Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-04

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The improvement of the River Front
As the board of engineers appointed to consider
The various plans for the improvement OF the navi-
CATION OF the Potomac and the reclamation OF the
fats In front OF the city have reported in favor OF
an Improvement combining features OF the plans
of Major Twining and Engineer Albert, we print
elsewhere the reports Of these officers, setting
forth their plans In detail. II will be seen that
these plans agree In the main, the difference be-
tween them consisting In tho recommendation Of
ornamental ponds or flushing basins above the
Long bridge. which the engineer commissioner
proposes 10 utilize for freShsning the water OF the
Washington channel by infuxent and effiuxent
gates constructed especially FOR this purpose.
In Teclalming the fats, the outline OF the area
reclaimed and the height of the embankment
which surrounds it are liked, as stated In the
report OF COL Albert, by the croSs-Section of the
flood OF 1877. This flood was higher at George
town, and also ut GieSbOro Point, than the food of
last Febru1ry, but the last flood exceeded the
earlier flood in height between street wharf and
the Long bridge. The excess of elevation In the
food at these points was due to local causes, and
seems to have been produced mlinly by the
gorging OF the lee at the Long bridge and the con-
sequent damming OF the water above.
III the channel below the bridge IS made wider
and deeper, this gOrgng, which has occurred
before, can never occur again. BY the plan pre-
sented In the report, the channel above ami below
the bridge Is decpened and widaned that it will
discharge a freShet Us high "a that Of 1877. This
Is evident from the fact that the cross-sectlon
at the Long bridge which in 1917 held the fresbet
In its grip, has been assumed as the crosS-section
OF high water of the river when it shall be
Improved.
All apprehension that the city Will be flooded by
the contraction OF the waterway may be dis
lEn1
sewer, but the remedy for this evil viii, no doubt
be provided for by the District Commissioners
Among the plans presented before the Board OF
Engineers was one sent to the State department,
recommended by some distinguished en- cheers OF
Holland. In that country large tracts Of land have
been reclaimed from the river By dIking, and
afterwards by pumping tn o enclosed ground
dry With steam pumps This method, tt was
thought, might be applied with economy In drain
Ing the Potomac hats. The cost. Including steam
pumping machinery, could, no doubt, be easily
Calculated Dy an eng1Deer,-tO Us Ii must be at
present q mystery. Upon one point however we
feel Capable of expressing an opinion. 1t is upon
the not uncertain factor OF climatic Influences
which must give results with which we are not
altogether unacquainted. Tile climatic con-
ditions OF Washington and Holland are very differ
ent A reclaimed area OF low land or marsh
might be occupied IN the latter country by pro-
ducttve farms and thriving cities, without danger
70 the health of the nhabit ants In this latitude
however, we have reason to believe that the re-
suits would be different. The effect OF this kind
OF reclamation In the latitude OF Rome or Venice
would, no doubt, supply better data for drawing
correct conclusions From the tins of the Caesars
until the present day, repeated efforts have been
made to reclaim the POntine marshes, but without
success But only on the pages of the poet do we
md a successful attempt to drain these marshes
which effect the atmosphere or Rome. Goethe has
made Faust turn his mind to the deyiSing Of plans
Tor draining these famous marshes. But Faust
would, in fact, have met with as little success as
the engineers OF Rome, Italy, or France The
method for retaining the flats front OF our city
should not be prODleLnatiCal. When the work Is
done. and the money paid. we do not wish to be
Obliged 70 appeal To Congress for an .bltement
OF nuisance which endangers the health OF our
capital.
Another plan has been presented for considera-
tion, which consists mainly in dredging not only
the nav1Sable channels, but also Ia removing (by
dredg1ng) the fats TO depth below the probable
growth OF aquatic plants. II the channels are
dredged TO the depth required SAY 20 or - feet
and the flats are also dredge proposed the cost
OF the work VIII most probably exceed five NIL
hon dollars This is evident from q ccns.dera-
ton OF some of the difficulties The material ex
cavated cannot Be deposited ON the ITS OF the Po-
tomac river at any point for distance OF twenty
four miles Tor mOre) from Washington without
paying the owners OF fisheries for the damage done
10 their property The terial must be deposited
upon the bank Of the river, and II its cost Is as
great as 1t Is found at other points the work can
not DC done for less than double the cost per yard
when 1t Is deposited upon the flats. These diff
cultieS are well known TO contractors who have
Gone work in our haroOr, in that Oh Baltimore ana
on the Delaware river
There IS still another objection. In few years
the work OF dredging viii have to be repeated, In
part, at least For no reason can be assigned why
sae deposits Which have been made in obedience
TO q Law or nature will not continue to reform in
the same position which they now Occupy IL has
oeen said that this tendency will cease IL the
cauSeway OF the Long bridge Is removed, but a
little consideration OF the maps VIII establish the
conviction that where set,ne mt bearing river Is
suddenly expanded Into wide basin deposit of
sediment must BE- made.
The careful ly considered plan adopted by the
board Of distinguished army engineers should az
lord a nnal settlement OF the yexcd question and
should BE- made the base of PROMPT Congressional
action For ten years our citizens have patiently Of
fered petitions for removing the FATS, which still
continue 10 impair the health OF the capital during
the summer months And row. when plan has
been Offered by which the improvements the n,y-
fgation is made 70 subScrye the reclamation OF the
mats, we can See no excuse for longer delay.
----> o
1t has been remarked that President Arthur has
given Mr.. Conkltng the same ground for complaint
as oid President Garfield, In not consulting him
about an important appointment from the state OF
New York, especially when IL is remembered that
the Presidents nominee for the Supreme bench ia
TO- succeed Justice Hunt, whom Mr. Cousliug
caused 10 be placed thereon
Visitors TO the Corcoraa Gallery who have In
gered before the striking and mucil-coDied picture
OF Charlotte COrday, VIII be Interested In the de-
scrptfon elsewhere .'How Charlotte Cordly Killed
MaraL"