Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-16
THE NIaaARDLY POLICY OF CONGRESS HAS RE-
TARDED THE woRK-wHAr WAS ACCOMPLISHED
DURING THE PAST YEAR-THE LONG BRIDGE A
MENACE TO THE CrrY's SAFETY.

DAMAGED BY FREsHErs.
1.-The freshets Of two years ago, the highest
of which there is any authentic record. dam
aged the work more than was at first supposed,
yet notwithstanding these and other draw
backs it is believed that the work can yet be
completed within the estimates, if single
large appropriation be made.
From a business point of view ii would be an
economical measure to appropriate in one sum
the full amount needed to complete it,"
Col Hams reiterates his warnings of the dan
ger with which the city is menaced by the
presence of the Long bridge in its present con-
dition. He says:
DANGER FROM THE LONG BRIDGE.
'The project for the improvement of the
Potomac river contemplates the removal or re-
building of Long bridge As the improvement
progresses the necessity for this becomes more
and more urgent The piers OF the bridge are
more numerous than are necessary in a
structure built according to modern plans
and are built in direction obique
to the flow of freshets. Furthermore, they are
surrounded by great quantities of rip-rap
stone, which has been deposited around them
from time to time to protect them. l estimate
that below low tide level the natural discharge
area of the Potomac at Long bridge is reduced
over 80 per cent by the piers and their founda-
tions as they exist today.
CONSTANT MENACE.
Long bridge on account of its faulty con-
structon remains a constant menace to the in
terests on the river front above it and also to
the work of improvement on the flats, upon
which the government has already spent a large
sum. In the event of a freshet occurring
while the river is full of ice-and such a con-
tIngency is not at all unlikely-the most seri-
GUS results are to be apprehended. In
such an event it may reasonably be
expected that an ice gorge will form at Long
overhowing portions Of the city front, and
through the sewers above the bridge such Of
the lower parts of the city as may be
drained by them. During the freshet of
June, 1889, the water reached q height
at. at Long Long bril- bridge e., Of IT,, about ,.. thirteen .
at 14th and streets northwest is about eight
feet above low tide and during the freshet re-
ferred to the water was about five feet deep in
the street at that locality. Great damage was
done by this freshet, but greater damage may
occur from a freshet Of lesser magnitude If
accompanied by an ice gorge. The bridge
should be rebuilt as recommended by the
board of engineers"
THE MONEY STATEMENT.
Accompanying is the following money state
ment:
Amount expended on the improvement mp to
and including June 80, 1891, Sl,626, ,S2l.37:
amount required to complete the improvement,
in addition to amount on hand, 1881 .365; an
nual cost of preserving and maintaining, esti-
mated, 5000; balance unexpended July l, 1885,
s13, ,294.50.
Amount expended during fiscal year, $685.
1857. Amount appropriated by act approved
September 10, 1880, $500 Balance unex-
pended July /, 1891, S22s, 1853. Outstar ding
liabilities July l, 1891, SIC, 6,775. A. Amount
covered by uncompleted contract July l, 1891,
$40, ,620.65. Balance available July 1, 1891,
$40, 1924. Amount that can be profitably ex-
pended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1888,
$751;, 1865.
WORK OF THE PAST YEAR.
The work done during the past year is as
follows: Immediately upon the approval of
the river and harbor act of September 49, 1890,
the construction Of a revetment. or sea wall. to
protect the embankments margins of the
I'LL, which were being considerably dam
aged by waves and currents, was COM
menced. About 500 linear feet of
dry stone wall have been built at places most
liable to erosion by waves and where the con-
ditions would permit. The wall is built on a
rip-rap footing.
THE BAR IN THE VIRGINIA CHANNEL.
"The bar in the Virginia channel above Long
bridge has been dredged several times, but
each time it fills up. With view to reducing
the deposit at this locality an earthen embank-
ment or dixie on the westerly side OF the chan
mel is projected. The embankment is thrown
up by dredge and protected by rip-rap depos-
tied in front. This dixie has been in progress
by hired machinery and purchase Of material
in open market, and is now about half COM
pleted.
'.Ihe principal dredging operations during
the past year have consisted in raising the
embankments on the margin of the reclaimed
fats This is work which must be done in any
event, and it is important that it be done soon
in order to protect the work already accom-
v,lyo had dam rv, thA Is
freshets. To do this work advantageously re-
quires dredges peculiarly fitted, and one such
hired by the hour, has been employed for some
months. The work done in this way has been
economically and advantageously done.
DREDGING CONTRACT NOW IN PROGRESS.
"a contract, dated December II, 1880, is now
in progress for dredging about 500, 900 cubic
yards of material from the Washington chan
mel and depositing it on that part of the flats
the 12-foot dredging between the 20-foot chan
mel and the easterly margin of the
fill will be continued up to the head of the
channel This, when accomplished, will COM
plete the dredging in the Washington channel.
The contractor uses ordinary cham-shell ma
chimes for dredging and deposits the material
by means OF the Riker pump and chutes
THE EASTERN BRANCH.
'The act of September 19, 1890. provides that
s20 900 Of the appropriation Of $3.50. 900 for inn
proving the Potomac river shall be available
for expenditure on the channel in the Eastern
branch between the navy yard and Giesboro
Point. Under this provision a contract was
made with Frank G. Somers of Camden, NJ.
under date of June 10, 1891, to widen
and deepen the channel, the width
to be about 200 feet and the
depth twenty feet at low tide. 1t is proposed
to deposit the excavated material in embank-
ment on the fats, with the object of control
ing the currents and reducing the deposit in
the channel.
TO FILL THE FLATS.
"Of the Il, ,0O0, 900 cubic yards estimated to be
required to fill the fats to the proper level it
is estimated that $685., 200 cubic yards have
been placed on them up to the close Of the
present fiscal year."
AT Mt. VERNON.
Col Hains also details the work Of increasing
the channel at Mt Vernon, and says: ''The
channel now has sufficient dimensions for nav
igation and no further work IL recommended.
The traffic is almost entirely passenger one,
the freighting being only the incidental local
trade. The improvement has permitted the
use Of . larger steamboat which carried to
Mt Vernon during the calendar year 1890
about 81, 900 people"
The accompanying money statement Is a.
follows: Amount appropriated September l9.
1880, e2,500; amount expended, e1,ss7.l4;
balance unexpended, e50266; outstanding ia-
bilities. e6o28&