The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-04-07

the Eastern Branch. g L.
The dyke can be easily and quickly in
creased in height should il be afterwards
found necessary and admissible to do so. II
should be from six to ten feet in width, and
wider across the channel way, If necessary,
and constructed with piles, and short piles
on the two sides, with the space between
them filed up with pudding. OF clay. 1t
should be closely planked on the top, so as
not to be injured by the flow Of water over
il. Waterways Of sufficient aggregate width
to insure full rise Of tide inside should be
left in the dyke at the deepest water, provi-
ded with suitable tide gates, TO open inward
with the rising tide and close with the ebb.
These waterways may be made to answer
the purposes Of a lock during the coming
summer, and, therefore, should be Of sufficient
width to allow the usual ingress and egress
Of boats, and especially Of such scows and
steam dredging machines as may be required
in prosecuting the work Of future improve
nents on the canal. The discharge Of water
into the Eastern Branch, and, consequently,
its height in the main portion Of the canal,
may be regulated by simply altering the ca
pacity ofthe waterway ut some suitable point
east Of Tiber creek The contraction at New
Jersey avenue may be advantageously used
for such purpose.
Ample tide gates, to open outward with
the ebb tide and close with the food should
be placed at the debouche Of the canal into
the basin at the Eastern Branch, to exclude
the food waters from that end and promote
the flow in that direction.
The board briefly submits the foregoing
project for the temporary abatement Of the
existing nuisance, without going into the
elaborate details which have been developed
in their calculations, and without enumerat-
ing the various data and formulas which enter
as elements in the discussion of the problem.
These they propose to give more fully in their
plan for the permanent improvement and
regulation Of the canal, which, as it involves
the entire question Of city drainage and sew
erage, as well as other considerations Of COM
mercial and municipal character they pro-
pose to withhold until they shall have given
the subject that mature and careful study
which its Importance demands.
The proposed dyke and tide gates, If well
constructed, will with ordinary repairs, last
for several years; and taken in connection
with the excavators recommended by the
board may either contribute to or in greater
or less degree form a component part Of the
plan for permanent improvement which they
expect to submit.
construct main sewer independent Of the
canal, to meet the requirements Of the city
in its growth and enlargement, the board are
not prepared to say; but it is evident that
such sewer could not be completed during
the coming summer If commenced.
The board believe that, If the temporary
improvement which they suggest are carried
out and faithfully maintained in their essen
tial features, by keeping the dykes and gates
in repair, and the deposits eXcavated to the
levels recommended, that the discharge Of
the sewers into the canal during the coming
summer will not prove injurious to thehealth
of the city.
The board have considered sundry plans,
and have consulted several experienced en-
gineers and others in relation to the subject
submitted to their Judgment, and have de-
rived much valuable information from them.
An estimate of the expenditure necessary
to carry out the suggestions of the board,
amounting to $4,000, accompanies this re-
port.
If this project be adopted, it is deemed of
considerable importance that the execution
Of it be commenced without delay.
l.. d. TOWER,
Lieutenant Colonel of Engineers and Brevet
Brigadier General U, S. A.
U. n. GILMORE,
Major of Engineers and Brevet Major Gen,
eral U. S. A.
G. X. WARREN, Majo General, &c.
The following is the estimate submitted as
the probable cost of executing the proposed
plan. The estimate is larger than would be
required but for the necessity of commencing
work at once, without time to make the
proper preparation with economy, as well as
the necessity for pushing the work rapidly on
in order to secure its timely completion:
| / For dam at Seventeenth street pier to Monument
Point with tide gates .Sl5, OOt
?. For expense Of admitting wAters Of Rock
= w
g. For tide gate and basin at Eastern Branch 2 0OC
| 4. For exeayating between yenteenth street
and Tiber Creek, 81 900 cubic yards, at 81 per
yArd. 5l, wv
| o. For rxeAyGting between 1iber Creek Hnd
Eastern Branch, $1,000 cubic yards, at so cts.
per yafd. ID
8. For removing deposits brought 10 during this
7. For suPerintendeuey and gate. tenders for one 80
s. For contiug suetes, pay Of constructing en-
gineer, clerk. 4, OoC
s75, OOC
Submitted for the Board:
g. X. WARREN,
Major General, &c.