Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-02-22
The Improvement of the Channel.

Dgton side Of the river has long been recog-
nized and advocated, yet nothing OF the least
pracucal importance seems to have been done
towards the accomplishment of the object pre-
Vlous 10 the construction OF the causeway last
season, at the foot Of 18th street as part of the
Improvement OF the Washington canal This
causeway was, as is well knewn, formed with
reference 10 having the channel changed to
the Washington side and was expected TO con-
tribute materially towards this object by con-
centraung the action OF the currents ana di-
recting their course towards Mason's Island
In passing across the fats between I7th street
and the channel on the opposite side of the
Iiver, along mat Island. It's effects, in grad
ually forming channel in that direction be-
came plainly visible rs early as September
last which subsequently, near the close of
navlRauon, attained such depth that vessels of
light draught could and did pass through in
freely at full tide This initial operation has
oeen attended with exceedingly fortunate re-
rent during the late freshet and breaking nm
OF the ice, for the flow Of the ice in the
man channel on the Virginia side being ar
Ies,ea by the obstruction formed by the Long
Brldge, soon filled that channel, and yery
naturally caused the water TO f8nd and fiow
through the next deepest channel-that formed
across the mats by the building sfthe cause
way. But for this, and the hard frozen condi-
tion OF the more elevated surface OF the fats
farther down stream, the water would have
forced passage across the fats nearer TO the
Long Bridge, where IL would be less valuable
for porposes OF navigation, and where il would
more readily hll up again. after the obstruc-
uon OF Ice at the bridge had disappeared from
the main channel. But the direction thus given
to the new channel by the causeway is yerv
nearly in the line most favorable for purposes
OF nayigation, and will remain open much
longer tnan II would IL IL had been formed
nearer 10 the Long Bridge, and, as would have
been the case, in q direction nearer ar riohr
angles 10 the course Of the river. The depth
OF water in the newly formed channel at thls
time is feet, where II was least before and
where light yawl could not have passed one
year ago. though the depth is less farther east.
m MID daa-.
water, thus showing conclusiveiy the impor.
tance Of contracting the width OF the channel
Tor the purpose OF attaining greater depth.
TINS highly important result Is clearly due
6rst. to The construction of the causewav M
the foot Of 17th street, by means of which a
new channel was partially formed across the
nats ane TO the late blockade Of ice, by which
the main channel was filled and It's water
forced through this newly formed channel
THESE results, SO highly satisfactory within
themselves also establish the fact that the
change can be made permanent and leave NO
doubt that by Judiciousiy contracting the width
OF the channel the current can thus be made 10
m malntain nearly uniform depth of from 20 TO
25 feet along the Washington side as far south
as the Arsenal, where It's depth will be in
creased by the added action of the water OF the
East Branch and attain q depth of sixty feet.
which great depth 1t this point will make the
declivity Of the bottom Of the East Branch so
great that IL wilt soon cause q material n cam
ening OF the channel Of that stream as far up
as the navy-yard. The process Of Deepening
the channels of both the west and east brsnches
may, without doubt, be materiaIIv aided hy
contracting and giving proper directions to the
each OF the rivers into two parts, letting the
tides now inward freely through the whole
width of both parts and TOW out through onIy
The channel near Cieorgetown is supposed
70 be about one-fourth Of q mile wide LIS width
should be gradually increased to one-third Of
increasing width would prevent the ice from
choking the channel hereafter, and it would
compensate for the necessary partial obstruc-
Se sts,ea IN v a. ane bridge BY Its piers
10 the Mayor, by judicious expenditure for
the purposes, and in the manner then and now
ID indieated, every dollar can be made to yield q |
value OF three dollars In property reclaimed
from theriver; besides which, IL would be of |
incalculable advantage to the city in both A
sanitary and commercial point Of view. 1t |
would add millions to the value of both c!tv
and government property. Bat a large pro-
poruen Of this work can be authorized oniy
by the General Government And as the |
Government interest in these matters is the |
greatest, and as its means are great, while |
that of the city Is limited, II is hoped the |
Government may bs liberal In its appro. |
as may enable the city to raise its share |
OF means TO carry on Its system Of improye
ments, go vigorously and Judiciously conduct |
the construction of break water from Masons
Island eastward, and thus make the change OF |
me channel permanent and this ought TO be
TALLY formed shall become nIled. There
10 no necessity for delay in this matter for /
lengthy in vesueation. Proyidence has recent
ly Indicated hoso to do 1t, by tenn porarily OBJ /
siructing the matnchannel with ice; thus con-
hrming the feastt1nfy OF making the change |
avaiisole and pef1kSent BY means Of solid
and durable breakXAter, the cost Of which. 1
and of any Other. Improvement herein fndI- |
Gated, can be asceftained In a short time. II de-
sired. ID . ..-,+T,-Ni. N. |.-I - =
Very respectfully. b. SRvRRsou.
Engineer in charge Of Canal impro veraent.
February 81, 1867. = -