Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-01
THE POTOMAC RIVER IMPROVE.
MENTS.

THE POTOMAC RIVER IMPROVE
MENTS.
The Work OF RecIaiminx the Flats.
PROGRESS MADE DURING THE PAST YEAR-wHAT IS
TO BE DONE DURING THE PRESENT YEAR-THE I'M
PRovEMENTS IN THE HARBoR AND IN TIE LOWER
POTOMAC.
The annual report Of Col P. c. Hams on the i'm
proVement OF the Potomac flats during the last
nscal year, says that at the commencement of the
year the work had only been fairly started. 1t
was determined to apply the funds appropriated in
making channel for navigation not less than 20
Ieet deep at low tide and about 400 feet wide from
deep water on G1esboro' Point to Georgetown, and
TO raise part OF the flats in front of the city
above overflow at ordinary high tide. On June
5otn only 1sS, ,3s7 % cubic yards had been dredged
FOR convenience the work was divided into three
sectlons-section No 1, the portion between the
sewer canal and Easby's Point; section No. 2. that
between the sewer canal and Long bridge and sec
ton No. g. that below the Long bridge The con-
tract with P. Sanford Ross was to dredge a chan
mel Ior navigation about 400 feet wide and 20 feet
deep through the bar below the Long bridge and
deposit dredgings on section Sand another channel
through the bar above Long bridge and deposit
ore nseagnss on section l.. The price was sl.2 cents
per cuolc yard, measured In ScOwS. At the COM
mencement OF the year the contractor had five
dredges at work and this number was increased to
eight, two being small dipper dredges for hard
material near the bridge
HOW THE WORK IS DONE
Inc manner OF doing the work, which is generally
approved, Is to dredge the river at the required
place, deposit the material in dumping scows. tow
them to receiving basin and dump into it, then re-
dredge from the basin depositiug the material in
cars that convey 1t to the flats For filling in sec
tion 1, a railroad was built having double track
lor 4CO feet and then by single track running
Nl flnf from
reaches the shore end Of the marshes. On each
side OF the double track there Is receiving basin,
from the ends OF which branch tracks start run
ming toward shore about 400 feet apart. In this
way five lines Of tracks were built. On section 3
the work was carried on in similar manner. The
material taken from the river, both above and
below the bridge, varies considerably, being soft
mud stln mud, some sand and little gravel with
oou!ders When there Is surplus OF soft mud
even though mixed with gravel, 1t spreads out
well. Up 10 the present time the contractor has
built on section about 13 600 feet OF railroad, and
has enough room 10 deposit the remaining quaint
1ty, about 15O,0vO cubic yards, that the contract
cans ior: This makes an average Of 66 cubic yards
OF material 10 the running foot OF track.
PART OF THE WORK COMPLETED.
The section Of work below Long bridge contracted
for by Mr.. Ross Is completed Total length Of track
built was about 7,4OO feet; the number OF cubic
yards OF material deposited 557 O56-an average Of
IS cubic yards per lneal loot The track on section
was not located in manner to give best results
With better kind OF car for conveying and dump
Ing, and an endless chain dredge for loading them,
II Is believed that the amount put on the flats per
neal foot OF track could be greatly increased. 1t
IS doubtful this method Of deposit Can be profit
ably employed after the grade OF The fill is raised
The hydraulic system would do better work at less
cost and most Of it without the necessity OF second
hauling.
THE MATERIAL TAKEN OUT.
The total amount OF material taken out from the
channel above the bridge and deposited on sec. 1
OF the flats during the fiscal year was 63s S6a on
and deposited on Sec OF the fats was 5O4 1859 63
cuDlc yards, making grand total OF 1,136 53 20
CUBIC yards. This material spread out on the flats
covers an area OF about l20 acres to an average
land from overflow, even in ordinary freshets. A
suspension OF dredging became necessary in the
the material would not dump. Work was resumed
about the middle OF March. No fresheJ occurred
feet o TO rase e @
ordinary high tide.
simultaneously with the work of dredging the
slope along the margin OF the I'LL has been carried
on TO protect the material and prevent its being
washed back into the river. The excavation OF the
cubic yard. The mattress was laid by hired labor
and the stone forming the footing Of the slope
yard Mr.. e. somers, of Philadelphia, who was
awarded the contract for dredging In front OF the
slope wall and depositing behind the wall to form
an em6ankment. at l0:s cents per cubic yard began
work December 5, 1883, and has been steadily at
work since. Up 10 the present time he has dredged
and deposited In embankinent 1OO,945 cubic yards.
AN EMBANKMERT
has been formed along the front of the greater part
OF section l. and about 5000 feet along front Of Sec
ton 8. 1t Is about 50 feet wide on top and feet
high above low water, with natural slopes on each
slde The contract for filling about six acres OF the
flats near EaSby's point was completed by Thomas
stone out OF a necessary 5,OOO has been delivered
by Potomac Red Sand Stone company to raise
the stone along the line OF the slope wall.
THE LONG BRIDGE
Col. Hams again calls attention to the necessity
Of change in Long bridge, and says that while it
remains no plan OF improvement can be made sat
isfactory AS it is at present it retards the ow OF
water, and will cause the dredged channel to fill
again. II 1t Is not to be rebuilt on new piers. with
wide spans 1t should be put in condition to prevent
damage to city property in times OF fIeshet by re-
moving 400 feet of the causeway at the south end,
and deepening the water between the piers north
east OF the draw; but the only radical is new
bridge with wider spans.
=, He urgently calls attention to the necessity Of
building embankmentS along the sides OF the sewer
canal TO coniine the sewage matter.
WHAT WILL BE DONE THIS YEAR
1t Is proposed, with the appropriation Of July 5,
1884, to continue dredging the Virginia channel to
increase the cross section Of the river above and
below the bridge, depositing the material in front
channel below the bridge to width OF $50 feet and
depth OF 20 feet, depositing section 3; to com
menCe tne construction OF the proposed tidal reSer
voir between the bridge and the sewer canal, and
the Inlet gates by which 1t is to be supplied with
fresh water.
The amount which can be profltably expended in
1885 Is estimated at In continuing he work
already begun. 1t is believed that the entire work
can be completed within the estimate and when
completed the reclaimed land will be equal in value
to the cost Of reclamation.
summary-Amounta available July 1, 1885, $780,
$780, IL; amount expended to July l. 1884 s29s 44s
amount available for fiscal year ending June go
1855 1858 l4l IS; amount estimated to complete the
project, $l,616,365.
The harbOr improvements.
Col. P. c. Hains in his annual report to chief of
engineers on the improvement Of the Washington
and Georgetown harbors states that the work of
removing dangerous rocks did not progress very
rapidly during the year owing to delays caused by
unfavorabie weather, and prevailing strong cur
rents and the character OF the rock. The group OF
rocks, near the Aqueduct bridge, designated as An,
was first removed the work being completed No.
vember q, 1888. Groups D. and D.. F and F. have
been blasted, and most OF the rock removed. II is
expected they will be completed during July, 1884,
when the work Will be commenced on and b
rocks The entire rock excavation up TO the
present time Is estimated at 490 cub yards. During
the past year several other rocks have been SUR
veyed the removal Of which is necessary, and 1t is
proposed TO remove them during the present year.
Enough 1undS are on hand to remove all the rocks
dangerous to navigation. The amount available
Tor the year ending June 80, 1885, is $34.0e 7a
Revenue collected at tGeOrgetown for the year end
Ing June 30, 1884, was $25,012.T. The receipts and
shipments at Washington and Georgetown harbors
during 1883 amounted to st, ,669. .565. 80.
improvements i'm the Lower Potomac.
Mr.. s. T. Albert, civil engineer, In his report to
the chief Of engineers Of the river and harbor i'm
prOVementS under his charge during the wear