Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-10-23
IMPROVEMENT OF THE WASHINGTON HsRBoR.

IMPROVEMENT Ut lht WASHING UN HARBOUR.
CONTRACT AwARDKp-How THE WORK Is 10 RI
DoNs AND wHERE TIE DUMPING Is TO BR
NADE-NoTHING TO BB DOM IN rHE WAY or
SANITARY IMPROVEMENT.
Following the recent adv ertised proposals by
the United States engineer department for the
improvement OF the Washington harbor, bids
have bsen received by Col. s. T. Albert, engineer
N charge, which were opened September II ami
the award made on Monday last TO the lowest
bidder, the National Dredging Company Office
al No. 1920 New York avenue In this city.
THIS Work contemplateS the widening OF the
WASHINGTON channel between the northeast end
o. the Long Bridge and Greenleat'S Point, or the
lnited States arsenal, where the Eastern
BTaLch enters the Washington channel; and IL
IS the purpose to eXpend the available amount
(sa5oONl or the appropriation made the last seS-
sion OF Congress (S5000Cl for the widening as
stated, the depth OF the channel, when COM
pleted, not to be less than Is feet at low tide.
The present channel along the wharf front
between the points named is 200 feet wide as
feet next the wharves being Is feet deep. and
the remaining width ~ feet deep at low tide.
This was the condition OF the channel last fall
al tie completion OF the dredging contract with
Messrs. Fobes & Co., which expired at that time
and which was fully described I'm tbs STAR.
The work already done has been OF immense
advantage TO the commerce OF this District the
st season. enabling many heavy draft vessels
employ ed in tie ice and coal trade TO enter and
depart the channel with freedom at any stage
OF the tide. The specifications accompanying
the pro posalS named two localities for dumping
the ma erill TO be eXcayated: one on the Potomac
tiats anywhere from one totwelve miles below,
the permission OF owners OF lands fronting on
such flats 10 be first obtained for dumping such
deposits and the other on the harbor flats below
e Long bridge. The bid OF the National
D. edgiGg Company was Ii cents per cubic yard
for depositing the material TO be eXcavated upon
the Potomac Hats and q cents per yard for de-
posting on the harbor flats.
The former bid or ii cents per cubic yard Is
accented he
STRUNG the act making the appropriation TO
have reference 20 the improvement of the har-
Tor. and not especially to its sanitary improve
ment.
TIE WORK NOT IN THE DIRECTION OF SANITARY
IMPROVEMENT.
The feaTfully filthy condition OF the river flats
both below and above the Long bridge is well
kIow to all, and anything to be done looking
to its sanitary improvement is a matter OF great
interest and Importance TO the citizens OF Wash
1ngton. The hope has been general that this
appropriation would be expended in the dretig-
Ing and improving OF the flats above the Long
bridge Comparing the condition or the flats
below with that above the bridge. IL is apparent
to all that the latter needs the first attention,
receiving as 1t does. upon Its surface, the
great bulk OF debris from the freshets, as well
as sewer deposits from the 1lth-street sewer
outlet, and situated nearer to the more densely
populated portion OF the city, is therefore most
offensive. The appropriation expended Ia this
way would be In entire harmony with the plan
proposed by the Committee OF One Hundred
Citizens some years ago, and which was SubSe-
quently adopted by the District commissioners
afier being somewhat modified by the engineer
commissioner, and probably would meet the
views and wishes or this entire community. In
conversation between the chief engineer. Gen.
j, G. Wright and THE STAR reporter, tue former
stated thai the appropriation having been made
IN the regular way iii the act for river and har
Dor improvements, ft could not be diverted TO
carrying out plans other than those best cal
culated for the Improvement OF navigation and
commerce In the Washington harbor, and that
In future appropriations OF this kind it would
be well for the District government authorities
to see to it that such AUTHORIZATIONS Should be
special In their character, and not in the river
aud naTbor bill The work Will be commenced
as soon as the contractors have finished a job
low In progress In the Delaware river, and the
appropriation Will be expended during the
present fiscal year.
A NEGLECTED RIVER.
While Congress has made large appropriations
81 nually for improvements of rivers or harbors
il all the states, it is singular fact that not
Until last year has there been dollar appro-
priated for or expended on the original Wash
ington channel since the year 1892, when the
City was first laid out. At the same time the
rights on the river front south or Water street
is still retained by the United States. the dredg
ing out OF cocks, basins, &C.. having always
been done at the expense OF the local govern
mentS the authority for the same having
always been included in all the corporation
charters granted by Congress.
TIE number or cubic yards to be eXcavated is
not given, but those who have practical knowl-
edge OF such work, state approximately, that 1t
viii lot be far from 250.000
The process OF working upon such jobs is
quite interesting, great improvements having
been made ia the appliances used within the
last few years. The old scoop bucket attached
TO dredging machines has been discarded, and
in place OF it is now used what Is termed the
''clam SHE'LL" formed OF two ponderous jaws
made OF bOiler-lTon, which, by the heavy ma
chinery, is made to plunge rapidly to the bot
tom, close upon and bring up five or six CUBIC
yards OF mud, which is carefully disgorged upon
large wooden ,scows placed at convenient dis
lance from this animated indicating skeleton,
called a dredging machine When the scoGS
are loaded they have to be towed TO the dump
Ing place, sometimes at considerable distances
from the place OF excavation, and just here Is
where the cost and trouble comes In, the tow
ing Off and depositing, requiring much longer
time than the dredging machine does in lifting
out the material from the bottom of the river TO
the decks OF the scows The working capacity OF
these machines Is from 800 to 500 cubic yards
per day when the place of deposit is at con-