Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-01-15

questionable propriety-inasmuch as the per-
manency Of the work is doubted, from the ma
ture of the ground, and the immense floods it
would have to encounter. In looking over the
latest reports on this subject, we find in the
very able and practical one Of Colonel George
W. Hughes, then Of the Typographical Bureau,
made in January, 1851, the following:
"To any one acquainted with the nature of
the country between the Great Falls and Wash
ington city, it must be apparent, that to convey
the water from that locality in canal conduit,
/ would be attended with an enormous expense,
more than proportional to that of the Croton
aqueduct, although of less than half its length.
"a country worse adapted to such purpose
can scarcely be found. The physical difficult
ties are also much increased by the construc-
ton of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, which,
conforming to the natural formation, and hav-
ing no other object than navigabe connec-
ton with the level of tide water, has preoccu-
pied much of the most favorable ground, es-
pecially in the vicinity of the falls and yet
there is, probably, no similar work of its d.
mansions in the world more costly, while few
have been conducted with more skill, science,
and ability.
General Bernard, in his report on the origi-
nal project of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal,
says: The breaking of the Potomac through
the granite ridge at the Great Falls, presents, at
first sight, difficulties ofthe greatest magnitude.
i The river gradually narrows its channel as 1t
approaches its perpendicular pitch; Mt this
point, and little below, the width does not ex-
coed one hundred yards, at moderate stage
Of the stream. Here the perpendicular rock,
60 or 10 feet high, forming the banks, the
deep water at their foot, the violence and great
rise of the freshets, render truly appalling the
idea Of supporting canal along this pass by
means Of walls.
Below the Great Falls, the ground with
the exception of some portions of easy execu-
ton, is generally difficult, requiring large ex-
tent of walling and Of steep side cutting for
about seven miles it is to say, as far down as
| the head Of the actual canal round the Little
Falls
Bearing in mind what has been already
said-the preoccupation of the ground, the
difference in the character of the two works,
and the absolute necessity that the water con-
| duit should occupy line Of gradual descent Of
not more than one foot to the mile, while the
canal is relieved from that disadvantage by
twenty locks which would throw it high upon
the banks of the river, for long distances on
nearly vertical rock escarpments, crossing
wide and deep ravines, either by high aque-
ducts or by inverted syphons-it will be readily
understood that do not exaggerate the diff
culties and cost when venture to suggest that
it could not be accomplished without an enor-
nous expenditure Of time and money.
"The only feasible plan, unless all considera-
tons of cost be disregarded, by which water
can be derived from the Great Falls, would be
through iron pipes, laid nearly coincident with
the descent Of the canal, tapping that work
above lift lock number twenty, at an elevation of
one hundred and sixty-one feet above ordinary
low tide, and fourteen and half miles from the
basin in Georgetown. To reach the projected
reservoir in Washington, diverging from the
canal at some suitable point above Georgetown,
| would increase the distance TO not less than
| sixteen miles, and would involve the expense
Of crossing Rock Creek by high aqueduct or
by a combination Of an arched bridge and an
inverted syphon."
Colonel Hughes is well known to the country.
His opinions on any subject and especially one
involving his professional reputation, are worthy
of deliberate consideration.
We will now copy from the official report of
the engineer Captain M. G. Meigs, who is now
charged with the supervision of the contem-
plated work, made in February, 1853, as fol-
lows
"The difficulties to be overcome are great.
The Potomac, one of the greatest rivers Of the
continent, rises in floods sometimes more than
thirty feet above its ordinary level. The peo-
pie of Georgetown and Washington have seen
proofs of its power in the wreck Of their bridges
and canals
unlike the Mississippi and Ohio, which,
when at their highest, move calmly and IMAGES
tically, the Potomac, shut in between steep
hills, and, by its rocky bed, resembles, at these
times, mountain torrent Every new con-
struction, in such region, tends, by diminish
ing the space for its waters, to cause the next
great food to rise still higher. The engineers
Of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal have long
fought it, replacing their guard banks, de-
stroyed by the floods, too often only to find
the next freshet going beyond their calcula-
tons, and sweeping the barriers placed in its
course. These difficulties, however, / believe
can be overcome; but they entail the neces-
sity of very expensive constructions"
These facts and admissions are sufficient Of
themselves, to cause prudent men to pause and
reflect before any material contracts are entered
into, on account Of this, which it is admitted,
would be very expensive on the proposed plan
and which could only be preserved and
maintained at cost which no engineer can
estimate. Wemoreover undertake to say, upon
good authority, that contract cannot be
entered into with any responsible contractors
in the country, for the execution of this work
on the plan proposed, and guaranteeing its per-
manency and efficiency for ten years, for
sum less than .tfce millions Of dollars, if it can
be accomplished at all.
Col Hughes in his report estimates the cost
of bringing water from Rock Creek, on his
plan, at less than half million of dollars-fur-
nishing from seren TO eight millions Of gallons
daily, phich is sufficient for t~o hundred and
fifty thousand inhabitants, alloaciag thirty GAL
Ions per day to each indiridual
With the information before us, which we have
briefly referred to, we have deemed it part