Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-20
LETTERS FROM THH PEOPLE.
SSOUf River Frnnt,S

Editor Star:-A communication No. 2, of BIS,
published In THE STAR, OF the 18th inst, has 90
called upon to correct them In behalf OF our
city, and not allow the impression to get abroad
that the Virginia channel was, and forever Is
to be, the highway up and down the Potomac
river.
He says:-"The conclusion is irresistabIe the
flats existed In 1900 substantially as they are
now." This is not so; he has evidently not been
some of us have been or he would not make
such On assertion He knows nothing OF the
steamboat ''1fber," Capt. Tharpe, that used to
Iiber Creek, coming through the draw on the
Virginia side and crossing the river where the
flats are now; This is fact: he knows moth
or about the foot OF 21st street, where water
to bring the materials necessary for the glass
fine wharf called Van Ness at the foot of 18th
street, where the writer has seen large schoon-
ers unloading; he knows nothing Of large
Der coming up to 18th and streets; he knows
nothing Of the day when John @. Adams, whilst
President OF the q. s., used to 60 out In small
bath and good sW i'm; he knows nothing OF the
day when sail boats could sail at pleasure all
over the spot where the fats now are, and water
when boats Of or feet draft could sail from
the washington end of the Long Bridge straight
for Alexandria: Then we had no dam In the
IotoMdC, CdhcU D CauScWay, 10 0ullQ up ana
make the flats that we see there now, nor did
we na, the point OF earth-wOrk that has been
MADE by the board OF public works near Easby's.
He says: mo engineer has ever diverted
mighty river from short course into long
one." have to say any engineer can divert
river from crooked course to straight one
As an example, take the Dutch Gap In the
James river; and also cay IL an engineer will
blast the rocks at Easbys point, and cut q
channelway through the ear arCh-works put there
by the board of public works, we will very soon
see where the channel runs. These rocks have
Deen the cause OF the turn the river makes at
that point. Now what have we seen for the
past th1lty years? dredging out OF the
Georgetown channel and depoSiting it where
the f1ar3 are now, some to float back or drift
into the Washlngt On channel, instead OF putting
1t on shore, where 1t could do no harm. Again
as to this dam In the river, is not this one of the
causes of the water backing up In the sewers
and flooding the lower portion OF the city? |
stood on the ea stern end OF the draw during tho
heavy freShet which occurred nearly Two Years
ago. and was with others fully satisfied that
the water was two feet higher above the bi Idye
than below, going through for want of room
With fearful rapidity. These two feet would.
OF course, back the water up the sewers unit
Louisiana avenue and street, from 9th to 14th
were covered with water, and cellars and houses
were flooded. No, Mr.. Editor, we have NOT
room enough now in our once noble river to let
the flats, Oam or cauSeWay remain. We say
lun wall from the city end OF the Long Bridge
10 Easby's Point, and through the rocks there
by aSting; remove the dam or causeWay:
throw a portion OF the flats over this wall to fiji
up the space made by the wall, and nature Will
90 the balance OF the work eflectually. N.