Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-06-22

N
From the earliest history Of the city the great
drawback 70 theprosperity OF the large section
south and southwest OF the Capitol has been
the msrsby, malsrial district known as James
Greek. This creek, with its continuation up
the same vafley-the Tiber-extends the ma
lsrial nuisance mp past the Capitol, and en-
tirely through the city, affecting the health
and prosperity OF a wide band of territory di-
rectiy through the heart Of the National Me.
trorolis. The Importance OF dealing an some
effective way with this great nuisance has
been universally recognized, but the problem
OF dealing with it, the stream being so slug
gish, with fiat borders, has been so difficult
that few have seemed inclined TO grapple with
ii, and the result has b zen that this portion of
Washington, so eligible for business purposes,
and Immediately adjacent to the Capitol build
ings, has been avoided as if infected by the
plague; and the course OF Improvement ha.
extended miles in every other direction, leaving
this ground III the central portion OF tie city
as tenantless virgin soil, as if located miles
away IN the country. one public. spirited cit
izen, Mr.. William ID. Wise, has labored for
years 70 ge- the requisite cooperation to en-
able him to carry out a comprehensive plan
OF improvement, to which he has given much
study. This plan embraces a ship canal
from the AnacostIa, N the Arsenal. mn
James Creek, 10 intersect the Washington
canal az Virginia avenue: the filling
up OF the low grounds adjacent 20 the creel
by the excavations from the ship-caoaI.
whereby all that chill and fever district should
be made as healthfulias any in Washington; the
Improvement Of the Washington Canal for
business purposes and sanitary ends, on plan
that for simplicity and effectiveness is the best
hiuE d
low grounds south OF the Presidents House.
with the excavations from the Washington
Canal, thereby removing the source of disease
thai has made the White House unhealthful,
and by which not only would that portion Of
the city be immensely improved, but some
ffteen scres OF made land added 10 the public
grounds. By means of a light bridge thrown
across the canal opposite the Monument, a
superb sweep of public grounds would be
thrown into connection, according 70 the de-
sign Of the lamented Downing. and a continu-
Gus carriage drive Of miles afforded through
this delightful stretch of park. These plans.
II carried ouJ. would give Washington a bust
ness impetus OF the most important and salu-
tary character: would afford permanentsolu
lon OF the canal problem; would, as a sani-
tary measure, be OF incalc1lable value in re-
claiming sach fever territoriesas James creek
and the low grounds south OF the White House
and would beautify and improve the city 10 a
wonderful extent, converting what are now
the rough edges and plague-spots Of our ter
ritory into either ornamental grounds or land
of great value for business purposes
Ultimately this plan will be carried ont
though the sagacious originator may not live
10 see it's completion. Meantime, il NAV as
tonish some old fogies who d'scountenance an
such large minded projects as visionary 10
learn that he has made decided advance in
Its realization.
IL seems that his plans for the Improvement
OF James Creek harmoniZed SD well with the
Government Requirements for the improve
ment'ot the Arsenal grounds and extension,
that he was empowered to go with them
alehg the line OF the Government property ex.
tending up James Greek as far as T. street
The difficulties OF the undertaking appeared in
the outset 10 be almost insurm oun.ablp The
first step was TO establish the true lines of the
Arsenal grounds, which was skiiifully dcne
by VIM. Forsyth. Corporation Surveyor and
which We're found to be far out in the creek
This effected, light waiting was built TO hold
the mud, and to do this IL was requisite for the
men to wade up to the middle in the morass
70 pull up the tangled wild oats to get an OPEN
ing tor the waiting. Mud was then picked
up and shot over the waiting TO form the first
embankment. This done, and a base estab-
lished. the shute was put on the embankment
and the mud thrown over II some distance. ex-
tending the filling 10 q con siderable breadth
Cross-embankments, six feet in hight, extend
ing towards the main land Were now made
and movable ram-tracks were laid down
upon these embankments over platforms 10 to
l5 feet wide. by an ingenfus arrangement Mr.
Wise made these soft mud embankments-
laid down IN shaking Quagmire-
serve as bridges for his dumping
ears TO convey the excavations brought up by
two pow crfui mud machines At first great
difficulty was experienced in buoylng the cars
on this mud Jelly, and numerous Were the nm
sets and accidents that happened, and MINER.
.Wises foiy The tracks were liable To sepl 9l
tie suddenly, tnmbling cars and men peii-
nell into the mud. Experienced engineers
pooh. pooh'd the whole thing. and the
the abandonment of the car project and
the substitute of the time -honored, reliable
wheelbarrow. But wheelbarrow business
was too slow for an undertaking OF such
magnitude, and was not 10 be thought
of if the work was 10 be completed in
the present century. So putting has own
broad shoulders to the wheel, and aided by
the ergenerous and intelligent announcement Of
Colo,.el Benton, commandant an the Arseaal
he perseyered, and finally succeeded in get
ting footing Of solid earth for his operations
and from thence the work went rapidly on.
Two large forty horse power mud machines
the Potomac" and ssSusquehanna," capable
of lifting two tons, or abouts3 cubic feet each
at a bucket-load, Were set to work, and the
roads and dumped with clock-work regularity
and great CELEBRITY. The filling OF such quag.
mire was no small job IN order to get sound
bottom, but with two such machines working
". De6ul0Qt
waters Of the creek Were forced TO give way
and dry land arose as if by magic in their
place The importance Of the task achieved
may be Judged by the fact that tceHty acres of
firm land hare been thus created, and added to
the area OF the arsenal grounds, taking the
place Of a pestilential swamp. ~
Next came the difficult job of building the
sea-wall. As already stated, the design was
70 excavate as far up as street. q distance of
come four thousand feet, and to build q quay
of solid stone masonry along the entire front
An outside row of piles one foot in diameter
and five fect apart was plar ted; then an inner
row five feet from the outer row, and i've
feet apart In the row, were driven. The piles
were capped by stringers 10 by 12 inches
Sheath piiing was then placed inside Of the
outer stringers, and driven down TO the sur.
face OF the stringers. A corduroy floor eight
feet wide. OF pine well spiked. was then laid
upon the stringers forming the base Of the
wall at low water mark. Upon this a solid.
well-con structed wall has been laid, (execn.ed
by Cameron, Wise. & Callahan,o giving a
handsome outline and finish To this hitherto
repulsive part of the Arsenal grounds. lt is
designed TO cut this canal or channel 20 feet
wide from the Anacostia up to r street and
from to street 60 feet wide 1t to be IS feet
deep at low-w water mark al the lower end, shoal-
ing gradually TO II feet at r street, and from r
to street 10 feet. 1t will be seen that this
will form magnificent basin for business
purposes, and will be of the egreatesffmportancs \