Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-11
The Plan of River Improvement.

The Plan of River Improvement.
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
Why is It that all the measures respecting the
river improvements are directed to plans for the
reclamation OF the fats, instead OF preventing the
overflow OF portions OF the city In times OF floods?
One would suppose from the plans suggested, that
these flats were necessarily TO be reclaimed or
rendered above the height OF floods In order to
prevent their malarial influence alone. regardless
OF what result may ensue TO the course OF the
river, or the damage TO property on either side of
the same The only practical suggestion as yet
made, (the decision OF scientific engineers to the
contrary Notwithstanding is the one at the close
OF your editorial, few days since, upon the sub
1ect, which recommends the removal OF the entire
fats, causeway of the bridge, and ALL This would
allow the tides to ebb and liOw directly over the
entire river, and in times or DoOd the water to
pass unobstrueted to the sea lou say, with this
pan the flats viii have TO be redrnded at frequent
periods suppose they do; this would be cheaper
than the present plan. You also say that the
0rt would have to be Carried to a great dis
lance. Not necessarily, as there are in1entatiOnS
and marshes on the opposite shore that could be
filled. You are mistaken in suppOsing that the sedl
ment would be rapidly deposited again. The
cauSeway, which produces the ed1ies, above and
below also the deposit OF debris and precipitation
OF sediment after Hoods has been the cause OF the
rapid accretion OF the flats. Now, II the cauSeway
be removed, and the bridge placed upon spans,
the fats removed TO five OF eight feet below low
water mark, the floods VIII pass by harmleSsly,
because the banks being low, and the river unOb-
structed, there will be impeachment. But to
reclaim the flats, and narrow the river will only
drive the water to the Capitol and the Virginia
hills, increasing the area OF malarial surface on
the opposite side OF the river and consequent sick
Ness mere. IL matters not how deep you make the
channel, when the floods come, II there be no re-
tanning walls or banks TO contine the water, it
must spread, because il runs like an avalanche
over the surface OF the river. SUFFERER.
The several plans for the improvement OF the
river front were discussed In The STAR on the 4th
instant, with special reference to the report of the
board OF engineers which has recently been submit
ted 10 the Secretary of War. 1t was stated that
one OF the plans which had been proposed con-
,lnt1 tlNa.
Claiming them, and It has been claimed that this
plan affords the most satisfactory solution OF the
problem. The proposal IS to eXcavate the entire
area OF the flats To a depth OF say or feet at low
water, aud deposit the material on the flats OF the
river below Washington.
1t Is only year or two since contracts were LET
for the deposit or the material excavated from the
Washington channel on the river flats below this
city. The contractors, Mr. FobeS and Mr.. Cotton,
carefully examined the river for distance OF twen-
~ miles, or more but could find flats bays with
more than depth OF feet ut low water The most
available localities for this purpose are already oc-
cupied by fisheries and even where there are no fish,
ing shores, the owners of adjacent land interpose
legal objection to the work. The large scows, in
which Is necessary to transport material for long
distances, draw about feet of water when loaded,
so that the material would need to be deposited by
tramWay, such as Is now employed at the Wash
1ngton channel Unjust be evident that the trans
portatiOn OF this material for long distances and
the deposit by tramway, will cost at least twice
as much as the deposit the fats as proposed by
She engineers report.
still further objection to dredging ont the fats
INSTEAD OF retaining them> arises from the fact
that the Potomac Is a sediment bearing river.
Below EaSby'S point the river expands into a wide
area OF flats and marshes the velocity OF the cur
rent suddenly decreases, and the sediment is de-
posted upon the flats and In the channel, thus
forming the bar which ebstructs the passage Of
vessels bound 10 Georgetown. This deposit OF sed-
iment has been increasing year after year as the
forests are cleared and the land put under cult
Walton.
Now, II the flats are deepened and the width of
the river remains as at present this process must
commence again. and the flats Will reform with
me deposit from each succeeding freShet This
has been the experience OF engineers every
where, and there is no reason to suppose that the
Potomac river Will be made an exception to the
general laws OF nature. The plan would, there
fore, only prOlong the existence OF the fats whose
immediate removal Is essential TO the health OF
Che city. The objections to dredging the flats,
then, are, first, the increased cost and second the
TACT that they will thus only be perpetuated as a
source OF future trouble, annoyance and disease
It has been stated that the reclaim ttion of the
fats out TO the lines proposed by the bolri OF en-
gineerS will raise the level OF the water and in
crease the damage from floods but an exami-
nation OF the reports of the board which we re-
Gently published, viii show that this will not be
the case. The board propose to provide a sec
tional area at the Long bridge, equal to that
which discharged the frcShet OF 1877, and TO fill I'D
10 the new harbOr lines above the level OF that
freshet. Above Georgetown the river banks are
higher than the flood line, and the river cannot
overflow the adjacent land. The plan adopted
oy the board OF engineers proposes to continue
tne same conditions below Georgetown as far
the Arsenal, and To provide an efnbankment about
Two feet higher than the highest known food,
while at the same time the channel Is deepened
and widened To provide for The rapid discharge OF
the freShet water.
All the plans proposed have been considered by
the board OF engineers, and they have recon-
mended the adoption of one which provides for a
deep channel for navigation, winter harbor
along the Washington front, and the reclamation
OF the flats with flushing ponds making ornamen-
tal lakes This plan fulls all the requirements OF
commerce and health, and meets the general ap
prevail OF the citizens OF the District 1t only re-
mains for Congress To act promptly IN this matter
and TO pass bill embodying the recommen-
dations Of the engineer board In a matter so
urgent and so essential To the health and pros
perfty OF the District, there should be no longer
delay.
Another victory is 70 be scored for the newspa-
pers OF Philadelphia In their role OF reformers OF
public abuses Some time ago the Record by
bio A