Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-11-08
IMPROVEMENT OF THE POTOMAC
CHANNEL.
Important Report Of Major Craig.

Major VIM. p. Craichil, OF the engineer corns.
in charge Of the work of dredging the Potem ,f
channel between the Long Bridge AMI George
town, under the act of Congress of Julv IL, 1870,
apITOpr atiDg So 900 for that purpO = has sub
mitted his report to Gen. Humpnries Major
Craighll first refers to his letter OF Nov % ESQ
i'm which he recommended that the GeorretoWu
channel be eXcavated to a width of about 2U0
feet at bottom and to a depth of fifteen feet at
low water. His Recommendations we're anproye1
aud contract entered into.
The work has been delayed by ice in winter
by fTeshets in the spring, and bv sickness among
tue workmen. AT the request OF some of the
prominent men OF business of Georgetown an
examination of the river opposite that place was
made III June, 1871 for the purpose OF determine
ing precisely the location srd extent of certain
roofs or other distractions, with view to hav-
ing their positions carefully marked by buovs
or otherwise, and with the hope of Their ulti-
mate removal 1t was found that to remove
these rocks would cost $1,000, and il wsS then
recommend TO reduce the excavation of the
cham to a width OF IFS instead OF 300 wards
by which 5000 yards of excavation would have
been saved, amounting to S1i 100, and the rocks
could have been removed. 1t was, however, de-
cided to expend the appropriation in dredg "A 2
according 10 the approved project, and not to
undertake the removal of the rocks until more
money should be available for the Improvement
of the river. The dredging will be completed
during The autumn OF 1871.
The regimen OF the Potomac river jr tie space
embraced within tho original limits OF the Dis
trict of Columbia has been greatly modified with
in the last century. This change is due ID sew
eral cau IS. One of these is the conversion OF a
Large extent of country bordering On the stream
from forest into cultivated section. Another
is the growth OF large cities and towns mon its
banks. Still another is the building sf bridges
tor crossing the river, well as the ptsl lg out
OF wharves and other structures from its banks
into the stream. Several OF these artificial works
nave no. been arranged as well as they might be
with due regard to the preserV atien OF the
channels o. the river for the purposes OF COM
merce. The result of all these causes has been
the formation of extensive deposits. covering
large areas between Georgetown and AleNan.
dria. The channels formerly existing have
either been obliterated or greatly changed in
causeway of the Long Bridge il beyond
serious questions OF constant detriment to the
river. In the driIt o. events, however, il ap-
pears to have become thing not to be gotten
rid of, or materially ameliorated. In any scheme
Of Improvement for the river the continued
presence OF that structure must, IL would seem,
be taken into the account. The interests cen
tered In Georgetown press constantly in TIE di-
rection of the retention and Improvement OF the
Virginia channel, 10 the disregard OF the W ash
ingtOn channel. They have in their favor the
strong argument that nature, in her adjust
ment of the regimen OF the river TO exist
ing circumstances, keeps open the only
continuous navigable channel, what is
known as the Virginia or Georgetown cham
mel On the other hand il il suggest ed
by others tEat an unObjectiOnable course OF pro-
cedure would be to close up the Virginia chan
mel entirelyab the Long Bridge and open the
Washington channel in the same part OF the
river. ThatTby 80 doing access to Georgetown
WOuiu not De wnlle the river front of
Washington would be greatly improved. To
spend more money on the Virginia channel
would seem waste If il is ultimately to be
closed by breakwater OF a dam, las has been pro-
posed by some. To close ii seems running in
the face of the indications of nature. 1t seems
very desirable that authoritative decision
should be speedily obtained and some policy
fixed pc to the Improvement OF this river in
which the general government is so much intel
esttd. No further expenditure seems necessary
at this time tor the Virginia channel Under the
action of the causes already referred to it will
gradually fill mp to q considerable extent, and
then must be dredged out again, with the same
process of filling TO occur.
1t would seem proper 20 turn attention now 10
the Improvement OF the Washington channel
below the Long Bridge, for which an apprOpria-
ton of $685. Is recommended. The opening
of the cut proposed from the Maryland draw OF
the Long Bridge to Easbys point will csst not
less than S1OO,0O0. For the removal of rocks
near Georgetown SIC, 200 is needed. There was
expended during the fiscal year ending June 80,
1871, SIT, 5GS-54. Available Ter the fiscal year
ending june 30, 1872, SO 1915. Asked for the
fiscal year ending juno 50, 1873 100000.
letter from Captain c. Il. Phillips, who has
immediate supervision of the work, states that
for several obvious causes the depth of fifteen
feet IL not maintained Throughout. Two of
these causes only will be shown, either of which
is sufficient to account satisfactorily for the fact
OF shOaling. One is the occurrence Of freshets,
unusual ia number if not in violence. The
other cause referred to, is the Shiny semi-huid
condition Of much of the material on the bottom
Of the Potomac river in this part of its bed.