Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-16

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE ON THE CHANNEIS-A
RETAINING WALL NEARLY ooMPLErED-THE
LONG BRIDGE oBsrRUcrIoN-Tr SHOULD BE
REBUILT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PLAN OF
THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS.
Mai. Charles E. L. b. Davis, engineer CORPS,
U. 8. A., has forwarded to Gen. Casey his an
nusl report for the year ending June 50, 1892
of the work on the improvement Of the Poto-
mac river.
The amount expended on the improvement
up to and including June 80, 1892. is S1.797,-
941.37. The amount required to complete tho
improvement, in addition to that on hand, is
sss1 1865. The annual cost OF preserving and
maintaining is estimated at $4,000. The bal
ance of appropriation available July 1892, was
Sl5,17263
The report lays particular stress upon the
menace to river front property by the Long
bridge and urges its rebuilding.
BUILDING THE SEA WALL.
The report says:
During the fiscal year the expenditures have
been S171. l20. On June 30, 1891, the con-
struction Of the sea wall en- the river front of
the reclaimed area was in progress. The wall
is q dry stone wall built on q rip-rap founda-
ton. The wall is 6 feet high, feet thick at
tine base and 21& feet thick at the
top. The stone purchased under a
contract with W. H. Mohler at s1.7O per
cubic yard supplemented by purchases in open
market at the same price when deliveries by the
contractor fell below the contract rate. The
wall was laid up by hired labor. this method be-
ing the most advantageous and economical for
this part of the work. $40 feet being con-
structed during the year The wall Is now
of the river front of sections
and IL above the Long bridge and along the
Washington channel front Of section Ill from a
point opposite the foot of 7Ih street to the
lower end OF the section Operations were sus-
PENDED for tine season on December %, 1891.
and for want of available funds have not since
been resumed. The contract of Mr. Mohler
closed.
THE VIRGINIA CHANNEL.
On July 7. 1891. contract was entered into
with Frank C. Somers of Camden, N. j., for
dredging in thevirginia channel above the Long
bridge at 1915 cents per cubicyard. This dredg-
ing was intended to restore 20-fOot navigation
in the Virginia channel above the Long bridge.
where under the action of the freshet of 1889
and subsequent smaller frcshets. the bar had
again formed. Work under the Contract was
commenced September 1. 1891. with one hy-
drauhc dredge. In November and December
second hydraulic dredge was used on the work.
The material found was chiefly mud near
the upper end of the channel and sand near
tine middle and lower end. 1t was deposited
near the sewer canal and between it and the
reservoir inlet Work was suspended last JAN
nary for fear Of ice. but was resumed Feb
ruary %. On June 30 last a channel 6 900 feet
long twenty feet deep and 200 feet wide had
been dredged through the bar, and the widen
ing of this channel 70 $50 feet in width was in
progress. 352. 1927 cubic yards having been
dredged.
THE TRAINING Dixie.
Work on the training dixie on the westerly
side of the Virginia channel was continued and
the earthen embankment forming the upper
2.lOO feet of the dixie was completed by means
of hired dredge. The height of the embank-
ment is from seven to nine feet above low tide.
Below the embankment for distance Of $500
feet in water from one to nine ana one-half
feet in depth, there ia q footing of rip-rap
stone in place. but the embankment behind it
has not vet been formed.
WORK THE WASHINGTON CHANNEL.
On June 30. 1891, dredging in the Washing
ton channel was in progress under a previous
contract with the Alabama Dredging and Jetty
Company. The contract provided for dredg-
ing part Of the area between the 20-fOot chan
mel and the easterly margin OF section Ill to a
depth of twelve feet at low tide aud depositing
the material below the Long bridge to a grade
from twelve to six feet above low tide.
The material WAS mud and ordinary clam shells;
dredges were used. depositing the material on
shore BY means of the Riker pump and chutes.
In a mistaken attempt to economize in the
cost of the work the contractor attempted to
deposit all Of the material to be dredged from
a single position Of the pump opposite the
center of the basin in which the deposit was to
be made. and which was about $500 feet long
by 800 wide. 1t was found, however that the
material did not flow as expected. and from
this and other causes the fill increased until OH
Aupnsf q when its ma ximum HEIGHT WAS fifteen
feet above low tide.
DIFFICULTIES THAT ENsUED.
The report details at considerable length the
difficulties which ensued in consequence. Pumps
broke down. changes we're made in dredges and
new devices tried. and meanwhile the time for
the completion of the contract expired. 1t was
extended twice and last March a third extern
sion was granted. but 10 work was done under
the third extension. On NAV IL a fourth ex-
tension was granted until July Is. with the
understanding that the work should be i'm
medlately resumed and theoretically prose-
cuted.
No work has vet been done during the fourth
extension of the contract. Levels recently
taken over the fill showed the maximum
height TO be seventeen feet above low tide
and the amount of material above grade 81
$50 cubic yards.
on THE EASTERN BRANCH.
in improving the Eastern branch between the
navy yard and Giesboro Point a contract was
made with Frank Somers of Camden " j., to
make a twenty-foo. channel 200 feet wide.
material to be embarked on the fats Work was
commenced November Is. 1891. by two dredges.
The time was extended to May Is, 1892 The
work proceeded during the winter with but
four days interruption. The dredging
South Capitol street was completed March 16,
1892, and the dredge moved to Arsenal P oint.
Here the channel was widened and decpened as
far "a available funds would permit. The chan
mel dredging was completed April 26. 1892, with
the excavation of 90.217 cubic yards.
THE LONG FRIDGE.
On July IA, 1891. the Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad Company submitted to the Secretary
of War plans for the reconstruction of the
Long bridge across the Washington channel
These plans have been described in The SrAR:l
The plans were approved July 20, 1891, and
the company at once begun work. no that by
the close of the year the bridge proper was
practically completed.
On filling the approaches with earth, how
ever, u decided and serious settlement and
movement Of the abutments were developed,
which were most marked in the southwest abut-
ment. which settled no less than eighteen
inches. while the down stream wing moved for
ward about four feet. This movement was, no
doubt. due to the pressure of the earth filing
upo-, the thick stratum Of soft rnnd