The Evening critic., 1882-05-09
Improvement of the Washington
HQrbOr.

To the Editor Of The Erening Critic:
generation has been passed in futile
efforts to induce the Government 10 under
take this necessary work or authorize capital
lists TO do so who stand ready to invest their
means in its accomplishment. AS the cry of
"job" has damned this latter scheme, then
let Congress no longer delay effective action
in this important matter. By no other means
can this work be done. The District authorl-
ties cannot undertake such a gigantic task;
no conflict of interests is involved; no one
State will be benefited more than another.
1t is work required by the dignity of the
Capital City Of Government of fifty millions
OF people; one In which the whole Nation is
equally interested. II several well-known
facts are kept in view, there win be less CON
hict OF opinion, which is the best plan for this
Improvement. / may be pardoned for repeat
ing few of these facts.
The Potomac is mountain stream, which,
after the great "subsidence OF the waters " In
former ages, gradually formed immense
lake between the Alleghanies and Blue Ridge,
until 1t burst its barriers and cut a way
through the primatlve rocks TO the drift de-
posit of the lower valley. The place where
the primative formation sinks and the drift
deposit commences is about Rock Creek and
Observatory Point. Here surging floods from
the upper valley swept away the softer forma-
ton Of the banks and made itself a wide bed
with a deep channel near Observatory Point.
To this point came the ships drawing sixteen
TO eighteen feet bringing British troops in
what is known in history as the Braddock war
Washington channel over flats now bare, but
then having twenty feet OF water, and landed
the troops by boats on observatory Point,
whore they encamped.
The force of the river floods sweeping down
the drift was met and neutralized by the tides
| at this point, tho great width of surface aid
| ing 10 diminish tho force Of the current. Thus
| the shoal and flats were formed, and 1t be-
| comes more difficult year by year TO keep the
| channels open for navigation.
| There VIII be no danger from floods II the
| current does not meet with obstruction. 1t is
the piling up Of ice and drift gorging the river
| which causes these destructive Hoods. This is
an evident and admitted fact, believe Then
is not the true plan for improvement to make
free, open channel for the Hood waters OF
| spring.
The Virginia side Is the place for this chan
mel. There the floods viii do less damage.
Construct sea wall from Observatory Poin
along the Virginia channel, straight TO O
| point opposite the mouth OF Anacostia Branch
and make II high and strong, TO resist tho
flood Of fee and drift. Carry the sewerage O
| the city across the lats into this channel. Tn,
force of the current will keep 1t clear ever
when the river Is low. The Washington sLd,
thus becomes marine tidal basin, UNAFFECTED
| by the river current Of floods. VIII this basil
MI upY say no. The river deposit will al
be carried below the Anacostia and a marrow
nayigable channel VIII be formed between tn
middle ground and the Maryland shore, ,whlcl
VIII extend up the Washington wharyes /
the mouth Of the Tlber. Not drop Of the VI
river spring floods VIII rise above this high
strong sea wall along the Virginia channel I
ainict the low grounds Of Tiber Flats.
The next step OF the harbor improve
ment will be 70 construct sea walf alon
the city front, which, however, need b
only the ordinary height for wharves an
VIII be used as a landing. This wall shoul
sweep along the shore with a natural curry
from Arsenal Point TO the mouth OF the Tlbel
where a series OF basins for the breeding {
hsh would be located. The excayating OF thi
channel and basin would I'LL the Hats aboy
high water mark and give wharf room on bot
sides and ample space for the various raj
roads.
The long bridge should be entirely remove
and the railroads all cross at Obseryator
Point by means Of a high bridge with singl
span over the Virginia channel.
RICHARD j. EVANS,
Civil Engineer