Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-10
THE ROCK CREEK PROJECT.
Rossell's Report on the Sub.
iect.

THE ROCK CREEK PROJECT.
Comnissiener Rossell's Report on the Sub
ject.
THE COST OF THE WORK Axps THE RxsULrs-
THE PROPOSAL TO TURN THE CREEK INTo A
GENERAL SEWER NOT FAvoRED-THE LAND
ALONG TIE cREEK-THE oBsTRucTIyG DAM.
Capt VIM. 7. Rossell, the Engineer Com
missioner. today formally replied to the Senate
resolution directing him to prepare plans, speci-
tcations and estimates for converting Rock
creek into o closed sewer and filling in between
the banks OF the creek below the north line of
Massachusetts, avenue; also to prepare an esti-
mate of the value to the government of the
land reclaimed by such work in excess Of the
probable judgment OF condemnation.
1t will be recalled that Capt. Rossell detailed
Capts Lusk and Fiebeger to examine into and
report upon the matter Their reports have
already appeared in THE STAR.
Capt Rossellis report, which, as stated above,
was transmitted today, together with the reports
of Capts. Lusk and Fiebeger. is as follows:
mo appropriation was made to gather data
for this report, and / was dependent on the
regular force OF the engineer department at
such times rs they could be spared from their
regular and routine duties.
'As the first part Of this resolution refers TO
the use OF Rock creek "a sewer. referred the
matter to Capt. J. L. Lusk, corps of engineers
|. 5. A, my assistant, who has immediate
charge of the sewer department. Capt. Lusk's
report, which is appended to mine, is u valuable
one, and [ ask attention to 1t. Although not
required by the resolution to express opinion
as to the advisability of using Rock creek as
sewer, feel it my duty to call attention to the
report of board of experts on the subject Of
sewage disposal, which is now before Congress.
and is printed as Ex. Doc. No. AS, II. R., Fifty
first Congress, first session.
This board proposed to keep sewage out of
that part Of the river in front Of Washington
and Georgetown and empty all sewage into the
Potomac some distance below these cities.
This plan is now being carried out (very slowly
in all new sewers constructed. 1t would seem
to me very unwise to take any backward step
In this matter or to delay it by some very large
expenditures for work not In line with proper
sewage disposal. Rock creek. however, must
always remain a drainage line for the large area
from which it now carries the water and no
plans OF sewage disposal wonld be prepared
looking to its abandonment. The creek is not
In any sense a menace to health il II merely
carries storm water, uncontaminated with sew
age, whether II remains an open conduit or il
arched over. For the above reasons have
construed the inquiry as applying to Rock
creek as a covered sewer for uncontaminated
storm water.
THE CROSS SECTION REQUIRED.
''The next question which arose was the
cross section necessary to carry off, without
injury, the largest volume OF water that may be
expected from the area drained. This area. for
much the greater part, is at present Of q rural
character. composed of cultivated and unculti-
waited fields. forest and meadow land. Lying
near the boundary Of Washington this charac-
ter will change, sooner or later, to a suburban
character, and portion of it to an urban char
acter. These changes increase the rapidity
with which tho storm water will enter the
creek, and also the percentage that IL bears TO
the total rainfall. A careful study Of the prob
lem has been made. and it ia believed that a
solution has been found sufficiently accurate
for preliminary estimate. 1t will require an
arch with span Of fifty feet and height from
the bottom to crown Of the arch of 32.5 feet
giving an area OF cross section equal to l.250.5
square feet. This cross section with a slope of
to ! 900 may be expected to carry off about
$4,000 cubic feet per second, and under q head
SIS feet, "a 900 cubic feet. Under conditions
of surface somewhat less favorable to a rapid
discharge than those now existing the highest
freshet discharge measured at the mouth Of the
sewer was at the rate Of about 10 900 cubic feet
per second Capt. Lusk's careful study Of this
matter shows that provision should be made
for about double that rate 1t is proper TO say,
however, that further examination should be
''In addition, most careful examinations should
be made as to the foundations.
THE RECLAIMED LAND.
"After the construction Of this sewer there re-
mains the ftl-in between the banks making
useful land now SO situated as to be compare
lively useless and celebrating the creek Al a
barrier between Washington and Georgetown
This land is now owned by individuals and to
become the property Of the pnblic, must be
condemned. In extent it comprises t. 433, 3i2
square feet. .
Again, the rights Of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Canal Company in the lower part OF the
creek must be bought. The canal company
now use the lower part of the creek to transfer
boats to the river, and it would probably be
satisfactory to this company il they were pro-
vided with some other outlet without expense
to them 1t is submitted that this would cost,
roughly speaking, from 500 600 to $50 900
After this there would be required to fill be-
tween banks 5, 20S, $40 cubic Yards Of material
The measurements of the land to be acquired
by condemnation, together with cost of same
and Of grading, with the price that might be
expected for the land after completion has
been reported on by my assistant. Capt G. J.
Fiebeger, corps Of engineers. L. s. A., whose
report is appended. This report has been care
fully prepared and is approved by me.
THE COST AND THE RESULTS.
what will be the condemned value of any
piece Of land it is impossible to say. and only
attempt to make very rough approximation To
say what will be the selling value of the land
after the improvements also a matter of specu-
lation. but believe that double the condemna-
ton value Is conservative. / therefore submit
the following estimates. FOR the details of which
| refer to my assistants reports:
CONVERTING ROCK CREEK INTO COVERED
SEWER, AND FILLING BETWEEN BANKS.
From the north line of Massachusetts avenue
to the Potomac river:
Cost of covered waterway. 81, $50. 4l2
Sewer extensions. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1880
Damages to c. and o. canal $50 900
Condemnation value of land .. 4ll2545
Filling and grading. ............ 2,OS3. 1924
Contingencies ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 5I2, 523
Total cost .....................e SO, 900, 304
Selling value OF land 81. 1876. 203
Net cost Observation-Disclosures. 81, 40i. 10I
From Massachusetts, avenue to PENNSYLVANIA
avenue: