National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-03-04
NO MORE MALARIA.
THE RECLAMATION OF THE FLATS.
The Full Report Of the Hoard Of Engineers With
Reference TO tho Mueli-Neoded Improvement
OF the Potomae--COst Of the Work
The Plan Adopted.

the navigation recommends, as was Indicated IN
THE REPUBLICAN, Thursday, that on Improvement
which shall combine substantially and In It's es-
sental features the harbor and shore lines Of Mr..
Aberts plan from Easbys Point to the arsenal and
the grade filling and surrounding embank-
ment Of that plan below the Long Bridge, with q
cheaper revetment than he proposes with Major
winnings high grade filling and sluicing ponds
between the Long Bridge and Easby's Point offers
q better solution OF the various questions con-
nected with the improvement Of navigation, the
establishment of the harborlines. and the reclama
ton OF the flats than any OF the other projects
combinations of projects that have been consid-
cred. It is regarded as necessary TO the proper
execution of this plan as thus defined that the
channel depths in both Washington and George
town harbors should be sufficient to accommodate
the largest draf that he brought up TO Arsenal
Point with such additional depth at the wharves
that vessels can receive their full cnrgoes without
grounding at low water; that the filling over the
fats above Long Bridge rs well as the crest OF the
surrounding embankmont below, should be car
ried up to a height of three feet above the food
ulope of 1877; that the flushing ponds should not
be less than eight feet deep, and be provided with
inlet and outlet gates Of ample dimensions auto
matically arranged for tilling the ponds from the
Georgetown channel TO the level Of high water.
and emptying them into the Washington channel
TO the level OF low water during each oscillation
Of the tide;
THAT AN AMPLE SYSTEM OF DRAINAGE
for the reclaimed areas be provided; that oil sew
age now discharging into the Washington = annel
should be intercepted and carried away to -
James Creek sewer canal east of the arsenal, and
that the Long Bridge shall be rebuilt at an early
period during the progress OF the improvements,
with wide spans upon piers offering the least pos
sible obstruction to the ilow of water. The board
recommends the adoption of this plan Of improve
mentwith such notifications of details, to be sub
mitted in future report as further study Of the
tubject may suggest as advantageous or expedient.
II Is estimated that
THE COST OF THE IMPROVEMENT
IS recommended will be about s2,5ooOOO. 1t is
desirable that an appropriation of not less than
O., 1000 900 should be made III one sum. The board
recognize the principle that that area of tidal COM
partincnt of stream should be diminished as lit
lie as possible In any project designed solely or
mainly for the Improvement OF the channel. In
the case under consideration other interests than
those connected with navigation are to be
subserved, the reclamation Of the fats with
The consequent reduction of the capacity'of
objects TO be attained. The mischief, if any
shall ensue from non. conformity 10 q well estab.
lished law will not 1t is thought, be serious, and
Il will be felt If ut all below the arsenal, and not
at the site of the works. The board have had the
opportunity to examine the interesting report Of
Colonel George r. Waring jr., TO the officers IN
charge of the public buildings and grounds, dated
November &c, 1884, concerning an examination
made by the former of the sanitary condition of
the Executive Mansion in August, 1881. The report
is hereunto appended. The reports referred to are
in brief as follows First,
Mr.. ABERT's PLAN.
Plans proposed by Mr. s. I. Albert, United States
civil engineer, which in general outline may be
thus described: From a short distance below
Easby's Point the main or Georgetown channel to
be deepened by dredging down to the deep water
of Giesboro', the materials removed TO be de-
posted on the flats above and below the Long
Bridge cutting on AL SommunieGtion Of water be-
and the Georgetown channel above the Long
Bridge. This deeper channel is 10 include the
lines of mid area and mid volume, as shown ON
Mr.. Aberts map and described ut length in his re-
port, but less curved in direction. The Washing
channel below the Long Bridge is to be retained
and to be widened. and also deepened 20 feet Mt
low water, the material removed therefrom TO be
deposited upon the flats.
BASIN ABOUT 331S ACRES Is PROVIDED
above the Long Bridge, with depth Of 10 feet for
wood harbor, &C., aud for the smaller class of
vessels. The main channel, IN Its dimensions of
width and depth, is so planned that the material
necessary for filling shall be provided from the
excavation and that the sectional areas below the
levels of low tide, high tide and freshet level 10
feet above low water shall not be less than 5000,
$3.50 aud 4S O0squarc feet respectively for reasons
set forth in full in his report TO the chief of eng
neers, dated January II, 1882. The line bounding
the area upon which the dredged material is to be
deposited comes almost QUIT the edge of the deep
channel just below Easby's Point, reeedes there
from till at two-thrds the distance to the Long
Bridge IL Is 1000 feet distance then, approaching
thereto 1t comes nearly out to the edge OF the deep
channel at the lower end of the reclaimed area.
This channel does not cut into either Analostan
Island or Easbys Point or into Gravely Point, ex-
eept taking Off about 400 feet of the point on which
the causeway rests
NO CHANGE OF THE LOCATION
of the Long Bridge Is contemplated by this plan
The harbor lines proposed are set forth in detail
in Mr. Aberts report. The reclaimed area pro-
jects about 5000 feet below the Arsenal Green
leafs Point toward Giesboro' Point. The area of
flats reclaimed is 694 acres With this general
outline as basis the plans presented by him vary
in details Asto the depth Of the main channel,
with preference for the latter depth, widening
the bottom as 1t progresses down stream. Different
ments of the reclaimed area. First the area is to
be inclosed by dry masonry wall resting on piles
retaining the deposited material which is filled to
the height of feet above low water q feet above
ordinary high tide). This wall forms the bulk
head line. This surface of6 feet height above low
tide Is to be Enclosed by an embankment of such
height as to exclude freshets and placed at dis
lance of 30 feet from the bulkhead line. The area
within the embankment is to be drained by pipe
furnished with valves to permit outflow, but pre-
vent inflow. The bulkhead will form the base from
which the wharves and piers are to be constructed.
Mr.. Albert estimates the cost of this project at
2 The area TO be filed to the general
height of feet above low tide before, protected
on the water side by slope of rip-rap, supported
by a footing of stone, but without an embank-
ment, to exclude freshets which would thus, at
intervals submerge this area. To assist in pro-
tecting the city against floods an embankment is
proposed from Eighteenth street to the monument
lot This project Mr. Albert estimates to cost 81 $751;
4S3. Mr. Aberts report and drawing suggest
notifications of these two plans taken as bases.
IL Is also suggested by his report that portion OF
the area above Long Bridge may be dredged to
provide basin from which to sluice out the Wash
ington channel, or ponds may be provided from
which to sluice out the sewer canal from street.
Some parties desire channel or ship canal to be
ton channel to the main channel that communica-
ton may be had between the harbors of Washing
ton and Georgetown without making the long
detour by way of Giesboro Point Mr.. Albert pre-
tents estimate of the cost of this canal, though
Ii forms no part of the plans presented by him.
MAJOR TwINING's PLANE
second-Major W. ]. Twining, Corps OF Engi.
neers, Engineer Commissioner of the District, a
the request of the board, presented drawing EN-
bodying his views of project. In horizontal pro
Iections 1t Is very similar TO the projects presented
by Mr.. Albert the variation being chiefly that o
All area of ponds above the Long Bridge--to bt
used as sluicing basins for the purpose Of chang
Ing tile water In the Washington channel thes,
ponds receiving water during the food tide from
the main channel and discharging on the ebb intC
the Washington Harbor. Major Twlning propose
raising the level of the reclaimed area to til,
height of four feet above ffeshet overflow, ant
proposes rip.rap protection alone for the south
sectional area below the freshet line of i50i
square feet IFS project also includes the cuttinl
OF some $50 feet OFF Easbys Point. For the time h'
would keep the filling OF the Hats somewha
within the line of bulkhead proposed by Mr.
Albert until observation Of the river could be mad'
with its new regimen, and he would for the pres
ent limit the area of deposit below the Loni
Bridge 10 perhaps two fiths of the contemplated
project His plan Is also TO build catch sewe
along the harbor front, so that none Of the cit!
drainage should vitiate the water Of the harbOT
this sewer to discharge into the Eastern Branch.
ANACoSTIA RIVER.
The information before the board isnot suffcen
90 serve as basis of general plan for the i'm
provement of the Anacosta. This is due TO tn
want of money for the necessary surveys. Tn
board therefore makes no Recommendation for tn
Anacostia other than for the dredging Of a channe
twenty feet deep atsnean low water, and one hun
dTed ana twenty feet wide through the SAo0l
which now prevent proper access TO the navy
yard, with the excavation of a turning basin o
suitable capacity and twenty four feet depth a