Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-10-28

gucnt enlargement of waterway will relieve
Georgetown of the danger which is likely to
occur at the high water of spring time; but in
cutting off the point it will be necessary to
remove larger amount of rock than was at first
anticipated, and this part of the estimate will
have 10 he propnrtinnately increased, although
ny more modifying .hc lines as to cncroach
lcas upon the land the cost OF rcrk excavation
will be materially reduced But before pracll-
cal operations can begin the title 10 the land
must be rxiinguishcd hy purchase, and the diff
hcllt question OF va'ua!inn must b. dtcllcd.
The next step should hc
THE REMOVAL FANALosTAN ISLAND,
included between the limits marked ou the
chart Of the river; but bolore this is done pro-
vision should be made for the transit OF trains
and for ordinary travel.
The enlargement Of the water way at the
Aqucduct bridge, aud the deepening OF the
channel behind AnaIostau Island, are parts Of
the improvements Whether the streets should
be promptly extended to the deep water or
only so near as will Accommodate the trade of
the city are questions for consideration. BY
extending the streets the water space between
them will be partially filled by the deposit
brought down by the fl 'ods, and this would be
an economical method if the dredged material
the filing on the flats. The necessity Of re-
ducng the proposed depth in the channel
would cause considerable reduction in the
amount of dredging, which would practically
equazn the filling and excavation, and won
largely reduce the cost. The qu :stion is i'm
portant IN another respect, slucc 1t will be diff.
cult to hnd suitable places Of deposit for the
excess of excavation. Without attempting at
this time to fix the precise depth wich vii! at
ford an ample navigation
FOR ONE HUNDRED YEARS TO CONE,
there can be little question that the modifca-
ton suggested will become necessary on ac.
count of limited appropriations, and will be de-
slrable from reasons OF economy. The amount
of filling will depend on the height of the food,
which is stated 10 the report to be ten feet at
the Aqueduct bridge and four feet DiDe inches
at the arsenal. There was u prospect that the
foods of last year would be unusually high.
The winter SHOWS had been exceedingly heavy,
and the concurrence Of heavy rains on the ap-
proach of spring would, it was thought, cause
an UNUSUAL food. The approach of spring,
however, was gradual, and the rains occurred
at Intervals, 80 that the season Of floods pass
ed away without any unusual increase of wa
ter. Stations had been established at Easby's
Point, at the foot of Seventeenth street, at the
Long bridge and at the arsenal in order to fix
precisely the height of the food at these points.
These observations seemed desirable, as an
elaborate criticism of this part Of the plan had
been laid before Congress. The fixaton of rx-
tlcnG hirh water was therefore an important
uIattcr | have omitted any reference to the
bulk head, as its construction would follow the
work | have proposed. aud would require an
other appropriation. The first steps, that is
the cytnguishmcnt of title of The portions to
be cut off of Analostan Island and EaShy's
Point and the removal and dredging of the
parts 80 cut off, should he
EXECUTED pOMITLY
The longer the delay the greater will be the
cost, Tor the greater will be the probability that
combinations will be made to exact cxrrava-
CANT prices for the land. The case presents a
simple alternative: either for Congress to ac-
cept the price fixed by the property owners if
they regard it just and fair, or to appoint
board Of assessors For the extinguishment OF
title claims Of proprietors, and for the removal
OF portion of the sand and rock, an appropr-
alton of $55O0O0 will be required. If how
ever, Congress decides on the prompt cxccu-
ton of the plans of improvement of the board
of survey, $500, 900 should be appropriated. In
dilatory execution Of these plans the channel
along the Washington front is shoaling more
each year. In order to keep the channel open
to present trade Sl4, 900 will be required. The
total, therefore, required, will be 1854 900.