The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-04-07
aatinnal Republican.
SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL I, 1866.
THE WASHINGTON CANAL-REPORT
by MAJ. GEMS. GILMORE, WARREN
AND TOWER.

THE wAsHINeroN CANAL--REPoRT
by MAJ. GEMS. GILMORE, WARREN
AND TOWER.
The following highly interesting report was
to the Senate yesterday after
noon by the President in compliance with q
resolution adopted on the 18th ult., respecting
the improvement Of the Washington city
canal TO promote the health Of the metropo-
lis. The matter presented in the resolution
was referred to the Secretary Of war, and by
him to Brevet Mai Gen. Dela6eld, Chief Of
Engineers in the United States army, who
appointed as a board to make the necessary
examination Of the canal the eminent engi-
neers whose report is now submitted:
RrarxEBR DIPARrNRSr,
wAsuINaroS, Marchy3l, 1859. I
Brevd Major GsnsraI Richard Deindetd, Chlcf ~ Bn'
0fnsers, U. s. A, Washington, d. O..
GENERAL: The Board Of Engineers consti-
tuted by Engineer Orders, No. 8, dated En-
gineer Department, Washington, March 10,
1866, with instructions "to carry into effect
the resolution Of the Senate of the United
States Of the eth instant, to examine the en-
tire line of the Washington city canal, and
report what immediate means, within their
judgment, should be adopted for such tempo
rary improvement thereof as will best secure
the health Of the residents and citizens Of the
national metropolis during the coming sum-
mer and such plan for the permanent i'm.
provement and regulation thereof as will most
effectually the existing nuisances and
prevent future similar accumulations," have
the honor to report that they have visited and
examined the Washington city canal at the
stages of high and low water, and have caused
suitable measurements and soundings to be
made in order to determine the volume OF the
InnnGitC that boy-a accumulated therein.
The sources of these deposits are:
l. The surface drainage of the city dis
charged by Tiber creek and the street drains.
2. The refuse from the city sewers.
3. The dust blown by the wind, and the
material thrown 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 10000 cubic yards be-
tween the Eastern branch and Tiber creek
and III 900 cubic yards between Tiber creek
and the Seventeenth street pier.
AT the time the board made their eXamina-
tions, about two weeks since, no very unpleas
ant affluvia arose from any part Of the canal
not even where the bottom was exposed; but
the concurrent statements Of many residents
Of the city show it to he highly offensive
during the summer and early autumn months
Much Of the most filthy portion of the de-
post 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 COM
paratiyely innOxious: but from Sixth street
westward, including the basin between Fiji
tannth and Snyantnapth bn
is covered with q mass Of decaying animal
and vegetable matter and earth, forming a
soft, shiny and offensive compound, mostly
bare great portion Of the time.
The canalmust eventually be cleaned out by
excavating it, whether used either for sew,
erage, for an outlet for Tibcr creek for pur.
poses Of commerce, or for all Of these objects
combined; and if for the latter or even for
commercial purposes alone, the cleaning out
must be frequently repeated as deposits ac-
cumulate. The amount Of labor necessary
to effect such excavations to level below
low water precludes the possibility of its
being accomplished at q reasonable cost be.
fore July next, and it is thought that u due
regard to the health Of the city would not
allow the work to be carried on during the
summer months.
Some other plan for affording temporary
relief must therefore be devised; and it is the
opinion of the board that this can be secured
by partial excavation of the deposits from
that portion Of the canal between Tibcr
creek and Seventeenth street pier down to q
uniform level Of at least one foot below mean
half tide, combined with dyke or dam al
the outlet Of the basin at Seventeenth street
arranged for keeping the level thus obtained
constantly submerged with running water
r,ripf, in Ia,tb 60 q, a
wholly or partially changed with each rising
tide. BY this plan the volume of the depos
its to be removed between Tiber creek and
Seventeenth street will be only 81 900 cubic
yards. 1t is believed if the work be com
menced at once that this amount can easily
be taken out by the middle of next May
This material should be deposited in the Pc
tomac at some point where it will not njure
navigation or become offensive.
Between Tiber creek and the Eastern
Branch the excavation should be carried to O
uniform depth of at least nine inches below
mean low water, in order to establish cOntin
uous current from west to east, provide pas
sage way of sufficient capacity to secure the
required daily change ofwater in main canal
and facilitate the exit of heavy rain falls de
liyered by Tiber creek. These excavations
amounting to 26,00O cubic yards, compose
mostly OF the sand and gravel brought dow
by the 1iber, may, with the exception o
small portions taken from the mouths o
drains, be safely left on the margin of tn,
canal.
1t has been proposed to use the waters o
Rock creek in connection with a dam from
Seventeenth street pier to Monument Point
to cover the filthy deposits and to produce
continuous current toward the Easter
Branch, and thus partially change the waite
of the canal daily. This project would doubt
less, be efiectual during the greater portion
of the year. But if the tests Of the daily sup
ply of Rock creek made by engineers be cor
rect, il would, in the opinion Of this board
be insufficient to secure with certainty tn
required daily change in the waters Of tn
canal to prevent stagnatiOn in the hotties
and most sickly season.
Hence it is deemed advisable not to rel,
upon Rock creek for the needed supply o
water, but to introduce it from the Potomac
through suitable gates in the dyke. BY th
means continuous current will be estab
lished toward the Eastern Branch, large
part Of the water in the canal will be changed
daily, and its bed, previously excavated be
low mean tide, will always be covered. The
water of Rock creek can be used advantage
Il. IL. -