National Republican., 1880-11-16
Improving the Potomac.

To The Editor Of The National Republican:
Sin; Having for many years given close
attention 10 the questions of properly improv.
ing the Potomac river and tho drainage of the
city of Washington, / have long ago come TO
the conclusion that this might easily aud
surely be made one of tho lnosJ healthy. us II
already is one Of tho most beautiful, cities on
this continent but that IL cannot be made SO
by tho present regime. nor by such means
aud agencies us have been employed on our
city work during the last ten years. II seems
quito certain that the improvements required
cannot DO vol devised and carried out by
mere ARTISANS, nor by scheming jobbers, nor
hy mere lieu lonants, nor even by majors
Neither civil nor military schools have ever
yet turned out complete engineers or gen.
erals. Even the most brilliant GRADUATES Of
both schools have required long years of praC.
tice before they could acquire distinction in
either profession. Aud observation has led o
the conclusion that for want Of naturally
sound practical aud technical sense but few OF
hem can ever become successful.
Anyhow, 1t is quite plain that those EN-
plovcd on our city work have not accom-.
plished such Improvements as are required,
but have done much damage. They have
only succeeded in SquandrTing enormous
sums of money, in depreciating the va lie of
property, In greatly Increasing the death rate
sickness and sullurngs of our people. Aud II
is quite certain that what thoy propose for
the future will but make matters very much
worse. Hence we all want a change in the
character of the work at least, if not tho agen.
Cies employed.
But what change shall we have? What
now plan shall he adnpted2 Certainly not
that procured by a senate committee some
three years ago, prepared by Mr. KOrweise, II
foreigner who knew next to nothing about
the topog Apply and wants of this city. That
production is simply impracticable--prepOs
ferrous. Nor will the partial scheme recently
offered in tho form of a lecture by Mr.. g. T..
Warng of Rhode Island answer for this city.
Seeing the faults in these, and in numerous
other Incomplete aud equally Objectionable
schemes, have recently undertaken TO pro-
pare what i believe to be in all respects
complete and feasible plan, with view of
ting it to congress and to the public.
But 10 not expect nor desire 10 have IL
adopted before il shall have been subjected to
most rigid examination by unquestionably
competent engineers who have by long praG.
lice become familiar with such work. The
questions involved are of too great Importance
TO DO decided by auy less authority.
Hence, permit me to suggest that such of
the people as are most interested in the pro.
per improvement of the city and of the river
shall call II meeting for considering tho ques-
tions nnmod, aud whether it would not
be woll to tako tho necessary measures for
having the whole question submitted TO such
a competent aud disinteresled commission of
engineers, in which the city shall be fairly rep.
resented, who shall devise u complete plan, so
that any olls parts such as may be first wanted,
may be first executed with reference TO and in
exact conformity with the whole together
with an estimate on so much of the work us
may be required the FIST year.
Something Of this kind ought to be done al
once, so that the question may be presented on
the first day of the meeting of congress, and
| give tho suggested commission time to con
slider and report in season for the present con
| gress to net upon It,.
BENJAMIN SEvERsoN, civil engineer.