National Republican., 1879-07-28
OUR RIVER FRONT.
An Interview Between Ciiixeus and the Dis
trict Commissioners.


trlct Commissioners.
The committee representing the Citizens
Protective Association of South Washington,
consisting of Mcssis. G. b. Church, DIR. Charles
Allen, James L. Barbour, William II. Clagett,
S. s. Baker, Rev. William Bittinger, Samuel
Bacon, c. z. Culver II. L. Biscoc, aud others,
had an interview with the District Commis.
sionors last Saturday in relation to the ooudi.
tion Of the river front and its proposed Inn
provemont.
MIR. Church was the first speaker. He pointed
out tho existing trouble and demonstrated with
tho aid of q chart how the remedy could be
best applied. He was followed by DR.. Allen.
Commissioner Phelps said that a general
mistake existed as to the just capacity of the
old Washington channel. He remembered
it for thirty years back, and within that time
no large vessels had been able to reach George
town by that route.
Engineer Commissioner Twining said that
the Commissioners had 10 intention of inter
lering either with commerce or navigation
upon this side of the river, or of controlling
the currents of the river to the prciudicj Of
any one. Their ouly object now is to carry or
the sewer discharge out cf the way, where 1t
viii not bc offensive TO our citizens. lie said
the old channel had already been pretty effect.
ually closed, but in lieu of II there had been
formed by nature SORT of swash channel, now
communicating with our side. 1t did not
amount to much, as IL WAS not uavigablc to
vessels or boats drawing hardly any water
At all events, the Commissioners do not pro-
pose to interfere with this swash channel In
making this outlet. The river requires at
least 1000 feet Of hOwage capacity and it
could not b. curtailcd below these figures
The cmbankmcnt proposed will not interfere
with these figures.
MIR. Church hnlipvp1 that if thn prnnnecl
plan was carried out 1t would materially in.
tcrfero with the river front. They also wished
the causewny at MasOn's Island kept down. so
as to have good open flow of water in times
of flood.
Maps aud charts were produced by
the District Commissioners. one n cross section
of the river at the point where the Long Bridge
now stands, traced in 1884, showing cOnclu-
svely that no material change had taken place
in the capacity Of the two river channels since
that time. Other cross sections made from re-
cent soundings were also produced by the Com-
inissioners, aud exhibited to the committee,
fully bearing out this statement. The cross
section first alluded to was made from u report
of the engineers who constructed the Long
| Bridge, during the administration Of General
| jackson.
After n further consultation Commissioner
| Twining agreed to suspend the work Mt the
| point where, in the judgment OF the committee,
| ~ nouiu WIN bllC pTcSSnI CUdnucl
until he could ascertain how much it would So
interfere, aud, If it could be done. that the di-
rection OF the outlet should bc so given us not
to interfere with the present swash channel
connecting with the Washington channel.
This terminated the interview upon that
subject.
DIR. Allen then inquired of Il Commissioners
what they thought of the plan discussed ut the
citizens meeting of merging the water depart
ment accounts with the general fund of tho
District and having the whole Of the District
revenues and disbursements under Que fund,
us now established by law.
Commissioner Phelps favored the project
and would unite with the citizens in bringing
about such a state of affairs He thought that
the expenses OF the Water Department should
be borne by the general fund. Then all inter
ested would be required to sustain it.
GENTS SOLID GOLD STEM-wINDING WAL
THAN WATCH S3g JACOBS BROS, 1920 PENN