Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-04
Destroying the CHANNEL.

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Destroying the Channel.
The foOlishneSs or the unfortunate individual
who sawed off the limb OF the tree upon which
he was sitting, between himself and the trunk,
Is pr0verblal, but 1t was by no means more re-
markable than that which the authorities OF
the District OF Columbia are now exhibiting by
having all the mud taken from the harb0r OF
that District dumped back again into the PotO-
mac at Rollers Bluff, where the channel of the
river is narrowest- The whole harbors OF both
Washington and Georgetown, and the channels
leading to them, have been, or are being cleaned
and deepened by mud machines, and the place
of deposit OF every particle OF the mud taken
from them Is the bed of the river a little below
Jones Point. short distance from this city. 1t
Is nominally dumped on the Maryland flats
there but, OF course, such a thing Is i'm
possible, because the heavy laden ScOwS. and
the heavy draught tugs that tow them can not
go On the flats: but, even II il were So the con-
slant eboing and flowing of the tide to say
nothing or the frequent currents In the river
VIII soon wash IL into deeper water. where 1t
will settle. and that too at place where the
channel Is already narrower than at almost any
0ther point on the river. What Will be gained
by having deep water In the harbor of Wash
1ngton II the channel a few miles below be
made so shallow that vessels of only the small
est size can pass through IL? And yet that is
precisely the end 10 which the efforts OF the
District authorities in the matter referred to
are tending. Alexandria will, OF necessity, be
the channel of the Potomac, but she must be a
passive sufferer. as her authorities are power
less IN the premises, the dumping ground being
beyond the limit OF their jurisdiction. -Aleraa-
GGzPffS.
We are inclined, from what we learn to agree
with our Alexandria contemporary as to the
Effects OF the dumping at Rollers Bluff and we
fear that 1T is question Of very short time
when the |. 5. government will be obliged to
appropriate money to clear out the channel at
Jones Point, caused by the very work the gov
eminent Is doing now. The Gdzptte is OF course
In error In stating that the District authorities
have anything to do with this work. The truth
IS that when the contract was given out by the
engineer department, the District authorities, as
well as very many OF our leading business men,
objected, and protested against dumping at this
point as suicidal policy; further than this
they had no power In the premises. The facts are
that there were two proposals advertised, one
being for the present dumping ground, and the
otnSr Tor making the dump upon our river flats
opposite the city, with the view ultimately Or
retaining these flats, and this to form nucleus
to that end. When the bids were opened II was
found that they stood as follows: For the dunn
TO be made as at present, at Rollers Bluff, Is
cents per cubic yard; and for the dump to be
mace On the flats. as described &c cents per
cuofc yard ON the score of economy q the former
going on, and Ii Is the belief OF good Judges that
this saving OF ten cents per cubic yard will. in
the end, prove to be- on the part of the engineer
department, penny wise and pound foolish
policy.
the New York Erentng Post endorses the ad-
vice OF the Herald to Senator Conkling to unite
with the other republicans in renominating
President Hayes The Post says the Hayes
administration has accomplished the most i'm
portant work since the Wharf.-The restoration of
the currency" and that the opposition searches
It's record In vain for wrong doing, and Is
Obliged to fail back in its platforms upon the
" great electoral fraud OF lST6-II. Then the
Post makes the point that Gen. Grant himself
has testified to the success OF President HAYES
southern policy, and 1t thinks that upon the
whole the best thing the republican party can
DO Is to continue this administration for four
years more. While 1t is true that Mr.
Hayes long ago announced that he
would not be candidate for .re-elec-
ton, he would not be likely to refuse a
denomination should his party tender it to him.
lt Is not improbable, either that the Chicago
convention may turn TO the present Incumbent
as lis standard bearer. The votes In the con-
Vention may be so divided among Grant, Blaine
and Sherman as to prevent either from getting
the nomination, ana then there would naturally
follow some sort OF compromise. In casting about
for a dark horse with the best record and best
running capacity, attention would be directed
10 the present administration, and the very
TACT that there is nothing to criticise or con-
denim In Its four years OF government would
Constitute strong point In favor Of giving II
another trial.
II Is now asserted by members OF both Houses
that Congress will adjourn early In June. and
there Is general disposition among members to
work to that end. 1t requires no spirit of
prophecy TO foretell the failure of the early ad-
Journment movement. Congress Is capable of
crowding great deal of work into the last few
days OF the session, but the business remaining
nndlsposed OF Is more than can be transacted
In month. Congressman Blackburn says that
several weeks must be allowed for political
speeches after the national conventions shall
nave oone Their work, and In the end it VIII be
1ound that ne has put low estimate upon the
period thus TO De consumed. No progress has
been made In the passage OF private bills yet
and the future political fate OF many member
hangs upon bills OF this character Upon the
whole IL looks as If Congress will remain with
us until July, at least
The trial OF Dakell, for the murder OF Van
Houton. out OF which grew the riot ar Pater-
son, y. j.. will necessarily involve the question
as 10 now far man may go In protecting his
property against tespasser5. The disposition
OF excursion parties from cities to pursue their
own pleasure without regard to the property
rlghts OF suburban residents has long been a
SUBJECT OF complaint. These pleasure-seekers
frequently ignore the sign OF 0trespass for
Dloden, and the general testimony goes to
snow that great deal OF damage is done TO
SUBURBAN parks, orchards and even gardens ON
ouhuayS On that dly the law and those who
execute IL are taking rest and as a rule the
IreSpaSSerS are strangers TO the injured prom
erty-oWner, and he cannot enforce the law
against them on Monday. From all accounts
DalzeL warned the crowd of his property re-
peatedly, threatening to shoot II they disre-
garded his warning and while there Is nothing
Out condemnation for the bloody deed he COM
mitted, yet the act may lead, not only TO a
judicial determination of the rights of property
owners as against tresDasserS, but also TO addl-
tional legislation II such be needed, for the
protection OF these rights
rumor to the effect that Mr. TiIdpn had 60.