Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-04

IWO CENTS.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE POTOMAC.
Annual Report Of Engineer Albert.
THE WORK OF DREDGING THE WASHINGTON AND
GEORGETOWN CHANNELS THE PAST YEAR - THE
APPROPRIATION THIS YEAR AND AMOUNT NEEDED
FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR - THE ALEXANDRIA
AQUEDUCr AS AN OBSTRUCTION TO NAVIGATION -
THE MOUNT VERNON CHANNEL, ETC.
Gen. Fl. G. Wright, chief OF engineers, has re-
| ceived the annual report OF Mr.. s. I. Albert, U. s.
s. civil engineer, upon the improvements OF the
Washington and Georgetown h2rbors. After Civ
| Ing history OF the Improvements from July II,
1870, until June 1851, the report says that the
latter date proposals were invited for dredging be-
tween the northeast end OF the Long bridge and
| Greenleafs point, (U. s. ersenaLl The contract
was awarded to the National dredging company
or Washington. d. c.. at the rate OF 24c. per cubic
yard. The contract provided for
DREDGING THE WASHINGTON CHANNEL
| to depth OF fifteen feet at low water, and TO
width OF 200 feet, or as 9uch as the funds would
permit, the material to be deposited On the harbor
| flats, next the causeway OF the Long bridge.
| The work was to be commenced by Oct. j, 1881,
and completed by June Is, 1892 The Washington
1 ~,
except FOR width OF IS feet next the wharves,
| where the depth was Is feet. Active operations
parations December 5. 1881. The material was ex-
cavdted 10y means OF clam shell dredge, loaded
into barge dumping scows, towed TO the northeast
end OF the tramway, which had been constructed,
| and there dumped. The material flowing over the
| flats assumed slope or about 1 In 40 The de-
position OF material was continued day and night,
at night by aid OF electric lights from the United
| states Electric Light Company. Ii was found
tnat this light had an Injurious effect on the eyes,
ia fEr.ar
would have been less expensive and more efficient
During the progress OF the work the old channel
| deposits found were removed by the dredge as 1t
| passed down the channel. There were few ne
| cessary delays, but the work was brought to a
close on June 1882, 240,111 cubic yards OF mate
rial having been dredged. The spread OF material
| on the dumping ground was carefully watched,
and weekly reports made by the Inspector. AS the
work under this contract presents some new feat
ures In the method OF deposit, it seems important
to ascertain ut what cost per cubic yard similar
operations can be carried In this harbOr or else.
where, and the following
| ESTIMATES OF THE COST OF DREDGING AND DEPos-
ITING
have been made, the prices and estimates having
been made up from sources Independent OF infor-
| nation furnished by the contractors: Two clam
shell dredges, s34 GOO; three large dumpng-scows,
5000: one coal-tender scow, 5000; one tugboat
$780, one steamboat, s., 5,S00 two locomotives and
twelve cars S, 400; lights &c, s. 6O0-total $3 OOo
IL Is estim ated that the monthly expenses were
453 ". Total amount taken out, 2i011 cubic
yards; estimated cost per cubic yard 1855 cents.
GEORGETOWN HARBoR AND CHANNEL
In March. 1852, a survey OF the Virginia channel
OF the river was made, and it was found that, in
order to accommodate increased draft OF vessels
used in the coal trade OF Georgetown it would be
necessary TO dredge about midway between Easby's
point and the Long bridge; about 900 feet above
point, where dredging was done in 1875. To make
channel 200 feet wide and II feet deep at low
yards OF material. 1t was found that the appro-
priatOn OF $4,000 made March 8. 1874, would be
Insufficient. In The project OF April 8. 1882. that
$1,000 be reserved from the appropriation OF March
B. 1874, having been approved. PROPOSALS were re-
ceiyed and opened May TO- 1892. The contract was
awarded to the Potomac dredging company, OF
Washington, DC, at q cents per Gu. yard. Work
was commenced at the bar below Easby's, June
13, 1882, and was in progress at the close OF the
fiscal year.
ROCK EXCAVATION IN GEORGETOWN HARBoR-
The actual head OF navigation for steam and
sailing vessels is at the present time fixed by the
aqueduct OF the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, which
has a clear headway OF 2S feet between low water
and the lower stringer OF the bridge. Since the
construction of the outlet lock and inclined plane
OF the c. o. canal, the obstruction to navigation
has become the subject OF complaint Canal boats,
obliged to employ small tugs to tow them under
the AQueduct, and the construction Of coal
wharves above the structure is prevented by the
1mpoSSlblity OF reaching them with coal vessels.
1t is not necessary to remove the Aqueduct bridge
In order to open the river above to navgation but
when the Alexandria canal ceases to be useful,
and the ownership Of the Aqueduct reverts to the
government, then a draw IN the reconstructed
bridge Will secure passage for sailing vessels and
steamers as far as the Little Falls. The rock exca
walton proposed will begin at the foot OF the out
let lock. The safety OF navigation in Georgetown
harbOr would be much increased by the excavation
of rocky points, some OF which are found near the
wharyeS and at dangerous depths at other points
In the channel Near the inclined plane there are
600 cubic yards to be removed, to depth OF
feet at low water. Three hundred and ninety feet
below the Aqueduct 104 cubic yards. Southwest
OF mill sluice 46O, Kennebec Ice Co.. 2l1 "a l2s III
and lib cubic yards to be removed G-street
wharf, 3L5, 81 and $50 cubic yards. Northwest OF
Analostan boat-house. 5000 cubic yards; work not
needed now.
The report states that the work OF removing the
rocks In the channel was not given out because
1884, for less than SIS per cubic foot and this price
was regarded as excessive. Since then no further
effort has been made to let the work, and the sum
OF S COO intended for its execution will be used as
far as necessary to complete the dredging OF the
Georgetown channel. This work, when completed,
| loading in this port. Those which have over IS
feet can land at wharveS where 20 feet can be
found, or where it can be obtained by dredging.
For completing the removal OF rocks I'm George
town harbor and ut the outlet lock the report
recommends an appropriation OF $4,000 for the
year ending June 30th, 1884.
| FUNDS NEEDED TO PROSECUTE THE WORK OF I'M
PROvEaENT
For the fiscal year ending June 80. 1884, an ap-
preparation OF $500, COO is recommended. The work
is In the collection district of Georgetown and the
collections for the year ending June 80, 1882,
s22 573 Sc. The report gives the following state
ment Of the condition OF the funds available for
this purpose: Amount available July 1, 1882.
$57 SO; amount appropriated by act OF August
2. 1882 100000: amount available for fiscal year
ending June 80, 1859, s457 6259; amount required
for completion OF existing project, s., ,lO0,0
amount that can profitably be expended in the
year ending June 80. 1884, sS50,0O0.
THE IMPROVEMENT AT MOUNT VERNON.
Mr.. Albert also submits estimates for the Inn
provement OF the Potomac at Mount Vernon.
| Amount expended during flscal year ending July
1st. 1882, July 1st, 1882 amount available,
$57l4 No appropriation was made for the present
year. The amount required for completion OF ex-
listing work is $780, and this amount the report
states, can prohtably be expended during the next
year.
THE LOWER POTOMAC.
Mr. Albert, in reports upon other points OF the
Potomac states that the amount available for the
fiscal year for improvement at Breton bay Ueon-
ardtowD) is s., COS IS; estimated amount required
fOr of uy mint