Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-09-17
Increase in favor of 1872
S3,S.I2 93


estimate of expenses for permanent works aud
extraordinary expenses incurred the sum OF
1850. l3 ; and for material for lockgates and
repairs of bridges, S3,277.l6.
The work of permanent or extraordinary
character which has received attention during
the mouth was riprapping the BERN bank at
Grove culvert, which has been completed.
Riprapping Guard Bank No. This work
is being done as rapidly as possible, but cannot
be completed for some days yet. 1t was re-
commended by W. r. Hutton, engineer, in
his late report. -,
The dredging or cleaning out of Basin al
Williamsport-rh basin, as | am Informed,
has NOT been thoroughly cleaned for years. but
in view of the Increased trade at that pnlut 1t
was absolutely necessary for the work to be
done
The riprapping Of tow path and guard bank
below dam 40. 5. az recommended by W. Il.
Hutton, engineer, has been commenced.
The bridge over Nuland's Ferry, which Was
estimated would cost for rcpliring $50, was
directed to be made, but the timbers We're
found in such rotten condition as to require
| the construction of u new bridge, which is now
being built.
The repair of sustaining wall below Lock Il
| Great Falls, TO tectin length and % feet high,
was directed to be made i'll conformity to Sug-
| pc ton of Mr. Hutton, but when the accuuu-
| Iaton at foundation was removed soa to com,
mence sustaining pier of 5 feet in lenght aud
| II feet wide it was found that the main wall
| was in more precautions condition than 1t was
po,sible for Mr.. lIuntton to ascertain.
As an accident at this point would suspend
| navigation for long time directed that an
| additional sustaining wall be built the entire
length, l20 feet to be carried above high water
line. The Engineer, Mr.. Patterson, and Su.
| pcrinteut Of Division CONCUR in The opinion that
| this was necessary precautlon, and !; large
force of workmen are now engaged upon the
work
The work on feeder at Dam No. has been
| extensive, but if it had been neglected Suih-
cient supply for navigation alone would not
| have been secured on Georgetown Level during
the exceptionally low state of the river.
| Other extraordinary expenses have been IN
currpd all of which are included in the est-
mate ofcxpenSes,
| During the month navigation has been some
| what iuterfcred with by the break IN BERN
| bank at Bulls Hollow. on August lth; the
| small culyert at this point not being large
enough to carry off the water, it rose above tie
BERN bank and caused the break, which delay
| ed navigation for twenty-tour hours
The loss of lock gates has also been great dur
| ipgtle mouth, but as Il sufficient number OF new
gates were on hand to replace those lost the
| detention in navigation was lnc0nslderablc.
The low state of water in the Potomac river
| has however caused great trouble and delays.
| At Cumberland the supply has not been suth-
cient for navigation; no water passed over the
| dam for several days, and the back water above
| the dam was so low that 1t was necessary to
dredpe channel across the mouth OF Wills
| Greek to pass boats to and from the canal to
| Lvnn's Wharf. As the supply for the hrst
| ifty miles below Cumberland is received at
| this point, nothing but tho greatest economy
! ia the use of water on the part OF the othcers
! has enabled US to pass boats drawing tour feet
| six inches. >,
On the 24th August the boat 'Hollander"
was sunk on the Tunnel Level by the carlessness
ofthe parties in charge Of the boat. As the
water was 50 low the level could not be drawn
| off, we were compelled to unload the boat is she
Law under the water. This accident caused a
| SUSPENSION Of navigation for sixty hours. 10
| have drawn off the water would have CAUSED
suspension of five or six days.
On the other Divisions the supply OF water
has been suffirient for wants of navigation, ex-
cept on the Georgetown Division, where the
supply has not been sufficient for purpose OF
| navigation and to supply the various mills.
The extension OF wall and other improve
| nents at the feeder above Georgetown made by
our immediate predecessors, and the extmordl-
| nary work doue by your direction IN the past
| two months, has however enabled Us to give
the mills fair supply of water as compared
| with the past two years. During hrst ten days
| Of presept month it has however been neceSsa-
tbo tn n1,p r.
ing the day and resume at nj ght:
Naturally those who are leasing water are
COMPLAINING, and consider it great hardship
to be required to suspend operations at any
time; but as the primary object of the Canal IS
| to afford navigation, | gave positive lnstruc-
tons to the officers in charge to keep up navl
cation as long as there was sufficient water, and
| discontinue the supply to mills SO long as 1t
| was absolutely necessary. To increase the supply
| on this Division when the Potomac is as low as
| at this time WILL | am satisfied, involve the
construction of more permanent dam, or
when outlet locks are built above Georgetown
the narrow part of the Canal will at once be re-
lieved. and the free flow Of water to Rock
Creek will be ensured which is not now the
case, but is one Of the great troubles on the
Georgetown Level, for the reasons that during
the busy season on the Canal the loaded boats
awaiting to discharge their oargoes clog the
Canal for a mile or more above Georgetown
and prevent the free flow owater, and also the
boats will then when the new out let is bullt)
be able to lock into the river and use it as
Basin to lie in and get largely increased storage
and shipping facilities on both sides OF the rlV-
er, which can only be had by this plan.
Since the 18th instant there has been plenty
Of water along the line.
The balance in the various banks the 3lst of
August was Sl47,5lOl9
Il therefore respectful ly recommend that
the sum OF $50 9S5 be appropriated to pay the
coupons due July, 1855, on the preferred con-
struction bonds
After the reading of the report, which was
adopted, resolution was also adopted ,appro.
priatiug $50, 955 to take up coupon on the pre-
fcrred consolidated bonds, and the president
reported sufficient amount in hand to ta Ike up
a second one at the next meeting of the board,
to take place in Annapolis on October 3D. The
presidents quarterly report to the stockholders
was read and approved, and will be submitted
to the stockholders at meeting to be held in
II. l.,,,