Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-25
ALL ABOUT THE CHANNEL.
The Experiences OF the Despatch I'm the
Eastern Branch Reported TO Congress.

~eern brancn reported TO Congress.
Congress has Just been placed in possession
o. information which. as Il affects the C.ss
despatch, must be OF national interest
when the Despatch is prevented from freely
indolgins In navigation over the lower portion
OF the Eastern Branch il is time for legislation
and appropriation. In the nrs, week OF this
month Commandant Meade OF the navy yard
wrote an official communication 90 secre-
tsry Tracy, In which the attention OF
the Secretary was directed to the fact that
money was needed TO deepen the channel 70
twenty feet from the navy yard 10 Giesboro'
Point The channel" said the commsndant
lis filling up 80 rapidly that in q short time
there will be places IN IL where even the Despatch
will ground" In order that there might be NO
mistake in the matter Cammandant Meade re-
quested Lieut. Cowles, commanding the Des-
patch, TO make report on the Necessity for
lrrlgating material Lieut. Cowles turned the
job over 10 Lieut. York Noel, executive officer
OF the Despatch. and the result was - report
from Lieut. Noel as follows:
II have the honor 10 report that while wind
ing the U.S.S Despatch On Friday, April 4. at
wharf No. 4. lower. at the navy yard. Washing
ton. tide having just turned food, her keel
caught on point of mud IN the channel, about
one-third the way out, and nearly abreast the
derrlcA On sounding from the ship. depth OF
Il leet inches: port quarter. Is feet On haul
ing shead few ieet her heel cleared and she
swung into the dock, giving q depth OF IL feet
on starboard quarter as soon as she started TO
SWING. ships drsught aft all the time, Is feet
inches. SoundIngs were taken over the spot
on the following day at low water and depth
OF Is feet scant was found. The tide on both
days was lower than usual"
his WAS duly forwarded to Commandant
Meade, who transmitted 1t to Secretary Tracy.
/ hE oh saN 81.
gave the matter prayerful consideration before
lndorsing Il, and then Secretary Tracy sent IL
70 Secretary Proctor. who. in turn, relieved
himself by submitting 1t 10 Gen. Casey, chief
OF engineers. The general said n was all right,
ana then the Secretary of War stamped II
~. h" and placed the memorial and aceompa-
nying papers IN The hands of the Speaker of
the House who, as soon as he had half an op-
portunity, took occasion TO refer Il TO the com,
inA''ee on rivers and harbors. 1t is there now.
Card Worthy OF the Occasion.
The card OF invitation sent out by the Co
lumbia Athletic Club to it's friends for the en-
tertainment that Is to mark the opening Of the
new club house this evening is an exceedingly
pretty piece Of work. Ii is two cards, rather
than one, tackled together with u little bow
OF white ribbon at one corner At the
top OF the first card, outside, is the
clubs emblem-a big blue with a pair of
wings and an arrow within its curve. Below is
the wording OF the invitation IN graceful script
On the inner side OF the last card is a list OF
officers OF the club, and between the two cards
Is sheet of toned paper with picture of the
cruz house on It and representations OF various
kinds OF sports. The card was gotten up BY
N. w. Calf Bro. a Co.
| Range OF the Thermometer Today.
The following were the readings az the sie-
nal Office today: Sam, 60; pm, So; maxi