Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-01-05
THE POTOMAC RIVER IMPROVE
NENT.
Major Hains' Report o., the Progress
of the Work.

WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED DURING THE MONTH OF
DECEaBER-THE WORK IMPEDED BY COLD WEATHER
THE BURNED DREpGE-ALLEGED VIOLATION or
LAW BY THE BALTIMORE AND POTOMAC RAILRo AID
CoMPANY-PROPosED OPERATIONS DURING THE
PRESENT MONTH.
Major p. c. Hams, in his report to the chief Of
engineers on the progress OF the work OF improving
the Potomac river during the month acember,
states that the weather during thearst half OF the
month was favorable for work, and good progress
was pelng made in eycavating the \Georgetown
chahnel and filing the flats when, the night OF
December II, dredge No. 9, one of the largest
and most powerful machines on the wor!;
was destroyed by fire. The cause OF the
fire is not positively known but it is supposed
% nave originated from the careless hand
ling OF a kerosene lamp On the a.th the contrac-
tor succeeded in raising the wreck but all the ma
chlney Is so damaged that very little Of it can ever
be used again The contractor has accordingly de-
termined to bring another dredge from New York
OF the same type and of somewhat greater canacity
Coia weather set in about the Goth OF the month,
ana It became impracticable to use the cars for
dumping the dredelngS in the flats. The cOntrac-
ooi. therefore, decided to make repairs that
eacn dret!ge needed, and await a return OF favor
ape weather AS soon as the weather moderateS
ne Wi; De ready to go to work again. Seventy
eiGht thousand two hundred and five cubic yards OF
material We're eXcavated from The Georgetown
channel and deposited On the fats during the
month
NAVIGATION oBSTRUCTED.
On the subject OF the Long bridge Major Hams
calls attention to the lazy which provides that the
Baltimore & Potomac Railroad company shall
erect and maintain the draw bridges SO as not to
impede the free navigation of the Potomac river
In efficient working condition at all times, and
says: ~ am informed that the orders of the cCm-
pany (B. & +. X. II. Coz do not allow the draw to
be opened after dark. The effect of this prohibit
n 1Ln IS ta1 NAVIGATION through the bridge is abso
lutciy stopped at night. and the contractor for
dredging the GEORGETOWN channel has suffered
serious Inconvenience from this cause. The rai!-
road company should be compelled to maintain
n[hS at the draw at night ard TO open il for YES
sciS TO pass through at any and all times, night
hna,,roaGt ana DAY The dhG "4rs Of building an en-
wall. under contract with Frank c. Somers
was begun on the 5th of December. A new grapp!e
dred@e, with long boom and two yard bucket.
Was put 10 work on section /. near EaSby's point,
cutting trench about 5 feet wide in front OF the
me OF the slope WALL and deposIting the material
Deh,nd lt TO form a preliminary cnbankment, be
mhd which other material will be deposited by
means OF q chute on December 18th The con
tractor was allowed to go to work on section B.
De!oW the bridge, as there is less danger fron ice
on that side OF the bridge, and he may be able to
work there all winter without danger. The mate
elnoankment when deposited behind the rip
rap OF stone that is to form the founda-
u d,oh c,r 11r the slope wall The total number
thc SolGerS contract was 1900 at 10 SO cents per
cubic yard. The filling OF about six acres near
Easily Point, under the contract with Thomas p
Morgan, has progressed rather slowly. owing partly
10 the inclement weather. 4 few men have been
employed in deposting additional rip-rap stone
along the line OF the slope wall where needed and
In repairing tools, etc.
PROBABLE OPERATIONS FOR JANUARY.
The dredges used by Mr.. Ross, the contractor,
VIII be put In good order and resume operations as
soon as weather permits. The work under the con-
tracts with +. c. SolnerS and ThOs p. Morgan VIII
be continued unless extraordinarily severe weather
Should neceSsltate temporary suspension, which
is not anticipated.
-, Major Hams, in his report upon the progress OF
the work OF removing rocks from the Georgetown
mar narDor during the month OF December, states that
me "oIk mas been temporarily suspended, owing
10 the danger to machinery from floating ice, but
that the work will be resumed as soon as weather
permits. The probable work for January will de-
pend upon the condition OF the weather.