Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-16
0 U r OW N RI Err.
Last Months Work on the Potomac I'm
provement Operations.
Dredging and Filling in - How the
ScOws WOrk-Damage by High
Water-Dangerous Wrecks.

Major Davis. engineer corps. U. s. A, has
made report to the Secretary of War OF
the operations for the improvement of the
Potomac river during the month of October,
in which he says that the dredging in the
Washington channel, under the contract of
the San Francisco Bridge Company. which
had been temporarily suspended on the
completion Of the 12-foot dredging, Septem-
Der Is. 1893. was resumed October 20. with a
hydraulic dredge.
Operations were commenced in the navi-
cation channel off the foot of N street
southwest, just below the Alexandria ferry
wharf. the dredge working down stream.
The dredge now used by the contractors
makes a cut about l33 feet wide. swinging
across the cut in the arc of a circle, upon a
stern spud as a center or pivot. The entire
width Of the navigation channel. 400 feet.
can therefore be dredged in three cuts.
The depth to be made Is twenty feet at low
tide. The discharge pipe. resting on pom
tons, extends from the stern of the dredge
to the reclaimed land (section I'D. thus
closing the channel west of the dredge to
navigation. The dredge works continuously
night and day. When it is working on the
easterly cut, near the wharves, an opening
of from fifty to seventy-five feet is generally
available for the passage of vessels, but in
order to avoid any Inconvenience or delay
to navigation. the dredge usually works on
this easterly cut at night, leaving an ample
width of from 100 to 200 feet for the passage
of steamers and vessels during the day.
The amount of dredging during the frac-
tional part of the month October 20 to Oc-
tober Sd is estimated at 1860 cubic yards,
making a total, under the contract, of about
1o7.o6 cubic yards, and leaving about 692, 19S
cubic yards to be dredged.
The construction of the sea wall on the
Virginia channel front of section Ill was
continued during the month. and about 600
linear feet of wall were completed. The
wall is now finished TO within about $50 feet
Of the Long bridge. About go cubic yards
Of building stone and 2e0 cubic yards OF
gravel were received for the wall during
the month. The construction of the re-
tanning dixie on the west side Of the Virginia
channel above Long bridge was continued.
and $50 cubic yards Of rip-rap were received
and put in place.
Injured by Storm.
A severe storm occurred on the night of
October II, accompanied by high north
easterly wind. which suddenly shifted to the
southwest about midnight This change In
the wind was accompanied by extremely
high tide, reaching the height Of SIS feet
above mean low tide, being the highest tide
OF WHICH tne engineer OllCt has any EeC-
ord. The ordinary range of tide in this
harbor is 3 feet, so that the tide referred
to, rose SIS feet above the normal plane of
high tide. The tool scow which is kept in
front of the wall in progress dragged its
anchors and was carried ashore on section
Ill. The wall above Long bridge was slight
ly damaged by being struck by a sand
dredge which went adrift. The steamer
Neva, which was lying in the Washington
channel under repair, was slightly injured.
Serious injury to the wharves and shipping
on the Washington channel resulted from
the storm.
Dangerous Wreck.
Major Davis reports that arrangements
have been made for the removal of the
wreck of the schooner Samuel w. Thomas,
near the mouth of st. Georges river. Nd.
and that during November dredging in the
Washington channel and the construction
of the sea wall will be continued. He says
that a lighter belonging to Littlefeld, Al
word & Co, damaged by the storm of Octo-
Der l.. now lies In twenty-eight feet OF water
at a point between Analostan Island and
Rock creek, and forms a dangerous obstruc-
ton to navigation, notwithstanding her
owners have anchored a scow over the
wreck and maintain lights there at night
1t is recommended that the owners be mott
fled to remove the wreck.