Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-20
PUMPING OUT THE CHANNEL.
The New Hydraulic Dredge and Whas
Ii Expected Of lt.
THE COST OF THE WORK ON THE RIVER FRONT M
PROMINENT REDUCED-How THE NEW MACHINE
WORKS. TALK WITH COL. HAMS.


'If the hydraulic dredge, which will soon be
at work on the fats, proves a success, it will
revolutionize the art of dredging" said Col
Hams to STAR reporter the other day while
conversing about the reclamation Of the fats
SIS there much doubt about its success
asked the reporter.
mot In my opinion" was the reply "Other.
wise 7 wouldn't have recommended that the
contract be given to Benson and McNee. Splen.
did work was done with the dredge In Oakland
CAL" continued Col. Hams "It has a record
of dredging there 60. 600 cubic yards OF material
per month, working ten hours per day. On the
flats 1t is the intention to work day and night
at least twenty hours per day. and as the
dredge which is being built is to be quite little
larger than the one at Oakland, it is estimated
that 600 cubic yards per month at least can
be removed and deposited IL no serious obsta.
Giles are encountered. The difference in kind
OF material to be dredged may make some dit.
ference, but have examined a sample of the
material dredged at Oakland. and as near as
can judge that In the Potomac can be dredged
more easily. There is more sand in the latter
and that they say. Is all the better for the n.y.
draulc dredge."
IF the new method proves satisfactory it will
make quite saving in the appropriation allotted
for the work, will it not!" asked the reporter.
idea on that point by comparing the price of the
contract recently awarded for dredging one mil.
lion yards OF the Washington channel and the
price offered by Sanford & Ross who did the
work last year. The bid of the latter was 19s.
cents per yard, while the new contract price Is
only 1887. That is quite difference; but be-
sides, the work is to be measured in place in.
stead OF in the scow, which will make the diff
terence In cost just about one-half There il
about one-eighth difference to the yard i'm meas.
r.ri IN, fhn
latter, for the material is then pretty well set.
tied. In dredging the one million yards in the
Washington channel there will be saving OF
some eighty thousand dollars. The work done
last year was well done, but the contractors
could not compete with the new Corners, Their
expenses being so much heavier. few men
can run the hydraulic dredge and accomplish as
much work as big force of men and number
OF dredges working in the old way"
"Of course | can't tell about future contracts.
but understand that Benson and hcNee who
have the right'to use the dredge under Colonel
Won Schmidts patent, were preparing to build
second dredge in case they proved the sue
cessfu bidders in the contract for dredging
LOCO 900 yards in the Virginia channel"
How does the new dredge work." asked the
reporter.
/ The material is pumped up through sue
ton pipe. twenty inches in diameter. At the
bottom of the river. near the pipe. horizontal
wheel with three plows attached. loosens the
material. The suction pipe leads through a
powerful pump which forces water through
the exit pipe at the rate OF so feet per second.
and you can imagine that this would carry
along pretty stiff material. The exit pipe can be
made Ofany length desired and is carried over
pontoons to the location where the material is
to be deposited"
"When will the work under the new contract
be commenced"
CAS- soon as they can construct the dredce.
but suppose not before the first of November
The contract is to be completed by the first of
next September. AS 1t Is. will be enabled to
make good progress with the appropriation at
my disposal, but if there should be any more
contracts at anything like as reasonable terms
1t Will be all the better. When the estimates
for the reclamation OF the flats were first made
they were placed at the very lowest figures. 1t
was even said that the work could not possibly
be done within the estimate. Now, my great
aim is to bring the total cost within that esti-
mate. and | am going to do it if it is possible.
expect to get things in such shape this fall and
winter that | can commence work on the inlet
sluice gates in the spring"
In the basement ofthe building skilled carpen-
ter was at work upon large wooden model of the
flats as they will appear when reclaimed and
the new bed OF the river, in fact showing every
thing from the Aqueduct to Giesboro' point. 1t
was originally intended for exhibition at the
New Orleans exposition, but it was decided not
to send any exhibit. There" said Col. Hams,
as he viewed the model, you can see what this
work will do to the Long bridge if nothing is
done about it," The bed of the river was cut
away to such an extent as to leave the piers of
the bridge aud their foundations entirely ex-
posed. In fact there was little foundation for
the bridge to stand upon. and what there was
would simply act as dam to the improved
river channel III the bridge is left in it's pres
ent condition. and the dredging continued &C
cording to the original plan, the bridge, it is
thought, will not be very safe structure Tor