Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-30
LIE TIERS 1ROM TEE People.
Our River Front. No,

ject Of the Improvement to be made In the Po-
tomac river opposite Washington city. Numer.
found wanting. Public opinion has condemned
the project Of forcing the mighty current and
the fIeshets of the Potomac sharply TO the east
below Easby's Point, and projecting them, with
AL their desolating power, against that frail
peninsula or earth, sand, and gravel known as
south Washington, leaving on the Virginia side
malarial flats a mile wide, including an aban-
doned channel. 1t has also condemned the
project Of destroying our present haroor, and
sending our wharf line q half mile farther west
10 an exposed shore; and also, that OF making
two streams out OF water barely sufficient for
one OF the necessary width and depth. The
fittest ideas have survived. namely: the MAIN
tenance and improvement OF the main channel
and OF the existing harbor OF Washington.
These are understood to be the leading features
OF plan now In course OF preparation by Major
Twinipg, and approved by leading engineers or
the L. S. army. l do not know the Majors
working details or that they are decided upon;
nor do speak for him. mention him because,
in engineering circles, he has the credit OF origi
mating certain thoughts which wish to use,
because they appear TO me right. The best plan
must. think, embrace the following elements:
/. The improvement Of the present channel. To
diminish the danger to Georgetown OF freshets
and weaken the impulsion OF the current against
the east shore OF the Potomac between Rock
Greek and Easbys Point, the channel should be
widened by cutting of the eastern rounded eX-
tension of Analostan Island. (See recommen-
datlon OF this In Board OF survey Report, 1SI2)
TO prevent the obstruction OF the current by
the solid rock projection OF EaSby's Point and
its consequent violent detection towards the
Virginia shore, about 200 feet of the point should
be taken of. To take 460 feet, as has been pro-
posed, would endanger the Long bridge; and,
besides, would be very costly, say $500 900. (?)
Cutting of 200 feet would with the widening OF
the channel at Georgetown as above, give to
the river an easy curve.
From Easbys Point to the lower end Of the
flats, near the Arsenal, the west and southwest
lpe OF the hats should be strongly bulk-headed
or rip-rapped.
From the lower end Of Analostan Island a
wall should be built along the west side OF the
main channel, high enough to confine the cur
rent at ordinary stages OF water, and give 1t
force enough to clean out its bed, after the man.
! ner or Eads jetties at the mouth Of the Mlssis-
Slpp1, uhus Aking unnecessary the greater
part OF the customary appropriation TO dredge
out the fuviatile deposits), and low enough to
allow the overflow OF freshe5s upon the low
grounds on the Virginia side thus relieving
South Washington from the danger OF inunda,
tion. The height OF freShet high water being
wen known, 1t Is easy to regulate the height OF
the wall. In the flood of 1871, the rlversroSe
above high tide level at Easby's Point, IA feet;
at 18th street wharf, 10 feet; at Long Bridge o
feet; and at Arsenal Point, S feet.4 inches. It's
ets Geer tne eshes should 1n 60 over the Vgnis
no harm, than that they should inundate Penn
Sylvania avenue, and their swift and foaming
currents should dash through the dwellings or
our fellow citizens In the southern part Of the
city.
The rock taken from Easby's Point might be
used to build the wall, in rip-rap style or other
wise.
ii. The improvement Of Washington Harbor.-
From Long Bridge to the channel at the mouth
OF the Anacostia, the harbor should be not less
than IS feet deep and 500 feet wide. That
| depth is necessary to accommodate vessels
| which can easily reach Washington; and the
width is little enough for the anchorage, wharf
| age and passing and repassing of the vessels,
foreign and domestic, which, we may reason
| ably expect, will, In course OF time, seek the
Wharves Of the capital Of the North American
| III. Sluicing Basins Abore Long Bridge.-Such
| harbor, washed by three foot tides protected
| by law from sewer discharges and earth and
as needed, would be neither filthy nor mala-
r1ous. But, by way OF precaution, 1t is proposed
to have above Long Bridge series of slulctng
the head Of the harbor at the east end Of Long
Bridge and opening by tide gates into both the
channel and the harbor. at high tide the
tide it is to be discharged into the harbor. In
addition to flushing for purposes Of publication,
these connected lakes would serve as overfiows
IN M time OF freshet They might also be made
highly ornamental.
1V. Filling up the Flats.-The grade of these
| should be several feet above the level OF the
highest probable flood. Above Long Bridge all,
except the reservoir basins, should be dry land,
| the mall being extended to the main channel.
| The dredgings from the channel, the harbor
| aid the reservoirs, without the earth from
! grading down Observatory hill would give ma
| tertal enough, at short haul, for the necessary
| flling. The made land could be used for rail-.
lodu uepOtS, DuSlnoSS houses, WnarI lines, parks,
| sc. It might be sold In lots
v. Filling up Marshes ON the Pirginia Flats
These are constant sources Of malaria:
This plan is economical, giving to the U. s.
land enough to reimburse by its sale all needed
appropriations. 1t is practicable, for private
capitalists are willing to de 1T In consideration
OF the grant to them OF the made land. 1t frees
the capital OF the nation from the malariouS
Influence of the river marshes; 1t clashes with
no legitimate interests Of private parties; and It
promotes the trade of both Georgetown ana
Washington. 1t is not to be expected that
all should agree upon details. Let them be left
to the engineer. But we can agree upon the
general outlines. II so, the adoption Of the
plan by Congress will be easily gained We
have discussed the subject long enough; now is
the Gnlef TO act. B.
P. S.-"M." insists (see STAR Of 26th inst1 on
pushing me to discuss matters clearly irrele-
want. His exception TO my general expression,
substantially true" is trivial. But he owes to
the public to explain away his astounding as.
sertton that the Elcott map of 1892 shows that
"a channel starts out into the Potomac from
the foot OF 18th street and runs about through
tie center of the present causeway, and inter-
Island"
1 deny this fatty. The Potomac has never
run up stream. This Is verse than making John
Quincy AcamS swim on dry land. b.
A Mystery. with an UnsatisfactOrv