Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-12-05
The Canal Question.

The Canal Question.
WAsHINGToN, Nov. %, lS6s.-Editor STIR
Mr.. G. L. Walkers communication of the 2i ST.
on the canal, Is hardly an improvement on
that of the l4th, on the same subject, Both ap
pear to be too personal, ana other wise oblec-
tionable Their leading object appears to be to
give vent to some ill feelings, and to promote
mere private ends Disregarding ali matter OF
this character, L propose to confine my remarks
to exposing some of his errors on points affect
ing public interests; and in dong so, l shall
avoid all allusIon to individuals, except so far
as the ques ton discussed shall require.
Mr.. Walker informs MS that ne has read the
laws or the Corporation, and declares that
"there is not to be found in all the laws word
TO authorize the appointment OF Cinai Eugi-
neer" Whether he means by this assertion to
reflect on the city authorities for making such
An appointment, or something else. his state
ment Is certainly erroneous. See the act of the
l7th April, 1856, which, il Will be seen,wss duly
passed for this express purpose, ana Tor the
appropriation of S75,O00 to enable the engineer
TO make certain improvements on the canal.
And as this act has not been repealed, as the
work authorized by ii has not been completed,
and as more than one.thiTd of the sum
(S26,6I.9l) remains unexpended, there can be
no doubt as TO the authority for appointing an
en- gineer at that time, nor OF an engineer hold
ing that office now.
The reason ,chy the person whom Mr. Walker
appears to dislike SO much, was appointed,
may be found in that act II was because he
was the author of the plan adopted Wig the
plan was adopted, Is, that il was approved by
the highest engineering authority known IN
this country. Has better one been dis
covered!
Whether the engineer was the fitest person to
carry out his own plan, may be inferred from
the fact that he accomplished the heiviest and
most important part of the work, that Of turn
ing the tides through the canal in one direc-
tion, between the 18th Of April and the first of
August of that year.
Whether the plan is the best that might be
devised, cannot be determined from the pres
ent appearance of the canal. For the plan has
not been fully carried out The report of the
nar ri 6nfL Lny chlxr hot xrvh a hlar
accomplished is bat part Of the plan; intended
mainly for sanitary purposes. The SUM ap
propriated was not expected to be sufficient TO
complete the canal for navi igation nor to remove
all the unsightly ob,tructions from its streets,
nor all the filthy nuIsances along its borders.
II was only topped that this sum might be SUIT
fcient TO put the canal in such condition as
might avert the much feared dangers of chol-
era arising from that source during the hot
weather OF summer. That the first and most
important object has been secured cannot be
denied, for there has been no pestilenca And
more. The best-informed know that notwith.
standing the very bad appearance of the canal
and OF its surroundings, yet no part of the city
mas been more healthy during the last two
years than that along the canal. Aud all ap-
pears 10 have been accomplished, so far as hu-
man means have contributed towards these
good results, by the expenditure of less than
two-thlrds OF the sum appropriated for this
purpose. This highly favorable sanitary cou-
dit.on is, undoubtedly, natdral result of the
partial operation OF the plan-of the Increased
flow of comparatively pure tide water through
the canal-by which most Of the offensive mat
ter flowing into the canal has been carried
of, which has also attracted. absorbed and
borne OF in like manner most of the noxious
emanations arising from its foul borders.
The bed of the canal, though disagreeable
10 the sight, is greatly improved in It's con-
diton. IL now consists mainly of sand and
gravel, so washed AND cleansed by the increased
now OF water as 10 make much of II fiji for
building purposes; tor which. and for grading
ana gravelIDg roadWays and footways. large
Quantities are used; while most Of that taken
from The canal some two years ago was so
utterly filthy and offensive as to require the
use OF large quantities of lime and other disin-
fectants TO make work upon 1t tolerable. IL is
belleYed that any intelligent and unbiased per-
sen, making careful examination, will find
the 1aes TO be as here stated If so-If II should
be found that the canal, instead of being the
great nuisance II appears and is universally
represented to be. Is in fact the only means by
which that part OF the city, and perhaps the
entire city, has been saved from terrible
scourge, and there are many reasons for be-
lieving that IL is so-then it would become us
TO look upon this question in a more sober light.
The truth OF the question, as represente
clearly and fully, in the plan and papers now
before Congress, copies Of which NAV b. had
at my office, is this: 1t is proposed TO straighten
and construct, or form anew, that part of the
canal lying between 7th street and Maryland
avenue BY doing so the length of this part of
the canal and its streets Will be reduced S6A
feet BY which means the surface area of the
Government grounds will be enlarged near
2NO0O square feet. The cost of making this
change is estimated al S2l7 ,5i-. 1t is proposed
TO make this change i'll the canal for the ground
to be saved by the change. And it is expected
that II Congress shall assent 10 this very reas-
onaole proposition, and authorize the city to
sell the 1900 feet Of canal property located
within the angle formed by 6th street west and
Il street north, then this ground and the 250,OOJ
square feet TO be saved by strengthening the
canal can be made TO pay the cost Of making
the change, and very nearly the cost OF deep
ening the other parts of the canal.
MIR. Walker also tells us that the city does
not own the canal. In this he DIFFERS with
Congress; for the Senate committee, in their
report on TINS question, dated July Is, 1865,
use the following language. After giving a
history OF the formation of the old canal COM
pany, showing the recognition of the company
by Congress; of Congress authorizing the city TO
purchase the canal that the purcha,e was
made by the city; nat tie purchase tcds rati fed
and 0nfrmedby Congress. Then after showing
how the canal has been neglected by the city,
they say: "Congress might well declare the
charter forfeited" "But would it be best to do
so now!" "Apart from the value OF the canal
to the sewerage of the city, it might be made
exceedingly Taluahie to the city as canal
proper" This canal might be rendered of
almost incalculabie value and convenience to
the city" "OuPht a franchise so valuable to be
taken from the city and given to private cor
poraton !" "The people Of Washington still
haul and cart their coal -four, wood, &c, &c,
from the Potomac river, an q from Georgetown
when they might have them introduced all
along through the heart OF the city, almost at
their doors " Such Is the opinion of Congress
as 10 the ownership and value OF the canal.
Notwithstanding which, Mr.. Walker says, in
reference TO the recent action of the Coun-
ellis looking TO the appropriation of 5000 for
renewing the bridge across Virginia avenue
that this is s'a work belonging exclusively to
Congress, as 1t has the entire charge OF the ave-
nues." Therefore, "let Congress take this
work in hand" 1t would certainly be haz.
ardous Tor the city authorities to follow this
advice. For, II an accident should happen in
consequence of the city failing to maintain
safe bridge there, the party suffering by il
would be sure to hold the city responsible, and
on trial would show that although the care of
the avenues belong to the general Go yern ment
that of the canal belongs to the city; and that
the acts of Congress- yesting all the rights per-
tanning to the canal in the city, also bi nd the
city TO build and keep in repair all the bridges
spanning the canal. 1t is true Congress has
on several occasions, contributed towards the
building OF bridges across the canal but such
aid has come in the form of dopations-not of
obligations. r. SEvRRsON, Engineer
IMMIGRATION TO MARYLAND, F. W,Ia