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

IMPROVEMENTS ON THE POTOMAC.
United States Civil Engineer S. T. Albert, to
whom the work of improving the harbor OF
Washington aud Georgetown was transferred
by Col. w. 7. C.aighill, United States Corps
OF Engineers. has made his annual report to
the chief engineer OF the army, as follows
Since the construction OF the causcWay between
ADalostan Island and the Virginia shore and
the building of the Long Bridge. together with
It's section of solid causcway, built during the
administration OF President Jackson, no work
has been done, nor has ans structure been erect
cd which could alter the regimen of this part of
the river All the work since done has been
confined to the simple dredging OF channel
through the bars above and below the bridge.
Mr. Albert then refers 10 the act IF March 5,
1872, appointing board of survey for the pur-
pose Of reporting full and
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN OF IMPROVEMENTS.
The plan adopted by the board was to have
but one channel OF sEfficiout width and depth
Tor all purposes "a direct continuation of the
river at Georgetown, to run along the right
bank of tho river as far down as GrayelJy
Point, and thence directly towards Gicsboro'
Point, on the left bank joining the deep chan
mel Of the river at that point, following nearly
the present main channel
The most important points 10 the plan we're
rs follows: lst. 4 depth Of twenty-three feet
up to the proposed outlet of the Chesa peake
and Ohio canal, above Georgetown ID TO
widen the waterway to . 100 feet so as to
permit the mai &C Ivcrinp of the largest vessels
between Easby's Point and Gcsboro' Point.
sd. TO Increase the waterway at the Aque-
duct 24o feet. 4th. To reopen the channeI on
the right of Aualostau Island. 5,h. To cut off
hp lntt 4 A L.,
Point, so as to permit the river to sweep in
easy curves toward the Long Bridge
Alter the execution of the operations referred
to the river will naturally tcud to assume the
regimen 1t would IT the plan of the board were
completed. This tendency would become more
decided II the portion OF Alexander 5 island,
which lies next to the Lorg bridge, and part
oi The bridge itself, were also removed, leaving
waterway Of about , 700 feet in width be-
tween the island and thcrcmnant of the bridse.
TIE LONG BRIDGE.
BY the removal Of the bridge one of the rail-
ROAD connections with Virginia would be broken.
Mr., Albert therefore recommends that this part
of the plan shall remain uucXccutcd until q
provision inr tho transit Of traius and wagons
can be settled. lie suggests, as possible so.
'u'lon OF tins dithculty, the erection of a bridge
with draw OF bot less than 200 feet span the
remaining span being not less than 400 feet.
Nlr. Albert thcn goes on to explain what he has
done, and says: ln order to explain the
changes which have taken place since the last
excavation, would state that in 1871 cut of
200 feet wide was made through the bar above
The Long bridge. The work was begun under
the direction Of Colonel Craighill, and CON-
peted 10 December, 1871. The cut was in
tended to have width of two hundred feet
aud depth Of fifteen feet at mean low water,
tut durng the progress Of the work the
ireshcts which occurred caused some filling 10,
and reduced the depth to from thirteen to four
teen feet at low water. These depths have
been considerably reduced by natural causes,
the survey not showing more than eleven
aud one half feet, while in 1871 the depth had
ranged from thirteen to fourteen feet. The
length of the bar between the ffteen-foot
curvcs was 4 600 feet. Below the Long bridge
the least depth was lhirtecn and one half feet
and the length of the bar between the fifteen
loot curves ?, 100 feet. The work was offered
Tor contract aud awarded August 28, 1874,
10 W. IL. Beard, OF Brooklyn, N Y. Opera
tons were commenced by the contractor on
September Is, 1874, with one dredging ma
chine, a second one being placed on the work
September 30 The channel above the bridge
Wns first dredged, the material being deposited
on tho
ADJACENT FLATS
and along the line Of the proposed wharves.
Tiles were driven to mark the line and contiDe
the drcdged material Work was continued un-
I'll Dacember %, 1874, when extreme cold nc.
ccssltated a suspension of operations, which
could not be resumed until March 9, 1875. The
upper channel was completed April 27, and the
lower commenced April D. On May 20 the
dredging machines were withdrawn, and on
June "A the work was completed. The amount
OF excavation above the bridge was ia 57u
cubic yards, below 81, ,s7i, total of l46 3Sl
cubic yards. As the work approached compile
tloD 1t was found that balance remained over
which, by the conditions of the act of appro.
praton, might be applied to the removal of
the dangerous rocks from,
THE nARBOR oF:GEoRGEToWN.
\ chart of the rock and specifications for their
removal We're prepared and submitted to the
cniet engineer Of the army. The work was or
dcred to be advertised, bat the period of exc
cutlon will fall in thearx fiscal year
In carrying out plan involving the cxpcn-
durc Of such large sum o! money, the qucs-
tion arises as to the order aud precedence
Which should be given to the parts, since the
Whole cannot be executed at once w hen econo-
my auu raplolty or execution cOlnclde 10 the
same plan, there can be no difficulty 10 dccid
ing the question. The dredging, which has
Just been executed, must be repeated every
threc yerrs unless something is done to remove
the deposit
This work forms no part of the plan of the
board, although by the act of appropriation it
was to be applied so as to conform to its gene
raj features. 1t was not designed by them. Ii
was temporary, while the object of the board
Was the permanent improvement of the river.
II this plan is to be carried out in parts,
III much Will be saved by making nature an aux.
,nary. This can be done BY making the regi-
;n'l ot therlvers conform to the lines as shown
"r 81 .ile M charts prepared toaccompany the report
=, ~ 'he board. Easbys Point and The left side
=, ~ Anaostan lslaud should be- cut away so as
10 conform te these lines.
THE REMOVAL, OF Easuv,s po1Nm