Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-02-27
IMPROVEMENT OF THE RIVER CHANNEL

eeive al her residence, No. i07 New York ave-
nue., on Wednesday afternoon.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE RIVER CHANNEL
About the importance and feasibility of
changing the channel 10 the Washington side
Of the river there appears TO be no doubt, and
all agree that II must be effected, mainly, by
means of a oreakwater extending from Ma
som Island eastward, and by partially dradg-
Ing channel across the fiats Ia the same d.
recton- How 10 form the breakw has not
been distinctly stated by the engineers who
nave written on this Ibjsct probably for the
reason That IL was necessary for them to have
more exact surveys and souadings But on
the question Of forming the channel they are
more explicit, and although there is a general
agreement in the object aimed az, yet in the
manner OF accomplishing il there Is a differ
ence- One proposes TO dredge a chanaei across
the hats OF only one hundred feet width, and
To depth OF twelve feet, depending on the
current to work greater depth, and to extend
the width to some Loo feet. To this part Of
his plan there are certainly some Objections
First. II will require too much time for the
current 10 do 50 much work. Second, the
great quantity OF deposits to be thus washed
away will not only be wasted, but may 90.
struct the channel further down stream 10 an
unnecessary extent. This danger and waste
might both be avoiaed by using these deposits
In the formation Of and filing valuable lots
alongside Of the channel, as proposed Ia
the plan submitted 10 the Mayor in De.
cemoer last, on the Improvement OF the ca.
nal and river, in which 1t is very properly
claimed that there is an Intimate connection
between the Improvement Of these two thor.
oughfares and between the interests Of the city
that OF the General Government. In this
plan II Is proposed to dredge the channel to
the width OF from one-fourtR to one third ola
mile, from Mason's Island 10 the foot Of 18th
street. and with the deposits thus dredged form
ABOUT one hundred and thirty-two acres OF
land between the channel and tie canal Was.
OF l7tn street, which ii is supposed would be
worth full two millions Of dollars more than
It's cost, II thu formed and improved O. pre-
posed In this way capacious channel could
De forued IN much lees time than In the ether
and the seposits OF the river thus applied would
be worth far more than the cost Of dredging
the channel; besides, II would obviate all An.
preheHded danger, and all objections that
might be raised to allowing some millions Of
cubic yards Of deposits being washed Down
stream The cost Of dredging the cham eli
would thus not only be fully retained in thu
form Of valuable lots, but the lots could net
De formed and filled 30 cheaply In any other
way a. ey thus applying the earth dredged
from the channel. The location ana manner
ofimproving tie ground TO be thus reclaimed
Is thus set forth in the report submitted to the
Mayor:
TINS field will be bounded on the north by
tne chesapeake and OHIO canal, east by the
PIER and causeway At the foot of r7th street
and ON the south and west by q curved line OF
one nile In length, forming the river front
winch will contaIl a superficial area of $50.
20 SO uare feet, . fraction over l32 acres The
location and surroundings of this extensive
nelo are peculiarly favorable tor an econom.
leai conversion OF II Into a most convenient
and valuable coal depot. or into uharyes ana
Numerous sites for warehouses, TO be used for
various commercial purposes. This may be
accomplished by dividing the reclaimed land
Into slx or eight parts, corresponding in width
with the width OF the city 50 u ares in that vi
einity, and forming deep, nayigsble slips south
and opposite the middle Of each so uare. and
extending from the river front due north 10
within fifty feet Of the canal Ar the mead OF
each slip, and on the MY feet space dividing
the slip from the canal, there might be placed
cranes for transferring coal and other goods or
ARTICLES direct from boats IN the canal to Yea.
ssis IN ne si1a, or from the river craft to the
canai boats BY thus locating the slips oppo-
ate the city squares, the middle Of she spaces
between the slips viii come opposite the streets
Inn1ing north and south; therefore, by extend.
ing the streets south across the canal, and
across the middle Of the land or pier spaces
between the slips far as the n YER front there
VIII De vide spaces between these streets and
slips tnat may be used as open wharves, or for
TIE erection upon them Of extensive ware.
houses, having their opposite ends or sides
hontink on tne streetse ana on the slips. Count.
Ing the river front and the sides and enda OF
the clips as wharyes, We shall have about three
miles OF such property within the one mile in
extent OF river 'front.' and all ad vantageousIy
arranged for the saving Of labor and other ex-
Penses usually attsuding the trsnsfer OF freight
The surface level OF the caAai being ab,ut
Iosr iee higher than mean tides In the river, 10
eireumstance that may be used ad yantays.
ously for cleansing the clips Bv haviny
siaices ~ the head Of Zach siip thronsh Woics
20 draw water from the higher level OF the
canal into the slips, these may be thus thor.
oaEhly clsansed as often as nav be REQ uired
The length OF Wall required 70 Improve .hess
IL acres In the manner described will be
about three miles. which, At SIS q linsal foot
wo0ld cost. ..... .. am An nv |
To raise the surface above the high
est wafer will require 1,s93. 333 Gu.
eie yards OF earth n.lIng, and a. i
this can be taken direct from the
slips, and from the river In front
30 cents yard will be abundant
which will amount to. ...... 5e7, "a %
Ietai eost........ SS3a,S3o 20
SsanaunR the v.lue Of the property
reclaimed and thus Improved at 50
eenn qaare foot, Including the
fnpe, then the whole surface area
pfS,750oeo square fret will amount
1o."'.-............-..... .ZS1o,UU W
1o value over it, cost. ~, 040,n66 90
great difference certsiniy. Yet this 10 not l
all: tor, by taking the earth for Ailing mainly |
from the river, will effect all the dredging that
will Be CURED 70 form broad anA sun |
channei ior ne river nom xason's island a.