Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-08-09
Satisfactory Progress of the Work.
All TO be Done by December Ist.

The ditch and common sewer, knoyen as the
Washington Canal, which has been a by-worJ
and Teproaeh to this city, is at last about to be
subjected to a system of thorough improvement,
which, if leit Iree from injunctiOns and othe.
dire calamities, will change its character ma
terially. With its foul condition for many years
past the public are only too familiar, especially
those who are obliged TO pass over il daily.
That part between 18th and 9Th streets is in a
high state OF nauseOus fermentation about eight
months OF the twelve, and myriads OF bubbles
continually OOze up during those months through
a thiCk coating OF green scum, ditfuSirg through
out the atmosphere in its neighOoThOOd poison
Ons gases, which are waited in every direction
by the winds, spreading disease throughout the
city.
That part between 9Th and AZ streets, for some
time Familiarity known as ''the meadows" from
its wild and swampy character, is perhaps less
dangerous, as there is not so much unwholesome
water for evaporation; portions of it being almost
dry land, except in cases of nigh tide freshet,
when 1t IS nearly all submerged, small mud
islands tufted with wild grass and weeds cropping
out here and there only.
That portion from AZ street to Maryland ave-
nue. was known as the "COw Pasture until the
recent raids of the pOundmaster in that drec-
ton. AT the present time il is covered with a
dense growth of Wild oats and rank weeds the
lurking place of hybrid ducks, polly-wogs and
South of Maryland avenue, as far down as
Virginia avenue, little is now known of its con-
ditiOn, as few persOns at this season of the year
venture very near IL. The name it goes by in
this neighbOrhCod is the ''LOng Old Fields"
1t will be remembered that about year ago
the lOng-talked OF
CONTRACT FOR CLEANING THE CANAL
was finally awarded to Messrs. Teemyer * Co.,
OF Philadelphia, and that later in the season
three dredging machines were brought here ard
put TO work at the eastern terminus of the ditch
AT that time the mud was thrown out on the
banks, TO be carted away, but the weight was
too much for the sustaining walls, which COM
menced tumbling in. The next plan resorted to
was TO float 1t away on scows to a cove between
the mouth Of The canal and Buzzard's Point
This Was afterwards stopped on account of its
filling up the channel of the Eastern Branch,
and the contractors soon afterwards hauled up
for the season, first, however dredging narrow
ditch up to the bridge for sewerage purposes in
that neighbOrhOOd Considerable trouble was
experienced, it will be seen. in finding suita-
ole place for the deposits. The contractors OBJ
tanned tugbOat and lowed the scOws down be-
low Alexandria, to dump them for a while, but
were prevented by the authorities.
PEoMPT ACTION OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC
WORKS.
When the Board of Public Works of the Dis
trict of Columbia entered upon their duties one
OF the first things they did was to order the
work 10 be commenced at the western terminus
OF the canal, and the dredging-machines were
hOated around to tpOint and spacewest OF the
old hoOd-gates cut through the dyke sufficiently
wide 10 admit the machines into the basin. The
mud had formed here so that il was impossible
TO get fat-bOat over this basin except at high
tide, and the machines had to cut their way
IL
entities were encountered in the Eastern
Branch-the finding of a suitable place for de-
posts. A suggested plan was the filling up of
the White Lot; also, the low grounds west OF
18th street and north of the canal ND as far as
the Skating Park; but as this would involve
heavy expense for carting, far beyond the fig
ures named in the appropriation bill, it was
abandoned.
THE NEXT AND MORE Feasible PLAN
of the board, which was finally aCiOpted was 70
dispose of the dredged matter at a point nearer
h. of
utilize il; and, through the advice of competent
engineers, wall is now being constructed each
side of the channel, commencing at the point of
entrance 10 the basin OF the Old dixie on the west
side, and extending due rorth to the southeast
corner of Calls wharf, and running in a direct
lire with it, making a continuous line of wall
from Canal street TO the dixie which connects
With the Monument Lot. This wall is 10 be Of
stone, set on rows of piles cut OFF below low
water mark, and when completed, and the space
between il and the old causeway filed in, will
form
A CONTINUOUS LINE OF WHARF
all the way down TO the river channel, making a
most valuable wharf property for the District.
ON the east Side of the channel (Which is to be
leo feet wide) similar wall is now nearly com
pleted, running on parallel line with the west
wall TO point near the northwest part of Edo
rsdo Island. Here an angle of about fOrty-five
degrees Is made nOrtheastcrly a distance OF
about one hundred feet, when a course is then
taken due east, and continued to the point
where the south wall of the canal terminates
this is TO be of wood, and is made with the view
OF answering present purposes, and at the same
time 10 form the foundation for a more perma-
nent wall at some Iuture day.
The manner of constructing IL is by driving
two rows of piles, the piles in the front rows
being five feet apart, and driven down to a solid
foundation. Behind this is another row. for the
purpose OF tying, which is done by means of
rolled iron rods seyen-eighths of an inch in
diameter, which pass through from the front to
the rear piles. The front row are cut off about
on level with the north wall, and a terant
made on the end of each, which fits in mOrtice
cUt IN Finch bridge umbers, which run lOngi-
tuClnaliy the entire length, forming a Gaping
or plate Behind this, and close together, are
then driven sheet piles, which run about twenty
feet TO solid clay bottom. These are all spiked
TO the Gaping at the top. Heavy logs are then
placed in the rear of the piling, and The iron
rods are run through skirting of oak plank on
the face of the sheet piles and 20 on through the
heavy timbers laying on the ground in the rear
of the ties. The mud when thrown over presses
the timber down deep behind the ties, and the
whole forms a firm wall.
THE DESIGN IS
70 I'll mp the whole of this low marsh between
the wall and the Monument grounds. This, it
vii be remembered, was the plan proposed
years ago by Mr.. VIM. Wise, former canal COM
missioner; and an area of some
SEVENTEEN ACRES OF GROUND WILL BE RE-
CLAIMED
thus, and added to Uncle Sans domain, at the
same time affording a most convenient place OF
deposit for the mud. AS before stated, this wall
"A a.
nent structure, but as an expedient, and may at
any future time be replaced by a stone wall
simply by driving row OF piles in front, and
cutting on both the new and old piles below
water, on the tops of which the plank NAV be
laid foundation for a permanent wall
The most important featr-e, however, of the
whole work is the plan adopted OF
NARROWING THE CANAL
from the angle at 18th street all the way to 9Th
street. This work has already been commenced
and Is done by sinking front row of piles 30 feet
from the north wall, bringing the row near the
present center OF the canal, and is TO continue to
9th sueet. The piles are about four feet apart,
OF ire best spruce pine, and are driven home to
a scld foundation, behind. and about four feet
from this row, Is another at the same distance
and both rows are to be cut OFF under water ON
the tops ofwhich and longitudnally is acapDing
OF Finch Susquehannah bridge timber on
this timber there will be laid a plank floor as a
foundation for the wall, which Is to be taken nm
from the north side, and relaid ON this new foun-
dation, thus adding a strip of valuable ground 20
feet IN width, from 9th to 18th streets to the
corporation property. A third row OF heavy
piles, ten feet apart, and in the rear will be
driven, ties, exactly like that before described
on the opposite side, and To be tied with iron
rods with screws, nuts, &c The canal, between
9th and 18th streets, will then De 80 feet wide;
it Is now AS feet wide.
THE BRIDGES
are TO be cut of TO suit, and arranged to swing
around, thus giving free passage 70 vessels, and
boats OF any size. This can be very easily done
and without much cost. The present bridges
will answer. Mr.. Rider, the gentleman who
constructed theIa, is now in this city and OF YES
IL his OpinOn that This rh :. az. n !.