Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-18

GRADES IN THE SEVENTH WARD-The follow
ing communication of Mr.. Coyle to the Mayor,
will be Of interest to large number of our read
ers
CITY OF WASHINGTON, Feb. %. 1857.
SIR: have had the honor to receive from you
during the past week two communications the
one enclosing resolution of the Board of Com
mon Council concerning the grades Of Sixth and
Seventh streets west from MARYLAND avenue TO the
Ilver, and the other calling my attention to reso-
luton adopted some time in September last. re-
questing me to communicate to the Corporation
my proposed grades for the whole of the Seventh
Ward. and informing me that some important i'm
Provements were delayed for want of those pro-
posed grades.
To remedy, as far as can, any inconvenience
that may be existing, j submit TO you herewith
TWO sheets, which are my rough originals of
studies of grades for that part Of the Seventh
Ward which is west of Four and "a half street |
would gladly have made copies of them but that
every day is filled up with other duties | must
therefore, request You 10 have them copied and
returned TO me. This explanation will max
them Ineligible: The minute figures along the
middle Of the streets show the level above tide OF
the actual surface of the ground; the red figures
at the corners show the old (King's) proposed
grade height; the blue figures at the corners show
the grade heightas proposed by me; and where
there are only red figures at the corners propose
that Kings grade remain unchanged These
sheets Will give all the information now in INV
power TO give concerning the Seventh Ward
grades: have not yet studied to any complete
and "a half street and James Creek
Several of the streets embraced in these sheets
have been heretofore reported upon by me sepa-
rately in answer TO resolutions OF the Corporation
In some cases. as have learned casually frOm
newspapers or from conversation with indvid-
uals directly Interested, the Corporation has
adopted my recommendations and in other cases
has condemned them Among the condemned
is the plan of graduation, here again presented
OF Water street IL the subject were carefully
and dsinterestedly considered believe the Coun-
WOnl1 NV r1la e.
street, and for these reasons The front line 1.-THE
river side line of Water street) must inevitably be
advanced an average distance of at least fifty feet
further into the river than is laid down upon the
map of the river front and wharves prepared by
VIM. Elliot ST, and approved by President !
q. Adams. That will be line of wall, and
should be in water not less than four feet deep at
low tide, whereas much of ID, az determined by
the map alluded to, will be where at low tide
there is not depth Of two feet This necessary
increased width will allow an increased height
on the land side Of the street without causing an
inconvenient steepness across the streets Again
the increased height on the land side Of Water
street, as proposed by me, Is necessary to dimin-
ish the steepne.s Of the streets ascending from
the river, TO diminish the immense surplus of ex-
cavdtion IN those streets, to afford cellarage to
whatever warehouses may be built fronting on
Water street and TO render possible the construc-
tiOn of d sewer along the line Of Water street to
intercept the main sewers from above
II ever we are to have good channel and an
active trade along our Potomac front-and il will
DE our own fault IL we have not II will be neces-
saTy to keep the sewerage out of the docks A
tide Of three feet will not scour it out, but will
stir IL upjust enough to make it pestlential II
must be intercepted by great sewer running
along the entire river front, and discharging into
some one reservoir below, where the necessary
mechanical means for its removal can be constant
ly in action. The city canal must be shut out
fIom the river by tide locks, which will protect
the lower parts Of the city from inundatiOn, will
secure a constant high tide In the canal, and will
enable us to give to the great nterceptng sewer
along the river front descent equal to the differ
ence between high and low tide, and to seour it
at every ebb tide
These were the considerations which governed
me in determining the elevation of the land side
of Water street. 1 have had no opportunity of
knowing what considerations led to the rejection
Of my plan. -
With great respect. your obed't servant,
RANDOLPH CoYLE
DR.. w. b. MAGRUDER, Mayor