Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-10-17
OUR RIVER FRONT,
Dredging the Channels and re.
claiming the EiafS-Thc Work i'm
hand. and What Will Remain to
be Dome.

Dredging the Channels and re.
claiming the FIafS-Thc Work i'm
Hand. and What Will Remain to
be Done.
gentleman whose familiarity with all mat
iers connected with the Improvement Of the
harbor OF Washington entities his opinions and
suggestions to the respectful consideration OF
those interested, sends us the following commu-
nicaton on this important subject:
A writer in THE STAR OF the I'd of October
While justly complaining of the condition of the
sewerage OF our city, has been led inadvertent-
ly perhaps, into making a statement which con
yeys an incorrect idea OF the effect of the
dredging operations now in progress in the
channel OF the river above the Long bridge The
material dredged from the channel is deposited
on the flats below Easby's point. and about
lnfee-10arthS or mile from the head OF the
washington channel, and nearly three miles
from It's mouth. The locality OF the deposit is
Indicated in the act of Congress which directs
that the earth eXcayated from the channel
snail ..be deposited so as to carry out as far as
practicable the plan of improving the harbors
OF Washington and Georgetown in accordance
with the recommendation made to Congress
December 18th. 1872, by a board OF survey Gre
ated by act Of Congress approved March 5th,
lo'2' This plan proposes
TO RECLAIM THE sO-CALLED FLATS,
which cover an area OF 100 acres, and which are
growing so rapidly under the annual accretions
OF sediment. brought down by the river, that
before many years they will by this naturalprO-
cess, be raised above the level OF low water.
The aquatic grasses; which cover THIS space
and faint the atmosphere on the border o; the
rtverwith diSagreeable OdOr, which is believed
10 be the chief cause of malarial disease. What
ever may be the nature OF the LaiaSn 1t is we'll
known fact that Arlington Heights, Observatory
Hill, the Arsenal and the borders of the Potc.
mac In the vicinity, are subject, during the au-
tumn, to certain types of remittent fever. This
fever, as well as some injury ID the navigation,
the writer, above mentioned, thinks will be in
creased by the present improvement. The OBJ
of &c fy,lvDp tlr.r,t ic-
Georgetown channel and also to dredge the
Washington channel, between The Long bridge
and the Arsenal. All this work can be done
with the present appropriation and according to
the contract, which permits the contractor to
deposit the eXcavated cal, n AT designated To-
caltes, where it Will be harmless. In relation to
THE WORK IN PROGRESS
In the Georgetown channel the writer saws
1.-The effect OF this strange procedure is not
only as at present, to cause sluggiShneSs OF
current which necessarily tends to the perpetl-
alton OF the nuisance, but, in addition, will fur
ther o6stl dct our channel, which seems to be
hlllng up from natural accretlOnS, and thereby
il difficult for vessels to reach our
WhIrveS without tedious and expensive delay"
Now, to make the error OF the above statement
more apparent, i would request the writer
as Wen as the reader, to lay before him a small
photographic map OF the city, which can be pro-
cured at any OF the bookstores This man cost,
fifteen cents, or about the price of three ordin-
airy quinine pills, and viii be much more enec-
tive in clearing his mind of error than the pills
THE accumulated effete matter which forms the
nuisance complained Of" Only an insignificant
amount OF sediment can be transported to the
Washington channel at ordinary stages ana
when the sediment OF the food water reaches ii
the velocity OF current is 50 great that no de.
post can take place except behind WharyeS or
III eddieS.
The ''sLUGGISHNESS OF THE CURRENT
over the flats began when AnaiOStan island was
united 10 the Virginia shore, and has been fur
lnef increased by the cauSeWay Of the Long
bridge. This effect extends above and below
the bridge The accretiOnS of sediment below
he bridge have had the effect of an artificia!
lefty and have kept the Washington channel
from hliing up. This channel has improved
ana Is in better condition now than it has
been for many years. 1t is not. however as
deep as IS required by the necessities OF trade.
THE APPROPRIATION MADE BY CONGRESS-
under the present contract will be sufficient to
1redSe channel 10 feet deep at high wate',
which is ample for the present wants OF naviga-
ION. III, however, the eXcavated material
should he deposited on the flats directly below
The bridge special ScOwS Will have to be built
and the work I'LL cost so much that not more,
man One-fOluJh or One-fifth OF the channel
could be Improved. and Congress would have TO
grant anotIer appropriation before all the
wharf holders could participate in the benefit
II the Improvement. Nor would the material
deposited on the fiats be sufficient TO cover up
all the accumulated effete matter which
forms the nuisance" and the aquatic plants not
covered Will still continue 10 decay and eXitaie
OdOrS
BY dispOsipg OF the excavation in selected To-
calitiee where the water is sufficiently deep for
jumping Sc0WS and tug boats, the entire WASH
n9ton charnel can be improved according to
the Intention OF Congress. The appropriation
was made for the improvement OF the naviga-
Ion OF the Washington channel and not for The
doubtful attempt 10 abate any nuisance real or
imaginary. and we are glad TO see that the
money is 10 be expended 10" this object.
TIE PLAN FOR PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT
Before leaving this subject it may be well TO
pf MIA ff
ne BOARD OF survey. which was intended TO PFC
'lde Tor the permanent Improvement OF the nav
cation aud sanitary condition OF the Potomac
Lei the reader place before him the fifteen cent
nap. which has been mentioned: let MIN draw
ines cufNirg gently lromEaSby'S Point TO point
300 leet south OF the southern end OF the cause
way Oh The Long bridge. Now with q similar
curVe, but reversed, let him continue the line to
point opposite the arsenal point. This line will
represent the proposed new river front and win
include the area, which is to be raised above high
water, floods, and reserved for park or for city
lets. The river Will then have but Oae channel
The entire city front Will be advanced TO deep
water.
While the work is in progress the Washington
city channel will be kept open for navigation
and tie city sewers Will be carried to the new
;nannel ana VIII empty themselves about half
I mile luther from the center of the city than
hey do at the present time. The elevated Dor
ions OF the city will be thoroughly drained by
steam sewer plmps-one on the new river front
near the prOlOngatiOn Of 18th street: the other
perhaps at point hallway between the arsenal
nd tie navy yard. BY adopting the essential
features OF the plan OF the board OF survey-that
5 10 say, by raising the entire area OF the flats
tD0ve the highest floods eXcavating q naXi-
gable channel for Washington and Georgetown
o depth OF ~ feet, and protecting the river
Jank with stone facing along the new front |
he cost OF the improvement would be reduced |
o one-half OF the original estimate, according
% the reports made 10 the bureau of engineers
The dredging now in progress is being demos
ted IN accordance with this plan of perina-
lanenlly improving the river and the Sanitary
condition Of the city.
Amusements. Etc.
NATIONAL THEATER-The combination bill Al