National Republican., 1881-07-23
THE RIVER FRONT.
TwlNlNo,s PLAN OF IMPROVEMENT.
Interview with the Engineer Commissioner as to
What Plan Should De Adopted-iIis Views
as to the Medication OF
the 1872 Plan.

A representative of THE REPUBLICAN
dropped into Major Twinings Office to learn If that
gentleman who since his appointment as the En-.
ginecr Commissioner has seemed to take q sincere
interest In the substantial improvement Of the Dis
trict, had dnscortaned anythingn In regard tothe
proposed improvement of the river front
81 see, Major" said TIE REPUBLICAN "thnt
Judge Dent, in an interview published the other
day, states his belief that the plan adopted by the
board of survey Of 1872 will be ultimately adopted.
| Do you think that will be the cnse2"
WELL" said the Major, 81 don't think that plan
of 1872 will do unless modified to some extent /
prepared plan, which will show you, that seems
| to me the most feasible and the least expensive"
| The Major then brought large map, which
showed the method he most favored
"You see, said he "the old plan contemplated
having but one channel, which should be direct
continuation OF the riverat Georgetown, aud which
should run along the right bank of the river as far
down as Gravclly Point and thence directly toward
Gicsboro Point ON the lCft bank. joining the deep
channel Of the river there, following nearly tho
present main river channel This would reclaim
nll the flats and bring the city front directly to tho
edge of the hsrbor channel. Now, | propose to
modify this plan by leaving the present inner
channel beowth Long Bridge, so that twill form
basin and serve as a protection 10 the shipping
from the ice. foes in the spring. If the frontage
was right upon the deep channel there would be
almost certainty Of the vessels piers, &c, being
| cut down, especially IL there should bc such a
breaking up OF the ice rs we had last spring."
"Then," said THR REPUBLICAN, "you would
have the head of this basin at the Long Bridgeg
Yes responded Major Twining.
"HOu would not at present make any effort IA
reclaim the flats below the Long Bridge, would
you?"
Not particularly. The reclaimed land in thi,
| locality could be filled to the height Of two feet
above ordinary high tide. This would form
meadows which would only be overAowcd at long
intervals during extreme high water"
" see" said THE REPUBLICAN, gazing on the
map. that your chanael Is narrower than that q
| the 1877 plan.'
| Yes TINT Is another modification. would mar.
row the outer or Georgetown chanusl to two thou.
sand feet. This would give mean depth Of abou
twelve feet, which would be ample You will
notice that propose to cut of Easby's point, and
| by doing this get a uniform depth along the
whole wharfage line down to Seventeenth street.
81 further scc,' remarked THE REPUBLICAN
that you contemplate cutting of the point oI
Analosnn Island"
"Dy doing that" said the Major, the main
channel is more easily thrown against the proposed
line of the Washington shore Now, as to the up.
per fats, you will that II is contemplated to fill
| in all between Easbys Point aud Seventeenth
street. that the land can be utilized for CONNER
cial purposes. Then below Seventeenth street to
the Long Bridge the reclaimed flats can bo added
to the public parking. and lakes can be made, as
you see on the map. This would be ornamental
and 1t would save some filing besides, the water
| could be utilized to flush the canal from Sovcn-
tcenth street, which would carry the sewage into
deep water"
" Don't you think Major, that the land reclaimed
between EaSby's Point apd Seventeenth street
would sell for enough to pay for the improvement
of that sectonr'
| al nm inclined to think II would. II would
| probably have an immediate marketable value
| which might even exceed its cost of reclamation -
"Do you know il the Chief Engineer of the army,
who Is 10 appoint board of three engineers to
consider this improvement of the river front,
agrees with your idea as TO wha, should be done?'
| 81 do not know certainly. l think perhaps he
does, In general way; but he has probably not
given It sufficient attention to form an opinion as
| to the details Of this plan. have more hope in
the future business and commercial prosperity OF
Washington than many, and believe that the
reclamation Of these fats would be of the greatest
advantage to the material prosperity Of the city"
I" But" said THE REPUBLICAN ait is almost alb
soluIcly necessary that something should be done
TO these flats to get rid OF the malaria that is con-
tlnually lowering over the city and causing sick
ness"
THAT Is very true" said the Major, "and
think that the congressional committee that have
| the matter of the improvement now under consid.
Grafton intend thoroughly informing themselves
! on the subject, and will submit n report which will
show the necessity of speedy and effective action "