Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-02-12

| 1t has been sometimes suggested to divide
the current, sending one portion along the
Washington and the other along the Virginia
snore. However great an Improvement this
may be on the present state Of the river, it
must still be evident that one good channel is
infinitely preferable to two inferior ones II
has also been proposed to fll out the river
from the Washington shore to the Virginia
| channel. This project would require many
years to realize, be Of immense expense, re-
| move commercial facilities to great distance
from the present centres of business, and might
seriously compromise the actual regime Of the
river below the arsenal
ID The health Of large portion Of the city
| would be greatly benefited by the double effect
| Of removing the fats and improving the sew
erage. The construction Of guard-locks at
the mouth Of the Tiber would perfectly pro-
tect the city from the conseq of inunda-
lions, which are now q source Of great annoy
snce. 1t seems strange anomaly that the
presidential mansion should crown hill ter
minating in pestilential fat, on which a
large portion of the sewerage Of the city is
| cast to tester in the sun and generate unwhole-
some miasma. Its removal has, consequently,
been sometimes suggested, the expense of
which would be more than sufficient to realize
all the improvements now proposed.
81. If it should be determined to erect
permanent bridge at the site Of the Long
Bridge, the proposed plan would diminish its
cost by nearly one hall, as large portion Of
the structure may be simply causeway If
there is to be no permanent bridge at this To-
cation, the citizens of Washington should poe
ssss, at least, the facilities afforded by a ferry
In the actual state of the river that privilege
Is denied, at ordinary low water to the light.
est row.boat To pass from Washington to
Georgetown by water, it Is necessary to tuin
| the point Of alluvial deposit beloY the arsenal
! la order to ascend the Virginia channel-a
distance of two miles being thus drawn out to
/ six.
4th. By the proposed modification of the
dam connecting Mason's island with the Vir-
ginla shore We should secure all Of its advan-
tages without experiencing any of its evil of.
fects In all ordinary stages of the river il
| would force the whole current around George
town, thus keeping its channel free. In times
OF dangerous freshets it would act as q safety
valve by largely increasing the waterway,
thus depressing the level Of the river on its
passage by the neighboring cities, and greatly
diminishing the injurious effects of inunda-
tions, more especially in Georgetown. At the
| same time the formation Of marshes along the
Virginia shore would be prevented. 1t would,
OF course, be necessary to leave permanent
and suitable passage for the water through
any causeway that might be constructed at
the site of the Long Bridge By means Of the
modification here recommended, the dam at
| the head of Mason's island would become an
Immense waste weir Of great stability its
sleping surface would act as an ioe-breaker,
while its lessened height would preserve it
from the angry violence of the swollen waters
| o. the Potomac, which, on q previous occasion
effected Its destruction.
| 9Th. Tho expenditures necessary to secure
the advantages enumerated above will not
| amount TO one-sixth part of the value of the
land reclaimed, the greater portion Of which,
presume, will belong to the United States,
as three reservations and one street front on
1t. By referring to the accompany estimates,
(uarked b. it will be seen that the cost of re.
moving portion of the Long Bridge cause
way, replacing it temporarily by a wooden
struoture, depressing the dam at Mason's
island, dredging q new channel, and building
breskwater from the island, amounts to
sloo, S67 If, in addition, We construct q
guard lock at the mouth of the Tiber, and re
| claim 100 acres of land by raising the level of
| the fats six feet and facing them with a more
elevated dixie, the total expenditure will
| amount to 500, All, equal to 10 cents Der
superficial foot This sum could be very con.
siderably diminished by making arrangements
to retain the allsvial deposit. 1t would re-
| quire, however, q series Of years to realize
very material results from such a system
Should more expeditions means be thought
advisable, the earth required could be pro
cured by grading the contiguous portions of
the city, thus securing double benefit. The
| value Of this land, at a reasonable estimate,
possessing as il would great CONNIE rcial facil.
tiles, cannot be less than fifty cents per super
hcisl foot, or, IN the aggregate, S., 6l5, 480,
which, as before stated, is six times the ex.
psnditure in question.
| For each and all Of these reasons l feel no
hesitation in recommending prompt and eff
| cient measures for the improvement of the
| river in the manner herein indicated Know.
| ing the possible doubts which might exist in
some quarters as to the efficacy Of the plan
| proposed, however clear my own convictions
| OF its certain success. have felt il my duty to
consult with some of the highest engineering
authorities Of the country on the subject, and
they concur 10 the opinion that the plan 10
safe, feasible, eligible in itself, and, what il
also important, susceptible Of rapid realiza.
ton, without interfering in any way or at any
time, with the general interests Of navigation,
or with the eOnye nience Of the travelling pub
lilo
| PLANS FOR TIE SITE OF TIE LONG BRIDGE.
From the improvement Of the river, PASS
now to the consideration Of plan for bridging
the Potomac at the site of the Long Bridge
the one the most influencing and the most in
| huenced by navigation. The resolution of
Congress calls for both a stone arch and an
iron suspension bridge First, then, supposing
| the river to have been modified in the manner
above proposed, the stone arch bridge, accord
iDg to the plan have prepared and herewith
submit, (see accompanying drawings,) will
commence with an abutment on the Washing
ton shore, having an entrance from both Mary
| and avenue and Fourteenth street 1t will
be pierced by four semi-circular arches of 20
feet span, destined to afford q passage to We
| hicles along the rivers bank A quay, 20 feet
| wide, will be reserved Immediately in front of
the sbutment. Three arches Of l20 feet span,
with their accompanying piers, reach a draw
presenting two openings of 20 feet each next,
nine arches attain a causeway 2 500 feet in
length, surnounted by brick viaduct formed
Of semi-circular arches Of 20 feet span, light
ened 10 the utmost extent; the side walls 10
be faced with stone Finally, three 100 feet
arches span the reserved Virginia channel,
| and with their abutmen Mt terminate the bridge
| Every third arch will rest on an abutment, or
sbutment pier-an Indispensable precaution,
and greatly facilitating the erection of the
bridge, as il may be completed in sections.
The supporting piers are fourteen, and the
abutment piers twenty Eve feet thick, at the
i springipg line The accompanying estimates