Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-10
prepared Proposals for the work were solicited
by advertisement dated June 9, 1881 the propo-
sails to be opened July g. 1881.

prepared. Proposals for the work were solicited
by advertisement dated June g. 1881. the propo-
sails to be opened July 8, 1881.
THE FLOOD OF FEBRUARY. 1881.
The year was marked 10y a flood unprecedented
in the extent of its encroachment upon the city
limits. as well as in the amount of damage in
fiicted upon shipping and wharf property
The winter had been unusually severe i'm the
long continuance and intensity of its period ol
cold during which 23.2 inches of snow had
fallen and unusually thick ice had formed
over the river A rise of few feet only
i'll the river from rains and melted snow
caused breaking up of this ice. which
gorged and so Obstructed the waterway that.
although the freshet above Georgetown did not
attain the height Of 1877 by 3 feet. it rose to a
height of IL. .25 feet above low water at the Long
bridge. or 319 feet higher than the freshet of
1877 The accompanying map exhibits the line
OF overflow. and the profile shows the water
surface of both floods. The ice broke at George
town about l am. on Saturday. February 12
1881, the stage Of the river being to feet
above high tide. but rapidly rising as the ice
passed down and added to the gorge below. until
the highest water was reached at Z pm.
being about $40 of a foot higher than the flood
of 1877. At Georgetown comparatively little
damage was done, owing chiefly to the preca,l-
tions taken to secure shipping and movable pro-
perty on the wharves. Along the Washington
wharves the ice begun to break about 2 a. m.
the water being to 5 feet above high tide and
moved off rapidly with the current the channel
at times being nearly clear of ice. That the
gorge did not first form at the Long bridge. SO
far at least as concerned the Washington chan
nei is proved from the fact that between
three and four o'clock a. m. on Satur-
day. February 18th, a tugboat and several
scOWs were swept away from 18th street wharf
and carried thrOught the Washington draw and
the long boat was found during Saturday lodged
in the gorge below Arsenal point. the scows
having been carried still further down the river
The complete gorge was formed below Arsenal
point, commencing about 7:30 a. m. The sue
cessive additions of floating ice soon caused 1t TO
extend to the Long bridge.
THE DAMAGE TO THE LONG BRIDGE
Whether gorge was complete across George
town channel at this point before the lower
gorge extended to the bridge is not determined
but subsequently the gorge became complete
the whole length of the bridge. 1t is believed.
however, from the fact that large quantities of
ice came across the flats above the Long bridge
and passed through the Washington channel.
that gorge independent of that below was
formed across Georgetown channel at the Long
bridge, at or about the time of its formation
below. By 9 a. m. the entire water
way of the Long bridge was choked An oc-
casional movement, of short Duration only
seemed to jam the ice more closely and raise it
higher, until the water passed over the cause
way and 90 feet above it. The pressure upon
ILC uIIuSc DcCStiuc greater UTAH III COuiU WfCfl-
stand. and about $50 p. m. three spans of the
north end gave way, and were swung around
upon the fats below. The movement, together
with break in the railroad embankment be-
tween the river and Fort Runyon. (Which is
One-third of a mile from the Virginia end
of the Long bridge and on the
railroad to Alexandria, 1,OO6 feet in
length, so far relieved the pressure that
no further damage was done the bridge By
Sunday morning the water, which had been %
feet higher on the Washington wharves than in
the freshet Of 1877, off the wharves but large
piles OF ice remained upon them, and many
which escaped serious injury rom lateral press
ure while the ice was moving were crushed
when the water, by its subsidence. withdrew its
buoyant support. AS usual during freshets.
though to an unprecedented extent the low por-
tion of the city along the mall. and extending
across Pennsylvania avenue. was flooded. and a
large amount of damage was caused by the food
ing OF cellars and first floors. The area of the
flooded district was about 254 acres. The time
of highest water was about Z pm.
The following are the heights at low water of
the freshets of 1877 and 1881, at the several
points named: