Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-10
THE RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
Annual Report Of Col. Albert.
WORK DONE AND TO BIZ DONE,

improvement of harbors of Washington and
Georgetown. d. c.. to-day submitted his annual
report to Gen. Wright, chief Of engineers. U. S.
A. The report says
The improvement of the harboFs at Washing
ton and Georgetown, d. c.. comprising that part
of the Potomac river along tile water front of
the cities of Washington and Georgetown was
definitely commenced under thedirection of the
chief of engineers. July 18th. $50. when an APP
preparation of $50 600 was made for the improve
ment of the Potomac river between the Long
bridge and the city of Georgetown. This ap-
preparation was expended in dredging a channel
200 feet wide and Is feet deep at low water through
the bar which has existed fora long period and
formed the principal obstruction to the naviga-
tiOn. The channel was completed in December,
1871, the Improvement having been in the
charge of Major N. Mchler. corps of engineers.
until November, 1870, wfSn it vas transferred
to Major VIM. P. Craighill, corps of engineers
By act of Congress-, approved March 5th. 1872,
a board OF survey was created IN order to pre-
pare plan for the permanent Improvement of
Washington Il Georgetown harbOrs The plan
recommended by this board, providing for the
reclamation of the flats deepening and WIDEN
ing the Virginia channel, and the connection of
the curvature of the river has been fully de-
scrlbed in previous annual reports. and will be
found at length in Senate Mis-. Doc, No 15
FOrty-secOnd Congress- 1st session. On March
3, 1873, an appropriation of $4,000. was made
but was not expended during that fiscal year.
In the river and harbOr act of June %, 1874. it
was provided that this appropriation be applied
DREDGING THE VIRGINIA CHANNEL,
and that the excavated material be deposited so
as to conform to the plan of the board of survey
The improvement was transferred to my charge
in July, 1874. and during the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1875, channel 200 feet wide and Is
feet deep was dredged through the bar above
the Long bridge, and through bar near Gies-
boro Point. The balance Of the appropriation
was applied to the removal of three rocks in
Georgetown harbor, in 1876 by hired labor
The details Of this work are contained in the
report of the chief of engineers for 1877 part /,
page 351. The high freshet which occurred
November %, 1877. resulted in large deposits of
water on the bar below Easby's Point The
river and harbOr act of June 1S. 1873. appro-
priated $50, GOO fOrthe construction of the i'm
provement, $4,000 to be expended on the
Washington channel, and $50, coo on the George
town channel.
The contractors Messrs. Brainard & Rice. to
whom the contract for dredging was first
awarded, after doing small amount of work.
failed, and their contract was annuled their
sureties also having failed to do the work. The
contract awarded to Messrs. Geo c. Forbes &
Co., of Baltimore, Nd. Under this contract a
channel was dredged along the Washington
wharves to width of 200 feet and depth of 10
to IL feet at low water, extending from a point
near the Long bridge to the upper end of the
Arsenal grounds. This portion Of the contract
was completed July 9, 1879. Under the same
contract channel 200 feet wide and 16 feet
deep at low water was dredged through
the bar above the Long bridge in the
Georgetown channel. This portion of the
contract was completed April II. $780,
The river and harbor bill approved March g.
1879, appropriated $50. 600 for this Improvement
$1,000 of which was directed to be expended in
Washington channel below the LDng bridge and
SIC, 600 in Georgetown harbor ami channel. As
the Georgetown channel was completed to the
dimensions above named under the previous ap-
preparation. it was decided MOTTO eXpend that
portion ofthe appropriation of 1879designatedfor
Georgetown harbOr and channel until the depths
over the bar had been materially reduced, and
that sum yet remains uneXpended. Under that
portion of the appropriation of 1873 designated
for Washington channel a contract was. made
with Geo. G. Forbes & Co. for deepening Wash
mgton channel. At the close of this contract
June 3, 1880. the channel for width Of Is feet
next the wharyes had been deepened to Is feet
at low water.
WORK OF THE PAST FISCAL YEAR--wAsHINGTON
CHANNEL.
The river and harbor act approved June a. 1880.
appropriated $40, 600 for continuing the improve
ments, including the removal of rocks" Under
this appropriation specifications were prepared
for dredging the Washington channel, and with
view to subsequently deciding upon the depo-
sltlOn OF the dredged material proposals were
invited, by public advertisement, for deposting
it at either of two localities designated, respec-
lively, as HarbOr flats and Potomac flats By the
first was meant that portion of the river inme-
diately below the Long bridge and between the
two onavigable channels. BY the second was meant
any locality below the city sufficiently removed
from the channel, and otherwise suitable for
dumping, which the bidder might be able to
find Thn fp11o -
opened, September II, 1880: CThe tabular state
ment here inserted in the report, describes the
proposals received. There were three bidders
at the rates given viz: National Dredging Co..
"A cents per cubic yard for deposit on Potomac
flats, and 81 cents for deposit on Harbor flats.
Thomas P. Morgan, jr., % and 26 cents, respect
lively. Frank Pidgeon. jr., II and % cents.)
The National Dredging Company were
the lowest bidders for both localities of
deposit, and it was held that inasmuch
as the appropriation was for 81 continuing the
improvements" provided for by the act of March
3, 1879, which directed that the amount therein
appropriated 'be so expended as to produce the
greatest immediate benefit to navigation"
that bid must be accepted which permitted the
greatest amount of material to be taken from the
channel. The contract was accordingly awarded
to the National Dredging Co. at IA cents per
cu0lc yard, deposited on the Potomac flats, and
articles of agreement were entered into with
them October 9, 1880 the work to begin on or
before June 80. 1881. Early in the spring the
contractors brought their plant around, and the
channel was laid out for work, but
their efforts to find dumping ground
We're fruitless, all suitable localities being
GAINED by the owners of adjacent lands as val
uaDie to them for fishing privileges, and the
contractors threatened with inunctiOns and
suits for damages in case they were used for
dumping grounds. The contractors. under date
OF March 20, 1884, communicated the obstacles
In the way OF fulfflment of the contract, by
the terms of which they were required to find
dumping grounds. and while avowing their
readiness to proceed in it's execution if. by
any means. the requisite dumping grounds
could be secured to them by the govern
ment, asked that in case such arrangements
could not be made, their contract be an
nqlled, There being no practicable way in
which the dumping grounds could be secured.
except at the risk of involving the government
by claims for damages in hyading private
rights or by an outlay for the purchase of these
rights which could not be recommended on the
part OF the government. nor reasonably de-
manded or the contractors, it wasrecommendcd
March 2o, 1881, that the contract be annulled.
ana that the amount available therefor be added
to the amount appropriated March 8. 1881. and
let under new contract This Recommended
tlOn was approved June & 1891 ond fho oop