are part and parcel of the
Southwest Waterfront plan.
Washington boasts marnaS and lighthouses to
facilitate the of virtually every type of small craft
The sailing marina at Daingerfield Island where
there is waiting list of 80 for slips; the Columbia
Island marina for motor boats where there will still
be long waiting list after 800 more slips are added;
the Harry T. Thompson Boat Center, where padding
and rowing enthusiasts are rekindling interest in
these sports.
The Anacostia is not being left out of the plan
ming. Boating as far as BladenSburg already is an
accomplished fact. Nor is the CSzO Canal where
quiet reflections and opportunities for wildfe study
are only minutes away from the heart of town
Anti pollution measures, when put into effect,
plus the fishWay at Snake Island the Dis
trict line, will mean more sport for the increasing
number of fishermen who find respite from the
tensions of life
But perhaps more important than boating faciIi-
tles scenic beauty more and cleaner water and the
rest will remain the intangible but very real spiritual
qualities OF the Potomac that present planning will
render more acute, will bring more forcefully into
focus for WaShingtonians and for visitors:
The feeling that this is the Potomac not Just
some ordinary river but chief architect of the site
of Washington, Capital of the United States.