Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-16

FLOWING INTO rr-suRvFrs ORDERED ny CON-
oREss-DEErESISs rHE cHAsSKl-
Gen Casey. in his annual report 30 the Soc
rotary of War. made public today. calls atsen-
ton to q grave danger threatening the city Of
Washington
THE star has heretofore pointed out the
certainty Of the impending calamity. basing iss
statement upon the reports Of the army engi-
neer
Gen. Casey says: The northerly end Of the
Long bridge across the Washington channel has
been reconstructed by the Baltimore and po-
somae Railroad Company on plans approved by
the Secretary Of War. the work being as yet in
complete, owing to the settlement of the sbut-
ments. Reference IL made in the report OF the
ofhoer In local charge 30 the necessity OF
rebuilding Long bridge. In the event
OF treshet occurring when the Potomac
river Is full Of ice great damsnge IL 20 be
expected. The piers Of the bridge are OF such
tauity CONSTRUCTION that an Ice gorge would be
probable, which would cause the water 10 back
up and overflow portions % the city front
ana through the eewers above the bridge such
portions of the lower parts % the city as NAV Dc
drained by them. Great damage was done by
the freshet OF June 1853. but greater damage
may occur IRON u freshet Of lesser magnitude
accompanied by an ice gorge"
POTOMAC RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
The report Of Gen. Casey upon the improve
ment OF the Potomac river at Washington shows
the amount available for the FISCAL year ending
June 50. 1898. 10 be s2I5.l726s.
The amount estimated for the completion Of
the existing project is s6sl, 3s5
No further estimates submitted for the
improvement Of the river at Mount Vernon.
For the improvement Of Occoquan creek
nm sa III =
HE Following estimates are also submitted:
Nomini crock, eco 600, Rsppahannock river,
sl44.oOO; Crbana creek. Sl0. 0so: York river,
sllo,o50; Mattaponi river, $4,000; Pamunkcy
river, $1,000.
SURVEYS ORDERED.
The report gives the result Of the surveys
ordered by Congress, showing the sums neces-
sary for the completion Of the projects named.
One Improvement recommended contem-
plates dredging channel "a feet deep and 200
ieet Vide from the mouth mp TO the navy ward
bridge, with basin in front of the navy yard
400 feet wide and "a feet deep; this channel TO
be "idened at a reduced depth TO 1000 feet. as
the demands Of commerce may require in tho
future. The material dredged L. 10 he de-
posted on the fats or marshes on either side OF
the river. For the present IL will be sufficient
TO dredge a channel twenty feet deep up 20 the
navy yard. The total cost OF this work is esti-
mated at s656.000. Before the project il regu-
larry entered upon steps should be taken TO
secure the title of the United States 20 all the
land 10 be reclaimed. This will require the
action Of Congress.
TO DEEPEN THE CHANNEL
Another important improvement recon-
mended is the formation Of channel 200 feet
wide and "a feet deep at low tide through the five
distractions to Neutrality-suspicious. navigation in
the river no 10 Georgetown. at an estimated
cost of about $500, 900, as follows;
Kettle Bottom shoals. ........ 81, $40
Maryland Point shoal .- so, le5
Smiths Point shoals -...... SO. 900
Mattawoman shoals ....--...... 90. sS5
At Washington ....-.-...-..... l4l 500
Total s2ss, soa