Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-10
THE RIVER FRONT QUESTION.

IHE hlVEh fhUNI QUtSIluN.
Editor ISdr:-The engineer commissioner OF
the District, after great labor to reconcile the
conflicting views of the Georgetown and South
Washington wharf owners, has devised a plan
for the improvement Of the river. and it would
seem to be an ungraciouS task to attempt to
disturb the compromise between Ion 5-time
benigerent sections; but for the fact that in
executing this plan, the interests of more i'm
pOrtant section, the valley OF the Tiber, viii be
sacrificed or seriously affected.
In reference to ''Easby's Point" to which
'Windmill Point" it is but just to our George
town and South Washington friends to say
whatever differences of opinion they have held
with regard to the several plans proposed by
unit upon the proposition to cut off Windmill
Point; and you will, perhaps, permit me to say,
NOTED by cutting it off. The money damages
to which the owners of that property will be
fairly entitled would enable them to improve
their water lots below '.Braddock's rock" a
much better location for business. propose
however, to discuss this question without refer
ence to individual interests, and will endeavor
to point out to our friends in South Washington
by acquiescing in Major Twinings plan, and to
those whose interests lie in the central OF the
city, the consequences that Will follow its exc
cution. Our friends in Georgetown will not be
affected 1t will make no difference to them
what change is made In the course of the river
below their harbor; so they have deep channel
through which to approach their wharves.
THE PLAN OF MAJOR TwINING
embraces that of the board of survey above the
Potomac bridge, with notifications, some of
which renders 1t more Objectionable, but on
paper'it has a very attractive appearance, like
that OF tie board 1t proposes to cut of, Wind
mill point, but only to the line of the river
bank. The effect on the current of the river.
however, Will be the same, as 1t will destroy the
defence which nature has placed there for the
protection OF the fiat part Of the city below the
point. The major proposes to erect dyke
to prevent an Eruption of the Potomac into the
city; to keep open the "city channel" below the
bridge, and to connect it by automatic gates,
'.Kidweli's meadows.a He further proposes to to
admit water into the flu hing basin, from the
Georgetown channel, through gates to be con-
structed in the dyke, and to construct canal
in line with the B street sewer, to convey the
sewage to the same channel. Above the canal
to Windmill point and below 1t to the Potomac
bridge, with the exception of the space occu-
nearly to the height Of the dyke That part of
the mole around the flushing basin he pro-
poses to adorn with shade trees and flower
Below the brdse the Ssr ReIe viii alSf be
raised to two feet above common high tide
the execution OF the work on this plan Will
cut on the whole front Of the city below Tiber
reduce the ''city channel to tideless basin
with all the repulsive features Of the basin in
Baltimore. Automatic gates or gates of any de-
inadequate to admit sufficient water to carry
OIL the daily accumulation of nauSeouS deposits
which will lind their way into the Washington
basin, which Will receive all the surface drain
age and all the sewage of that section OF tae
city Hing east OF Fourteenth street to Sixtl
street and south OF Maryland avenue to the cor
OF Greenleaf point. All the ofral from the ship
ping will fall into the basin, and all the floating
Iuisances brought up by the tide to Geesboro
point during strong southwest wind will b.
blown into IL and remain there fostering In the
sun until they sink to the bottom; and last and
most serious will be from the upper Potoma
AID from b street sewer lwhen freshet in tn
river Is not higher than five feet above com.
non high tide, when higher than five feet the
sewage will flow back into the city, which
will empty It's contents into the Georgetown
channel, and with the dead animals, rotten
timber and vegetables and aluvium will be CIR
ried down by the current until 1t passes the
lower end OF the mole below the bridge, and
will then be drawn into the basin b. the coun-
ter current caused by closing the channel above
and by the rebOunding OF the waters from Gees
boro' point. EddieS In rapid currents are too
familiar to require description. You have only
to look at the accumulation Of mud on the 'flee"
side OF wharf to comprehend that operation OF
hydraulics. All these deposits must be dredged
out OF the basin at an average annual cost Of at
least SIG, 900, and the compound of vllainous
SMELL which will issue from the operation OF
dredging VIII be worse than that which now
arises from the marsh, and it will become ne
cessity in few years to FL up the ''city chan
neI' and carry out the plan OF the board OF sur
vey which all our South Washington friends
the portly old millionaire In the ru,, followed
by the whole population, In all Its gradations
from the publicans and sinners to the church
have been Strenuously and, up to this time, sue
ceSSfully opposing.
TIE DANGER TO TIE TIBER VALLEY.
Our friends in the valley CT the Ttber, although
anxious for speedy obliteratlon OF the marsh
seem to view with philosophic Indifference the
plan by which that object Is to be att aimed, as
something that does not concern them. In che
ordinary condition of the Potomac the river
would flow peacefully on, even though 1t were
contracted to one-third its present Width but
when goaded TO frenzy by the demon of the
course diverted and Its outlet INSTRUCTED, Will
seek Others, and one OF them through PennSyl-
wanna avenue. Then the plan for the oblitera-
ton OF the marsh will assume an Importance to
the people OF the valley, even greater than the
removal OF the hot-bed of disease. at its en-
trance. visit OF the Potomac to the mer-
on the avenue, would be literally "a visitation"
! OF course acquit Major Twining OF any inten-
ton to extend that courtesy to the river; but
his plan for It's Improvement is certainly card
OF invitation SO gushing In its character that
the stream which for generations has borne
upon It's bosom, and thrown into the lap OF the
city, the products Of the rich valley through
which IL flows may accept with consistency the
hospttalities rendered SO frankly. AS prelimi-
nary to the entrance Of the river, the major pro-
poses to remove the barrier at Windmill Point,
which dame nature has placed there to restrain
her turbulent son, Potomac. Cutting of that
point will turn the course of the current directly
towards the mouth OF the Tiber and that fact
Is virtually admitted in the proposition to build
dyke above the highest freShets along the
whole front OF the city from Windmill Point
across Ttber Creek to the Potomac bridge He
proposes to destroy the defensive work of ma
ture In the vain belief that art can produce
better. Art can produce a work composed OF
blocks OF stone tied together by metal bands
and bound with dement's, which With constant
attention. to prevent disruption. NAV resist the
strain to which 1t win be Subjected in every
spring freShet, but It's strength will be weak
ness compared with the work of nature, Wind
mill Point, solid rock, which without any at
tentton, has resisted the freshets OF ages. 1t is
1mmovable by the attrttion OF water, though
Sktlful and patient labor can destroy It's Soudity
and reduce 1t to atoms
Major Twinings plan, like that OF the board
OF survey, Will contract the river opposite the
mouth OF the T1ber to one-half ifs present
width and labored calculation have been made
to show that the water course will still be SUM-
ctent to carry on a food without any material
rise OF the water; but the fact that
IT REQUIRES WIDTH,
not depth, to dispense the flood waters opposite
to and below the valley Of the Tiber, seems to
Lave been entirely ignored 1t is immaterial
whether the river Is five or five hundred feet
deep IL win be filled to its level in its ordinary
stage and win be sustained at that level by the
whole weight OF the river below the city, Tho