Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-08-03
RECLAMATION OF TIE POTOMAC
FLATS.

The Appropriation in the River and
EkafDOE Dili-Ez1V 1t VEis3 DC Ex.
Penaed-Iians Of ti,c Improvement,
Etc.
The passage OF the river and harbor bill over the
presidential veto gives assurance to the city c
Washington Of the reclamation OF the Potomac
Hats. just when work upon this much-needed in
prOVenent Will commence is matter OF consider
able speculation. In the first place, the money
viii be expended under the direction of the Secre.
tary OF War, bu5 he will be unable to make any
move until he is officially notified by the Secretary
OF State that the bill has become law, which Will
be done by sending him certified copy OF the
bill This will not be done for q week or ten days
After that there will be the usual necessary orders
issued AMI details and requis:tlons made. 1t is
generally understood that Mr.. S. L. Albert, United
States civil engineer, will De placed In charge OF
the proposed work, although there will be nothing
to D revent the Secretary o. War from detailing
some one else from the corps OF engineers to super
wise the work.
PLAN OF THE IMPROVEMENT.
1t is supposed that the work will be done IN
accordance with the general plan recommended by
the board OF officers OF the corps of engineers con-
slsting OF Lieutenant COlonels @. A. Gilmore, VIM.
r. CrdlghiS and c. b. Constock. This board rec
the haroor and shore lines OF Mr.. Abert's plan
from T. lSby'S point to the arsenal, and the low
Ristde, HiliHg, ana surrounding emDankInent or
that plan below the long bridge, with cheaper
reyertment than he proposed1 together with
Major TW1ning'S high grade filing and sluicing
ponds between the long Bridge and Easby's point,
MR.. ABEET'S PLAN
IS TO dredge the Georgetown channel to maxi
mum depth OF 25 feet, with width OF 400 feet, and
the Washington channel, between the Long bridge
ana the arsenal wharf, to a width OF 400 feet and
deptn OF ~ 1eet at low water. The dredged mate
rial from the main channel Will be placed upon
the fats.
THE FLUSHING PONDS,
recommended by Major Twining, will probably be
net less than feet deep, and will be provided with
inlet and outlet gates, automatically arranged for
tlling the ponds from the Georgetown channel
ana emptying them into the Washington channel
during each oscillation Of the tide An ample sys-
tenn ioc the drainage OF the reclaimed land Will be
1t is not decided how the flats will be reclaimed
ene,Gis' as Ine drcdge1 material Will not suffice
lor the whole: The ponds, however, will cover
consiHeraDie OF the area, which Will not have to
Oe niieu H. IL Is thought by some that ODSerya-
Iory Hiil VIII be cut away and the dirt dumped
upon the fats.
THE DETAILS OF THE IMPROVEMENT
VIII De determined upon as the work progresses
and the plan may be subjected TO considerable al
terations. The Attorney General is directed to
see lat all titles to the land clear before the
reclamation Is begun. DR.. Kidwsll holds patent
upon some forty acres Of the land known as
THE "kfDwEIL MEADOWS"
THIS patent was granted him December g. 1862
and for the land he paid fifty cents an acre. The
law directs that land for which patents are issued
shall be firm, and not subject to tidal overflow. II
IS probable that the patent will be annuled, on the
io 4 snat " was issued Illegally ana tne money
toR e Will nave TO be decided before the work can