The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-16
CITY AFFAIRS.
Washington ci,y Canal.

per, perceive that The corporation contemplate the
cleaning out and improvement OF the canal; not howev-
en- the extent recommended by the engineer Mr. Chas
B. Cluskey in his late report which is to be regretted
as evident that without the locks il will not be eff
Gent
Many of your readers who feel deep interest in this
matter have not seen the report, as appeared only
the journal that published tie official proceedings OF the
corporation We therefore enclose you copy of the Ma
tona in,egencer containing it, in the hope of seeing
republishel your valuable journal for it not only EN-
braces the Improvement of the canal but also the chan
mel Of the Potomac from the Eastern Branch George
town; and Congress is in session. be hoped that
the Committee for the District of Cou nba will urge up
on that holy the importance and necessity of an appro-
priaiion for 1t.
MANY CITIZENS
Mr.. FRANKLIN, from the committee on the canal, pre-
senied the following report iron the Surveyor OF the
City, on the subject OF the Washington canal which was
ordered to be published with the journal:
SURVEYORS OFFICE, WASHINGTON,
September %, 1918
SIR stated in my communication to you OF the 2sth
ulmo, that the amount necessary for The Improvement
of the Wdshngton city canal would not exceed the
OF sixty thousand three hundred and fifty dollars
and OF that amount twenty-five thousand four hundred
dollars would be required for cleaning il out and repair
ing Its walls, from the Eastern branch to its western
terminus | have now the honor to report the result
of my observations and surveys just completed,
required by resolution OF the corporation, and the
bracng the deepening of the channel of the Potomac
the Washington side from the Long Bridge to the
basin at Seventeenth street, and suggestions the i'm
provement OF the nver generally IRON the Eastern
Branch TO Georgetown, matter OF vital Importance
to both cities; for the distractions which materially
affect Georgetown in high freshets are alike injurious
TO this city many respects alude the dam, which,
in connection with the wooden structure each side of
the Potomac, forms collectively what is called the Long
Bridge and which, during the ireshet in October last,
cause the water TO raise OF the principal streets
and along the wharvas of Georgetown to alarming
extent and in this city to overflow the banks of the
canal and flood the streets contiguous to it, thereby not
only filling the cellars with water, and rendering many
residences unenanlabls but creating well caIcu
lated 10 impair its high character for health. and destroy
and depecate large amount OF property. This fact
alone, which is known TO the citizens generally is
sufficient 10 urge the prompt removal of it in part but
il IS not the only evil which results from it; tor it
has created, above and below, flats of great magnitude
composed OF the debris and sulage OF the river which
are in part bare at low water and which very inur
GUS to its navigation, and consequently to the cys
mefcia advantages in point location The base OF
these flats is equal to the length of the DAM (aboui
fhs the width OF the river, nearly two thousand eel
extending from the east to the junction of the East
em Branch with the Potomac, and on The west TO the
main channel OF the river northeast of Masons island
leaving scarcely trace (from soundings | have taken,
and Old and new surveys IN my possesson) OF what
once ship channel the north side superior to the
present south channel it dlmnlshes the natu
raj ascent of the flood tide of it, by breaking its i'm
pulse along the line OF obstruction the east, AMI les
senng IRON its great length the volume that would pass
II; pro luces like elect on the west with the ebb and
thus creates ediies sluggish pools the face OF the
Iver to the extent of the fats and the sulage of the
rver that would be held IN suspension the natural
momentum OF the current not apeded by It's construction
is there deposited
These, 10 my mind, are the which have pro-
duced those flats, and, OF the correction of the
evils to which have alluded, and the soppage of the
growth OF the flats (for, at certain the year.
from The action OF the sun, they must create Amos
phere OF very deeteous chasacer well the pro-
iecuon OF the plan OF Improvement that herein
mend for the canal the removal OF about four hundred
eet OF on the north side Indispensable, and whit the
wooden structure each side, TO be supplied ferry
boat or other means until permanent structure could be
elecedstone piers not less than hundred feet apart
to sustain an s,persirucurefor to build OF less du
rabe material would be false economy. OF which the
present d'lapldated and ra mass is the best evidence.
me removal and plan OF improvement here suggested
would increase the waterway sufficiently to admit of the
whole volume from above passing IT, even in high fresh
els, and with II the drift wood and floating ice, which in
lis present condition (he piles and their appendages be-
ing less than twenty five feet apart accumulate TO so
great an extent to render the wooden portions of this
misconcelved structure nearly as formidable barrier TO
Inc current as the dam proper In conneXon with these
SUGGESTIONS would be necessary to change the form OF
Inc remaining portion of the dam the west side, so as
to give direction to the volume the flats into the
Channel and outlets, and also to construct from the south
eastern part OF Masons island, east OF Elsbys point,
wing dam OF such form and length 10 defect and give
direction to the current the north side, thence to the
Long Bridge This, however, could be accomplished by
more simple and less expensive a5ents-by sinking the
mus OF condemned vessels, placed TO use military
phrase in echeon,' to the length and form required for
me wing dam and by the use OF dredging machine ana
Iver rake to be worked by steam power, the original
enamel GA the north side could be made what il
was: and kept so at moderate expenditure; for the de-
posies are OF character that could be easily removed
nave also to remark, in reference to the bar at the
junction OF the Eastern Branch with the Potomac oppo-
SIZE The arsenal that from soundngs have taken there
Is no material difference since 1897 as shown on Ewns's
CHART and only requires the of dredging machine
or snort time to restore il to its original depth, sufficient
ior largest class ships.
have thus given although not embraced in the reso-
n vip,y of yh cpn
generally, as 1t is materially connected with the canal
ana Will now proceed to report its condition AMI plan of
Improvement
a,on.-Commencing at its terminus with the East
n Branch, and from thence the iron bridge at Mary
inu avenue, the deposiies are comparatively light
~ a lew polnts-that Is, the second section, be-
Ween and streets, the eastern side caused by the
Mdshlng OF the embankmen; the third section, be-
"een street and the brick bridge at New Jersey ave.
e, IN the deep cut where it street south, and
here considerable portion of the wang has fallen in
On ooth sides, and with part of the embank mt
I on Inc same section, between Virginia and Delaware
avenues caused by the discharge from an exploded cul
vert and the consequent falling in of part of the wall
qua embankmen The walls, too, of this part of the
nne are IN comparatively fair condition. except al the
Uns referred to there are, however. several settle
ehts and small breaks which will require to be tho.
ioughly repaired considerable portion OF the en-
SahKment has also washed down on both sides in the
eP cuts, and in some places the wang into the
uIal' particularly each side of the brick bridge,
nefe me lace of the cmbankment forms nearly an In
keu pane IRON Its apex to the edge OF the wall And
ie would remark, that had it been for the precau-
III USED oy the commissioner in having ditch cut
west SIDE OF the bridge which carries oil the surface
go rom mat part of the street, large portion of the
ct knent must inevitably have been washed into the
Will me removal OF which would have been attended
heavy @ ii,r.