Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-24

stores were partly under water causing heavy
losses The Baltimore and Potomac station is
described as presenting novel sight. The
water completely filled the waiting rooms
Boats foated through the entrances of the
depot. Persons living on Missouri avenue were
unable to leave their homes except by means of
boats, as the water there was very deep. The
flood came before many Of the residents had
been provided with eatables tor the day and
had 1T not been for outside assistance many of
them would probably have gone hungry. All
the streets leading south from the avenue be-
tween the Botanical Gardens and the treasury
were canals. The Easements and lower floors
OF houses were under water. The market ouse
stood in the center of great lake. Rats and
boats appeared in numbers on the street
WHAT THE NEXT FLOOD MAY DO.
Whenever one Of the series OF great freshets
which from time to time partly destroy the
Long bridge and flood the city shall occur
when the river is full of ice from the breaking
up in the upper Potomac after heavy winter
rains an ice gorge will be formed at Long
bridge which will send a broad. deep stream
through Washington by way of Pennsylvania
avenue, inundating and damaging the city be-
yond expression and beyond conception. and
will probably end by sweeping away Long
bridge altogether, destroying the railroad and
hlghway.coinmunication, with Virginia and sew
erlng the southern connections supplied by
this structure. Unless no other less heroic
method OF causing Long bridge to go is posi-
ole the city would prefer to remove this public
nuisance IN some way that does not contem-
plate Washington temporary conversion into
a water city, half Venice, half YOUNGSTOWN,
threaten loss of lite and involve damage to
It's business interests measured by millions.
FLATS ENFORCEMENT INCLUDES LONG BRIDGE
RECONSTRUCTION.
The great project of Potomac harbor improve
ment contemplated that the reclama ton of the
flats should be accompanied at an early stage
by reconstruction of Long bridge sub
stantialiy in the manner now proposed and the
further protection OF the new-made park, when
completed, by a sea wall. This noble work
should be pushed to completion. The govern
ments expenditure of 100000 on the
Improvement ought to be rendered effective by
the comparatively small additional outlay
required. Both the city OF Washington and
the harbor improvement, flood threatened,
lmpiore Congress for speedy action in the
matter.
SEWERS WILL NEED ATTENTION.
When q sea wall and new Long bridge re-
move the danger of u surface invasion of Poto-
mac water, the entrance of the swollen river
through the sewers. especially the sewer which
replaces the old canal, must also be prevented
The low-lying section OF the city must be
raised or radical changes in the sewerage system
devised and effected, or the sewers must be
provided with tine necessary valves and pumps
or other appliances to prevent the distribu-
ton by back water of their filth upon the sur
face, rotting under the nostrils OF the people
and menacing public health.
COMMITTEE URGES COMPREHENSIVE, NOT PIECE
MEAL. ACTION
Reporting specifically upon the bill before
it.your committee disapprovesi it on tine ground
that it asks too much for the railroad and offers
Zoo % H.
ready specified: that it threatens railroad occu-
patton OF the surface of the new park furnish
ing additional evidence of the mysterious af-
Unity existing between railroad tracks ard
public parks in the city of Washington; that it
Is hostile to Col. Hams admirable and compre-
hensive plan Of solving the Long bridge prob
lem, anu that 1t tends to postpone Indefinitely
the much-Eeeded reconstruction Of the Long
bridge. We therefore recommend the suDsti-
tution for this measure OF a bill for rebuilding
Long bridge on the general lines laid down bv
Col. Hams, replacing it with a structure which
shall neither threaten the city nor obstruct
navigation to the harbor OF George town. and
urge with all the emphasis possible the impor-
lance and necessity of immediate and ener-
getc action by Congress in the direction indi-
Gated.
THE RAILROAD READY TO IMPROVE ITS TERMINALS.
1t is stated on apparently good authority that
the Baltimore and Potomac railroad in view of
! the opposition to its project concerning the
| Long bridge, which developed in the Senate
District committee, in the Commissioners of
| the District and in the public press has ex-
| pressed willingness to reconstruct the bridge
substantially in the manner desired as part OF
q general improvement OF Its Washington ter
minal facilities, anG that Senator Mcmillan,
chairman OF the Senate District committee on
the basis OF the roads agreement with him, il
| framing q measure which will rebuild Long
bridge, remove grade crossings in the city and
elevate or depress the tracks in crossing the
| mall.
THE RAILROADS BILL AGAINST THE PUBLIC.
Ii this legislation is through Senator McMil.
lan's skilful negotiations and management. and
the progressiveness Of the railroad, accom-
pished, the railroad will have, it is estimated,
a bill against the United States and possibly
the District on account of the construction OF
the public highway part Of the new Long
bridge. But there are offsets to the railroad q
bill against the public. This fact is fortunate
| for the fate Of the proposed measure, for there
could be no more serious impeachment to the
/ success Of bill at this session of the present
Congress than the fact that 1t involved q large