Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-10-24

nues-Potomac Water WorksNWash-
lngton Canal-Proposed New Depart
ment Buildings, &C.
The report of General n. Michler, Superin-
| tendent Of Public Buildings and Grounds, Just
completed, is as follows:
THE CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT.
During the last year no efforts were made to-
| ward the accomplishment of any OF the pro-
| posed plans for the improvement Of either or
| both of the channels of the Potomac in the vi
/ cinity of this city and Georgetown, and which
| would so materially benefit the commercial in
terests and the general health Of the two cities.
This was occasioned by the want Of the much
| needed appropriations. In anticipation of the
| necessary means becoming applicable an exam
| ir alton Of the river was made to ascertain
THE CHANNEL AND THE FLATS
| were found to have undergone very considera-
bic alterations. The vegetation on the fl ats ap-
pears TO have increased very rapidly; instead of
/ the ordinary saltwater grass which previously
| existed, csHebrakes now expose themselves to
| the view. At low water the soil is ent RELY I'M
| covered, and has become SO firm as TO support
| the weight Of q man. This development, unless
effected by high freshets or other ssrong natural
| causes, will continue more rapidly fron year to
year: the vegetable matter, becoming more
| Irmly rooted, will materially AID in CHI cSiu
and floating matter and cause rhe material to &c
deposited in the river. The channel itself SEEM
| to have tendency to shift mo 9 and more from
| the Washington toward the Virginia shore; il
was partially dredSed some two years ago, bl.
from present indications has since that { M
been gradually filing up. From a comp .rison
of the soundings n ade in 1861 with those recent
ly taken, il will be seen that, n0.with stand ing
water is from one and ahalf to two feet less tn
| in 1st1.
NEW CHANNEL
| hss been cut through the flats at the foot OF
Mason's Island, which indicates that the cur
| rent tends toward the Virginia shore; che profile
on that side is always abrupt, but gently slopes in
channel has been dredgsd since the survey previous
tc the one recently it is therefore, jmpos
betn produced BY the current alone It has been
however, that the curve OF eisht feet,
drsdeng process, has shifted from 40 70 go feet
Io or M , Island Within
record from one to two feet Through what is
Channel Of 20 feet IN width ana rom sx o
.estn In depth. running with strong current. The
''A'o"' iof 'hese n.RxEp CHANGE.
may be ortny stated The narrow portion Of the
from which extends Easily wharf; this acts a.
jptty, and forces the current toward the opposite
Which hs hoss o sra 1R
OF piles With its LEI gsny .eid caussEay The
| this wide basin, int. spersed with flats and en-
drested mo many derent Channels, mus ne stsr
:arily chit, and the material washed down must:
he main ehsnnei in Ii viii mott tSersiores be- be-
LIKELY 10 remain
All the outlets through the flats should be closed
up. The mos, expensive plans should be by sea or
lasting worS. bu. a simple and economical method
would be TO plant snd form willow wicket guard at
them mp. All the materials 10 be dredged from t1e
stI beds beth at present and in the ,uture should
way the water would be confined 10 the main chan
Eel the fats. DOW detrimental to the city, woald
d.rcsifed in the rver has hitherto been the case
L. n h.r IL 10 ha ahaIH hack
The current or some succeeding freshet. Ii ths2s
suggestions are carried out the ehsnr ell after berg
tftd as Pashins: wi,h me 5.sry Hat boats
on he Potomac river in the vicinity Of Washington
Of The two cities that The much-reeded
Of the channel should be longer delayed This ID IRE
VII all Commercial interests be enhsnced in value
WORK on THE IMPROVEMENT.
A re su: act u Congress, public No. 49, ap-
eI airs pTeervation ard Of cert n pub S
&c works on riyers and hsrbors, and for other A.
iaiDs clause sppropriating fiIIv thousand do'' -
D." for the improy. ment of Lhe foiomc; r,yer, L.
u Georgeto~ u, the district OF Columbia Theme
cesrry exam nations and sur .eys were Commenced
foshet. tire latter proyl be formidabi,
sId destructive one VIII CHI has occurred IN gIea.
work mas Stree taen resrntd the contract has been
awarded - reliable parties gased for msnv yelrs
The dredging business ara il Is rerortt t. at ths
wolk vii be COMPLETED according to the specifcs
lois ~ the LIST OF January Of the coming year.
BENNING's BRIDGE.
?. already described In previous reports, this
BIO erosses the AEacosti; Q; Eastern Branch OF
rr oGe With,n tie last four years it has been al
n,., nlI.iy Ht.nilt CASH. rePai,s howsye:,Te
walks, snd cross beams REQUIRE 20 b renew 4. The
more Substantial one THIS bridge forms 1s 1spy
IMPORTANT connection between the District Of CO.
Uuitia and the state Ct Maryland.
nm
tn bridge the flooring not only aet ded con.
GIesking ard had to be replaced The upright piles
and caps had TO be renewed at many poiL's' aud the
time considerable afienton In fact, the e entire re
ssufs , giving 70 ,as limited apprpH1i,tI0Ps ne
the extenie could have been avoided IL nece O.
ssry, however. to insure uninterrupted and cafe
travel Lhs I recent spprGpTiation by C9agre;s has
the whole work having ben ovsrh,uled snd rebuilt
.s far ss the Inc ans allowed. Attention y respect
Of Gsns . HT sDs
cars al or NJ ar the present size OF the navy yard
resolution Of the senate passed Juy 70, Us. II.
importance OF permanent and substantial bridge a,
tstablshed il is be hoIed that the necc srafI a.
ion will be taken TO accomplish bect who is 90
advancing le interests Of the capital of the ration
10 appsrTs es 1 /, .Dr :3rSmits
for the pre- ent bridge FOR he cors "a, ion Ct a
Lev Lot 6eOr able thar q bill be
ent cted 10 authorize sCne corporate b Nv assume
TIE Responsibility, and tee ca Of the Aaue-
dec ard Long bridge have control over the eutirs
matter.
LONG BRIDGE.
To feTeat the rems rks dde ia my last gnnT~l r.
I(tI ia IefSIeICe - this work should prove sufi
cent. They renein stu in force and prove the
Cts.ity Cf trCctpg substantial, sua-ils, and
sfChntciUral structure. Ii Is TO be regretted tat
the river apprCsches 10 the cry so0ld pr eat such
Cn-eCmly appearances. ali IL VeIy de sirabIets re
piSCe ire IIe.tIt one by ARCHER, which would
sICye not only mere ornP ntal AID sefnI.
be paDItd 70 as TO remove ONE very seriou. OBJ
sirJctions created by the existing ore, and which
Rave tendency to pei nanently If urs the chsnrei
| CT the river
DCring tie st fiscal year the rer airs on this bridge
were nsny sDc Cf q vari / character. The flooring
had 10 lie renewed, the cribs replep ish and brace
ard en entire span removed and rebuilt The old
crsw over the Virginia channel requires constsnt
repairs ard y tentIon. An act Of Cor gro supple
tDtary 10 an act entitled IAN TO authorize the
spsfrEctlon extension and u.e Of a lateral branch
OF tie Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Conn INV in
| 70 and within tbe Ds'ric Of Columbia, approve
Il February D, 1901. makes proyisors and eipowers
said conpsn to take posts ssion of the Long r
IN accordance with the act If 50 authoriZins
the some, approved June Il, l57O, tho bridge was
fo maly transferred by the Government and placed
IN the possession Of the Raro nd Com pany slbi or
The conditions CONTAINED in the letter OF the Chis
4 Engineers. on the Sth OF July, 1870 The present
rreture nterferes to very great del with the
l chsuneis Of the river. The causeway and piIine
Il sbf he entirely cd k.;a-e