Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-04-05
The Washington Canal.

IHPORTANT REPORT UErs. GTLMoIE. WA n
rem AND TOWER.
The following highly interesting report was
transmitted to the Senate yesterday afternoon
by the President in compliance with a resolu-
ton adopted on the 7th ult., respecting the i'm
proyement of the Washington city canal to
promote the health OF the metropolis. The
matter presented in the resolution was referred
to the Secretary of War, and by him 10 Breyet
MAJ. Gen. Delafield, Chief of Engineers IN the
United states army. who appointed as board
10 make the necessary examination of the canal
the eminent engineers whose report Is now
submitted:
March 81, 1S66.-Breuet Mag. Gen. Richard Della
field, Chief of Engineers, U. s. A. Wdskin1toa
ID. C-General: The Board of Engineers con-
stituted by Engineer Orders No S, dated Eugi-
neer Department, Washington, March 10. 1850,
with instructions " to carry into effect the res
olution of the Senate of the United States of
the 7th inst, to examine the entire line of the
Washington city canal, and report what i'm
mediate means, within their judgment, should
be adopted for such temporary Improvement
thereof as will best secure the health of the
idents and citizens Of the national metropolis
during the coming summer, and such plan
for the permanent improvement and regula-
tion thereof as will most effectualIy remove
the existing nulsances and prevent future sim.
liar accumulations," have the honor to report
that they have visited and examined the Wash
ineton city canal at the stages of high and low
water. and have caused suitable measure
ments and soundings to be made in order to
determine the volume OF the deposits that have
accumula lated therein.
The sources of these deposits are:
4. The surface drainage of the city discharged
by Tiber creek and the street drains.
2. The refuse from the city sewers.
The dust blown in by the wind, and the
material thrown in from boats and by the peo-
pie living or doing business on the banks of the
canal.
The volume of the deposits above the level Of
nine inches below the level of ordinary low
water amounts TO 26,U00 cubic yards between
the Eastern branch and Tiber creek, and 117,0O
cubic yards between Tiber creek and the Seven
teelth- street pier.
AT the time the board made their examtna-
tioiIs, about two weeks 'snce, no very un-
pleasant effiuvia arose from any part of the
canal, not even where the bottom was exposed:
but the concurrent statements of many resi-
dents of the city show it TO be highly offensive
during the summer and early autumn months
Much OF the most filthy portion of the depos-
ii comes from the sewers, and is thrown into
the canal west of Sixth street. From Sixth
street eastward, the sewer discharges are SO
mingled with the silt from Tiber creek which
largely predominates in that portion of the
canal, as to render the whole mass compare
lively innoxious; but from Sixth street west
ward, including the basin between Fifteenth
and Seventeenth streets, the bottom is covered
with mass of decaying animal and vegetable
matter and earth, forming a soft, shiny and Of
fensiye compound, mostly bare great portion
OF the time. Ii. go. 81
The canal must eventually be cleaned out by
excayating it, whether used either for ewer.
age, for an outlet for Tiber Greek, for purposes
Ol VI Oh Lnese ODlects COM
bined; andi for the latter, or even for COM
mercial purposes alone, the cleaning out must
be frequently repeated as deposits accumu-
late The amount Of labor necessary TO effect
such excavations to level below low water
precludes the possibility of ITS being accom-
pisned al a reasonable cost before July next,
and it is thought that a due regard to the health
OF the city would not allow the work 70 be
carried on during the summer month"; -
Some other plan for afording temporary re-
lief must therefore be devised, and 1t is, the
opinion Of the board tnat this can be secured
by a partial excavation OF the deposits frsm
that portion of the canal between Tiber Creek
and 18th street pier down to a uniform level of
at least one foot below mean half tide COM
bined with dyke or dam at the outlet OF The
basin at 15th street. arranged for koeping the
level thus attained constantly submerged with
running water, varying IN depth from one to
three feet, and wholly or partially changed
WIN eacn rising tide. BY this plan the vol.
ume OF deposits to be removed between Tiher
Greek and eth street will be only 3l.0O0 caai.
yards. 1t is believed, if the work be ,can q
men nced az once, that .his amount can easily Ia
taken out by the middle of Nav. This n,,ta.
rial should be deposited in the Potomac M some
point where II will not njure navigation or he
come offensive. = VI "
Between Iiber creek and the Eastern Branch
the excavation should be carried to a uniform
depth OF at least nine inches below mean W
water, IN order TO establish a Continuous cur-
rent from west 10 east, provide passage way
Of sumebeut capacity to secure the REQUIRED
daily change OF water in the main canal and y
meilitate the eHit of heavy rain fails delivered
by Tioer creek. These cayasons, amounting