The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-10
To the Editor of the Union:

cate did not pretend to reply "Non Property Hold
notice the sweeping assertion quoted from the editorial
OF the I'd nsant-- being assertion which was not
qualified by the words ION the Washington side for canal
manned silent Neither did do advocate the sug-
gesions Of Property Holder" enclose for your peru
sal handful which distributed some time since. You
will thereby that contemplate radical Improvement
in the approaches to the Potomac valley Subsidiary TO
this, advocate the views connected with the Anacosta
enclose the paper originally published in the Inelli-
shall be pleased. If not, will thank you for its return
to me. Respectfully, yours,
r'The remarks of"H," reply Property Holde and at G.
made in reference necessary
| are required for canal purposes alone-Hl
PROPOSED RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
The results of the eshet have borne SO heavily
upon the interests ofthe citizens Washington and George
river will not be of place nor will some sueges
tons as to its in this locality be
ngton are, at the head OF tdewater well the foot
OF water power all experience teaches that if they do
be due more to the apathy and negligence their citizens
han to any ovepowerng influences arising from natural
the Georgetown
as those party g shs Ssr of them
The rerocession of former southwestern division of
in The natoa to Virginia has wrought change
permanent than those of its geographical characteristics
he connecting link which has joined the banks of the
fomac mas come under the jurisdiction Of separate and
sovereign goyernments and the nursing of the hero
To whom shall it be given Do either want it Who sRa
guard the desnies Of this hapless than orphan1
Is true that such another eshet the present bridge
Will be among the things that
ground is here taken chat unless some permanent and
a3s3utey successful improvement is made in the
channel of the river shall be mmoveaby directed along the
CITY wharves but few will eapse before the city
through the railroad for their supplies and Alexandria
through the canal for channel for their exports"
town abide this things Shall the children of this
generation hail with wonder the sight of square-rigged
vessel at our whnrves? Or shall up doing
her viii the United States government abide results
present tendencies? viii the people Of the United
become so unhealthy from the masma and malaria of the
potomac mud shoals the Pontne marshes of the modern
Romea The destnies of this country will allow the
Presidents of our conederacy dwell such scene
nor suffer from such And this is spoken by the
The question is, "Can anything be done the
Let us examine what is the case. The dam from Vir-
island the laws ads in notion V and the
way OF the Long Bridge the agents Of whose
facts which viii serve us as starting point
m any improvement TO be suggested OF the dam from
that and is good thing Unfortunately, the favora.
BILE action which this dam have produced has been
Commercially oherwse) the eastern bank of the
bend OF the river as winds around Anaostan island This
every eshe and ordinary the river, although
this would have been but slow work, the primary
and resistance there In addition, laws of fluids
in motion the water always in the sraghtest
they pass any structure 1t thus that the channel has
been carried directly from the Washington shore and al
lowed to work its winding destructive way along the Vr
GINA shore winding because the force of the straight
ton was lost the structure between Anaosan is
t operates aluval fats the Virginia sde which,
der other influences, would be increased instead of dmn
and Joof,,
cattle, the milk OF which would find ready sale in the city
and town of this District.
point along the city Shore derivabe from the
rent OF the Potomac, until the bridge is passed slight
channel kept by the action of Tbe creek and the
tide through the canal; but nothing Where the
bridge by its causeway. dams off and splits
the waters OF the Potomac, channel passes along and
undermining the western side of the causeway, owing
the direction given above Easby point the water which
finds an exit as described Of course. under hydrostatic
law water from the whole spread Of the Potomac west Of
this not of that kind which be termed current
which causes channel to be formed when powerful
current is near by and in full action.
Thus It will be seen, that from the present position of
along its Potomac wharves that Georgetown only have
devious and shifting channel such as offers few induce
up; that the causeway is being undermined
the western sde and it may be also here stated, that
that the of the Potomac makes legitimate chan
mel along the city side, or in fact mud shoa reaches
does destructivey upon the auvia flats forming the
Virginia bend Now, in view of all this what remedy,
cheap, effective, and permanent be applied? 1t
has before been noted that the primary formations
appear below the bend of the river between Anaostan
thence commences AT first blush, it would seem as if an
appropriation (by competent authority alone wanted
the whole affair, and that civil engineer could
at 90 work and dam off the by a suitable
pier running from Analoan island; and also that a
magnificent and massive bridge would, in connexion
Herewith, suffice to meet the of the 1t true
if the river remains il is but magnificent, costly,
and massive bridge have inherent strength sufficient to
Withstand the eshets of this section of country This truth
still more orcby applies, if pier stretched from
the south end OF Anaostan, above menoned; but mil
lions money could alone build such works. and millions
alone could keep them in repair, if they could stand any
how ltaking into consideration their extent
Of miles0 because, be it remembered they would be
resisting expansion, and not now be located in
spread of water. Besides all this, what will
Virginia agree what aid will she give for she is now
party any pier or bridge. The of Turnbuls aque-
duct will give idea of the of Golfer dams and the
building of piers when rocky formation is found rs
basis what their cost would be aluvia Opposite, ana
that give rise structure and resist expansion
of the of the Potomac. engineer will undertake
say In view of these considerations seems that these
plans might have a beginning, but could have no end
And the only in their failure would be to turn to
the Anacosta orlorn hope and build up the end of
Jersey avenue and hereabou with suitable wharves for
steamboats, Ii is known, doubt that steamboats, can
now barely reach their present landings the Potomac
aide of the city.
The writer of this paper has given the localities and the
subjects before mentioned CAREFUL strict and we'll ponder
scrutiny and has the following conclusion that
which will afford the river straight passage for its
waters through the hollow along the line of Virginia ave-
nue. (where il the Potomac Georgetown) md an
OF Van Ness's mansion the proper and
remedy for all evils and difficulties existing or nor