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

nsn. Assistant John J. Calvert, Ist EGslneer,
steamer Susquehanna; John Henson. Ass.St-
ant; Thomas Brooks, Master Carpenter
The s;oas, work, a. already stated. 40 by
Neesls Cameron, Wise and Callahan, who slso
onilt tbe excellent seasvan on the opposite
side ofihe Arsenal grounds along the Potonac
'front.' The Job Of stone work ON James Cree 4
y Almost a better one than thai on the Potomac
fr. m the fact that the material (stone) ~ com
mand since The close OF The war Is some shat
superior 20 that cb,ainsb for the s.-er NorA
while the work was in progress.
The wall on tse Potomac requires some s.ooo
perch of STONE spd that on James Cree. will
not require less than 10.ttG perch.
Cameron 20. m the work on the Potomac.
took Gown the old wafi. 4oo feet In isngth, in
mont OF the old ffnrentisry building, extend
ing the Wall out INTO the Potomac 80 feet re-
claiming that distance. An important part Of
their work has been the removal of the an
slghuy olah on the Potomac side; and 70 grade
which properly required the remov al OF iu2 900
yards OF earth under their contract The work
mas been well dore by 7. Cullinane A Bro
who have completed the western sIope from
laIy with The eastern sIcre from 4. street 10
Down Az street. from p street to the Arsenal
oulu,nss, a sioewalk has been LAID. and a
stretcn OF hne shade trees have been set, un-
der the supervision Of Thomas Grady. Afford
ing grateinl shade along that hitherto sun
scathed walk. This work Of grading and all
ing, tree-planting. a.. has changed the whpl.
face OF the Arsenal grounds, as if by naar,r
And this will be followed by the erection on
solid ground of suitable " Workshops for the e.
tensiNe operations OF the yard; a change very
necessary, as the old workshops being placed
on made land ~ the southern extremity Of ne
grounds, the foundations for the heavy ma
chinery Were apt to settle, interfering serious
ly with the work OF the yard, by dersng.ng the
shaftinc, so thar il was requisite 10 reNlS il ~
least twice year. The new shops will cou-
sist Of blacksmith shop, finishing shop.
Thtelwright shop, and carpenter shop. all in
fronting on AZ street. The plans for their
erection are now before the secretary OF War
for approval. The old penlfentiary building
VIII alone iurnish all tAe material requisite
for The erection OF these workshops and itlsa
matter OF necessity that this awkward old
structure should come down. as ]. oon1pIeteIy
siyides the Arsenal grounds and materially
hsmpeTs the arsenal business This OLD plle
should be torn down, and offc .uar.arS
erected near the gate At r street. rms done
IN connection with the other improvements
going on or finished, The Washington Arsenal
VIII be prepared 10 enter upon n grand career
OF usefulness, SURPRISING ITS previous record
ersdilable as that has been to IL.
Before olsmisslnC the subject OF The RIVER
FONT, we viii express the hope ihat means
VIII be found 10 extend tie sea wall 10 nlI out
the awkward recess from the upper WI arf 10
the lower wharf, ana 10 continue The wall
around the southern eNtrsmity of the grounds
y -
means three or four acres more OF valuable
land would he added 20 the Arsenal grounds.
and the entire outline of the grounds would be
relieved Of miasmaiic marsh.
Col Benton has teen interchangeable 10 push-
ing Forward The aboye-desCribed work Of i'm
proyeInent. which is OF such vast irnpo -tarc.
TO the Government, and which ~ the same
time makes an important commen sement Of a
work OF sanitary and business character OF
ncalculahle benefit 20 the city. The citizens
of Washington part with him with en- re-
eret, but have the satisfaction OF knowing that
the Arsenal has fallen into the experienced
charge of Gen. Ramsay. Gen. X. was largely
instrumental in getting the appropriate on for
this great improvement, and has ALWAYS shown
an earnest disposition to make the Washington
Arsenal what jt should be-. as located "a; the
seat OF Government, and playing the impor-
tant part 1t always must in any national ener-
gency.
Now that Government has done so much for
the improvement of his locality, Undi y I'd nails
owning land on the opposite lbuzzard's Point
side OF James creek, should do their part. BY
small outlay they can increase The value Of
their lands one hundred fold. A tax for the
purpose might be equiiably apporlioned; the
froDt lots most benefited paying the largest
quota. and the rsceding lots for a pie OF
squares, paying gradually reduced tax.
The city, also, should take mp the good work
of continuing the ship canal from II street (tbe
point TO which the Government constructs 40
10 inteTsect with the Washington Canal AZ Vir-
ginia avenue. Mr.. Wise estimates that $4,000
would complete this important connection.
We believe that amount OF money could IN
no way be so Iudiciously expended for The
benefit OF Washington. II would afford an
unsurpassed line OF water front in dires. COM
munication with deep water: for be il rernem-
bered, there are no bars TO be encountered by
vessels coming up the Potomac 10 enter this
canal Another iinportant point is the safety
ofaecess TO IL in bad weather. IL is a well known
fact that in stormy weather vessels are not
able 10 get through the drawers of the Long
Bridge, and are frequently wrecked Some
nos n n m haA
are detaiI ed below the bridge by heavy winds
and strong currents; but such vessels could
always lind sheltered route ana perfect
ease OF approach 10 the ship-canal IN any
weather. BY this connection drainage would
be effected for the whole valley up he
northern part ofthe city, and land now worth
thousand Of dollars would be made worth
millions.