Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-02
THE POTOMAC RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ENGlhHERS.
THE SEVERAL PLANS REVIEWED. |


RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD.
| The board Of engineers convened in New York
! to consider and report upon the plans and esti-
| mates for the Improvement OF navigation OF the
Potomac river, in the vicinity of Washington, D.
G., the raising OF the fats in front OF the city, and
| the establishment of the harbor lines, have SUBJ
mtted the following preliminary report to General
| Wright, chief OF engineers:
| The board had before it for consideration the
| following plans:
l. Those considered by the board OF survey, as
| follows:
| A. To carry the main channel from the lower
end OF Analostan Island and across the fats above
| Long bridge, and below Essby's point into the
| small Channel running along the Washington
'front.' at or near the intersection OF the extensions
OF 18th and and streets southwest, ana thence
continue along the present front OF the city until it
| Arsenal
| B. To have two channels, forming the flats above
! and below Long bridge into an island The main
deep channel to remain along the right bank OF the
| river down to Gravelly point. just below Long
! boro point. The second and smaller channel to
| run from point just below tsby's point acroas
the flats, with its upper edge just touching the end
of the wharf at 18th street west and thence along
! the present Washington front until alI the chan
nels join the deep channel off Giesboro point.
| c. To have but one channel OF sufficient width
and depth for all purposes, a direct continuation
OF the river at Georgetown; to run along the right
bank OF the river as far down GraveIly point,
and thence directly toward GeSbOro' point, fol-
lowing nearly the present main channel OF the
| river. The latter plan was recommended by the
| $4,G09,G00
In this plan the edge of the channel on Wash
1ngtOn side was TO be defined and limited by line
OF bulkhead and piers, constructed of wood arti-
| ficially preserved; the bulkhead being crib
work filled with stone, with its base q feet below
water, resting on foundation OF piles and carried
which hptpnt
general level Of the front line OF reclaimed area
This plan involved the cutting OF large portion
! OIL AnalOStan island. about 700 feet at the widest
part, OF about $50 feet Width Off Easbys point and
OF some 200 feet width of Graveliy point. The
though a basin OF about 1880 feet in length and
500 feet In width was provided along the Arsenal
'front.' m the navy yard being proposed to be changed
were proposed to be % feet depth at low tide for
distance Of 600 feet outside the pier heads 10 feet
depth for further distance OF $50 feet and IS feet
! depth beyond this. The total width OF the chan
nel Increased from coo feet below the Aqueduct
bridge; 27o0 feet at the crossing OF the Long
briage inclusive OF the piers; the location OF the
| Long bridge was proposed to be changed to this
extent that in crossing the channel II should be
ii. Plans proposed by Mr.. S. T. Albert, U. S. civil
! engineer, Which in general outline may De thus
described: From a shoit distance below Easby's
point the main or GeorgeToWh Channel to be deep
| ened by dredging down to the deep water off
GfesboIo, the material so removed to be deposited
on the nAtS above and below the Long bridge cut
ting off all communication OF water betwee the up
per end OF the Washington channel and the GoOrge-
| town channel above the Long bridge. This deeper
Channel Is TO Include the lines OF mid area and mid
volume, as shown ON Mr.. Ab2rts map and descri bed
at length in his report, but less curved In direction.
The Washington channel below the Long bridge is
10 De reta1nel ana to be widened, and also deep
ened 20 feet at low water, the material removed
thefelroin to be deposited upon the natS.
basin about 33,s acres is provided abov6,the
Long bridge, with depth OF 10 leet for wood
narbor &c, and for the smaller class OF vessels The
main channel, In its dimensions OF width and
nh haf fAFfa al
for 1lftng shall be provided from the excavation,
and that the sectional areas below the levels OF
low water shall not be less than 25 CO., s2s7s and
5000 square feet respectively, tor reasons set
forth IN Iul in his report TO- the chief Of engineers
area upon which tie dredged material is to be de-
posted comes ONE almost out 70 the edge Of the deep
from till at two-thirds the distance to
the Long bridge, it is 1900 feet distance,
then approaching thereto it comes nearly
lower end of the reclaimed area This channel
does not cut into either AnalostaR Island or
ing off about 400 feet OF the point on which the
eauSe%ay rests. No change OF the location OF the
Long bridge Is contemplated by this plan The
hirbor lines proposed set forth in eIatl In Mr.
Aserts report. The reclaimed area projects about
1890 feet below the arsenal or Greenlesfs point
towards Giesboro' point The area of flats re-
claimed is 694 acres With this general outline as
basis the plans presented by him vary in details
As to the depth OF the main channel the alternate
depths OF IS and 10 feet are presented with pre-
terence Tor the latter depth, widening on the bottom
as it progresses down stream. Different projects
are presented for the details OF the arrangements
OF the reclaimed area. First, the area to be en-
closed by a dry masonry wall resting on piles re-
tanning the deposited material which is filled to
the Aelght OF Feet above low water q feet above
ordinary high tide). This wall forms the bulk
head line. This surface OF feet height above low
tide is to be enclosed by an embankment of such
height as to exclude freshets and placed at a dis
tance OF so feet from the bulkhead line. The area
within the embankment is to be drained by pipa
IN nrTslff flour hint
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
Second. The area to be filled to the general
height OF six feet above low tide before, pro-
tected On the water side by slope OF riprap, sup
ported by footing OF stone, but without an en-
bankment to exclude freshets which would thus,
te citing the city against floods an embanImehMt It is
pr opposed from 18th street to the monument lot
This project Mr. Albert estimates to cost 81 S91 4Sa
Mr.. Abert's report and drawings suggest mOdift-
cations OF these two plans taken as bases. 1t is
also suggested by his report that portion OF the
basin from which to sluice out the washington
channel, or ponds may be provided from which to
sluice out the sewer canal from street. Some
from the upper end Of the retained Washington
channel to the main channel, that communication
may be had between the harbors Of Washington
and Georgetown without making the long detOur
by way OF Giesboro' point MI. Albert presents an
estimate OF the cost OF this canal Though It forms
Ill Major w. j. Twining, CORDS of engineers,
Engineer Commissioner Of the District, at the
request OF the board, presented drawing embody-
Ing his views OF project. In horizontal proJec-
1ors it is very similar to the projects presented by
Mr.. Alert, the variation being chieny that OF an
area OF ponds above the Long br1dse-to be used
water in the Washington channel, these ponds
receiving water during the flood tide from the
main channel and dfScharging on the ebb into the
washington harbor. Major Twining proposes
raising the level Of the reclaimed area to the
b eight Of four feet above freshet overflow, and
roposes Iip-rag protection alone for the south
side OF the reclaimed area. He proposes a
square feet His project includes also the
cutting OF some $50 feet on Hasby's
point For the time he would keep the
filling Of the fats somewhat within the line 6f
buikhead proposed by Mr.. Albert until observation
OF the river could be made with its new regimen
and he would for the present limit the area OF de-
post below the long bridge to perhaps twO-fths OF
the contemplated project His plan is also to
build catch sewer along the harbor front SO that
none Of the city drainage should vittate the water
OF the harbor, this sewer to discharge into the
eastern branch.
~. Another plan for the reclamation and i'm
provement which has been considered is fol-
lows: Reclaim the areas which are proposed to be
reclaimed in the plans OF Major Twining and Mr..
Albert; but instead Of doing 1t by filling, use the