Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-04-17
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

condition OF the Arsenal Is rather unfavoraDle, on
account Of several inconvenience which renders
the prosecution of the work in several branches
in many respects difficult. The grounds of the
Arsenal proper comprise a space Of about twenty
eight acres, of which some eight or ten acres are
unfit for building purposes, although fully occu-
pied at present, there being no additional room
for the purpose except in front, which would be
too narrow, being so near the river bank The
War Department has in contemplation the con-
.iInetiSn Of stone whaIyes TO supply the place Of
burn. The cost of a new wharf, such as they pro-
nose to construct the coming summer, Is eStima-
ted from 81 900 to IS 600 On the east front of
the grounds extends stone wall. running up
JOnes's creek (sOme 500 yards) to the Peniten-
tiary wall. This takes in the ground on the
Eastern Branch front from the west 10 the eastern
wharf, where the two channels unite The Poto-
7nlG channel Oh the western angle is of twenty
four feet water, and the Eastern Branch channel
a. O. me same depth. These two channels meet
directly south of the Arsenal wall some $40 yards
from 1t, forming the principal channel down the
river, and leaving triangular fat between the
two channels and the senal south wall.
This triangular shOal, IL filed up, would afford
an additional space comprising an extent OF one
thousand feet south, and then running west on
the Potomac channel, making an additional space
Of hfty thousand square yards all fronting on the
water which would give more than two thousand
feet ia extent of deep water front, and greatly i'm
prove the grounds besides facilitating the opera
The Navy yard channel some hundreds of
yards above the junction Of the two channels is
westerly winds blowing across the Potomac flats
making an expensive excavation necessary when
ever large ship passes up to the Navy Yard
BY extending this wall to the intersection of the
channels, the action of the northwest winds
would be intercepted.
The Arsenal buildings consist of the manufac-
turing shops; the arsenals or store houses for
arms and engines Of war; the powder magazines
buildings for labor and supply, and the officers
and soldiers quarters.
The manufacturing buildings are in a state of
ruin. heinz CHIC kPd- crumblinU and falling in
every direction. This is owing to the nature Of
the ground, which being . made land. - is
"tdntly settling and giving way.
Were the buildings ever good. they would
be insufficient to meet the wants of an Arsenal
Ike this, which is Of the first class, being an Ar
Senal of construction
As regards the arsenalS, there are but tn zee of
'hem which can he regarded as in good condition,
ana one Of these is used at the present time for
uInber store house; the other two, in the south
square. are too small and illy-constTuctPd to be
adequate To the requirements of the Department
There are four temporary buildings now filed
with new and valuable stores. to the amount Of
several hundred thousands Of dollars worth. and
subject to loss by being thus posed in buildings
inadequate for their preservation.
The powder buildings are also inadequate-
there being but three small buildings for this pur
To'e-Onc Of brick, and two frame laboratories
The latter are mere shells and of no value what
ever In time Of war this department would be
very deficient from the small number of hands
they would he enabled to employ in the manufac-
turing OF ammunition for small arms, mortars,
cannon, war rockets. etc.
The buildings for labor and for supply, such as
engine houses, &c, are very deficient in quality
- well IN number.
The officers quarters ARE amply sufficient for
the number of officers and soldiers needed in an
Arsenal of this size
In case of an extension of the Grounds they
would need little additional accommodation;
perhaps one set Of buildings would he required
heaE the works, which would be situated at i
considerable distance from the present quarters.
In font OF the quarters of Major Bell there are
paced various cannon and mOrtars, which have
been captured by our forces in some Of the bat
lies OF the Revolution and in the with Mex
leo Two brass cannon taken from the Castle of
Sdn Juan de Ulloa, at the capituaton of Vera Cruz
form an interesting portion of this group, also
TWO small pieces which were used by Gen. Wash
ln-ton at Valley L Orge and are of wfough twisted
iron, one of which bears in rusty characters the
name OF the Queen of France.
As regards the proposed extension Of the Arse
nal grounds. there was an act of Congress passed
al the last session making (aS is well known to
eur ctizens) an appropriation of SSO,OOO for the
purchase Of all the ground north of the Peniten-
tldry TO = street south, and from the Potomac |
rlEeT To James creek, as laid down on our city |
maps including about Al acres of which about |
Il are proposed To be purchased, under the late |
act at III cents per foot The rest of the space is
covered by streets and avenues, and will not |
therefore cost the Government ANYTHING This
will reduce the whole purchase to about 3H cents
per square foot In addition to this there are III
acres Of water privilege which may DE added by
proposed sea wall on the Potomac front Then
II the Penitentilry should De moved there will be
> acres more to add, which when added to the y
acres now used by the present Arsenal works.
makes an aggregate of - acres All this is ex-
elusive of the triangular shOal below the Arsenal
south wall before mentioned, which could be SO
hdvantaSeOuSly walled in from the Navy Yard
channel
Maj. Bell proposes this spring to drain James,
creek by means of tide gate to be established at
The outlet of the creek. The sum of 5000 was
appropriated 1t the late session OF Congress for
This purpose. On this creek there is a fall of <
leet from u street south to the Arsenal on the
marsh sounding.
he al a. a
that potion Of the city will be great and innedi-
ate, and this advantage will I've felt over ne whole
81 The eastern portion OF the Island to Capitol |
Hl!, and even up the Tiber back 10 English Hill |
a. fdT Is the residence Of Judge Douglas IL is
well known that the south wind blows the mi
lana which arises from this marsh all along that |
portion of the city.
II is proposed 70 construct a grand shin canal |
ff"m the Navy Yard channel at its intersection |
wan the Potomac channel, up Jones' creek in |
nearly straight direction to the southeast wall Of
the Arsenal; and from this point to the coniuuc-
ton OF the city canal with street which would |
restore that canal to its original direction. This
canal may be twenty feet deep the entire length
aud a II would tie nearly straight the tide would
make up with great force keeping il always clear
ships up into the heart of the CITY
IL will be remembered that Col s. T Albert |
was employed by the Corporation to survey this |
route, with a view 10 a canal Of this kind In The
year l112, (see report Of Capt. Campbell Graham
on proposed improvements Jones's Creek
i-J@) he expense Of the canal would, il is es-
The improvements of the Arsenal bv the Dro
posed extension will be of great ADVANTAGE TO the
city, aS IL will greatly increase the annual exnen
dltuTe Of the Government here, ciying empIov
inent to a largely increased number of hands
and remove besides, the difficulty TO the Govern,
ment Of having to obtain the heavy work to meet
the wants Of the service here from distant places
One additional and very great advantage will
be the probable removal of the Penitentiary 10
some other and more convenient point, where the
Government can erect more suitable building
the present one being something like the Arsenal
inadequate to supply the wants OF the civil ser
vice IL this Is done, as IL Isl contemplation to
do, from the present deficiencies of that institn.
ton, IL would enable the Government to use the
present building, with verv little additional er
peHSe. q brass and iron foundry: il would have
water front on the river Of Is feet channel and
the buildings are admirably adapted for the pur
pose mentioned BY removing the floors and put
ting in necessary mac hineTy, which would cost
some 10. Uss to SI5,OUD