Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-13
THE POTOMAC RIVER,
Work Of improvement That Was Accom-
plished Last Month.
Interesting Facts From the Report of
Maj. Davis, the Onlcer In
Charge.

Maj. Davis, corps Of engineers, has made
report to the chief of engineers of the
operations for the improvement Of the Po-
tomac river during the past month. He
says the weather during January was un
usually favorable for the season. Dredging
in the Washington channel, under the con-
tract Of the San Francisco Bridge Company.
was continued during the month. and good
progress was made. The total amount Of
dredging was 104. O26 cubic yards. which is
In excess OF the work Of any previous
month under this contract The material
Is dredged by hydraulic dredge and is de-
posted on section Ill by means Of pipes in
the usual manner. The navigation channel
has now been widened to 400 feet and deep
ened to twenty feet at low tide from the
turn in the channel off the upper end of the
arsenal grounds to a point off the foot of
] street south, a distance Of 400 feet. The
amount of dredging under the contract to
January 81 last was 354 ,612 cubic yards,
leaving a balance of 445,3SS cubic yards to
be dredged to make the total of 100000
cubic yards.
The Sea Wall.
The construction of the sea wall on the
Washington channel front of section Ill
was continued during the month, and 800
linear feet completed. For this work S45
cubic yards of building stone were pur-
chased. Maj. Davis says that in his last
annual report reference was made to the
rapid growth of trees. brush, etc, on the
reclaimed area, and to the necessity for po-
lice supervision 1t was recommended that
provision be made for two mounted watch
! men to patrol the reservation, in order to
prevent infractions of the law, trespassing.
ETC. This is necessary, says Maj. Davis,
not only because Of the wide extent of the
area, but because the dense growth of
trees and underbruSh afford a shelter and
| hiding place for tramps and suspicious per-
| sons. During the last month part of Sec
ton IL. just south of the bathing beach, was
! made resort by trespassers Of this kind,
and the city police have found 1t necessary
| to make several arrests. Mai. Davis says
| that this part Of the reservation is now be-
ing cleared Of trees and underground. On
section III about 125 acres have already
! been cleared, and the part of section IL be-
tween the tidal reservoir and the Long
bridge will next be cleared. The proba BILE
operations during February include dredg-
ing In the Washington channel, continuing
the work on the sea wall and clearing up
the trees and underbrush on the reclaimed
area.
The Area Above the Overflow.
All the material dredgcd from the channel
| has been deposited on the flats, and prae-
tically the entire area to be reclaimed has
/ been raised above the overflow at ordinary
high tide. OF the Il, 200, 600 cubic yards esti-
mated to fill the fats to the required height
| there has been deposited on them about
100000. The redredging Of the navigation
channel between the Long bridge and the
upper end of the arsenal grounds is now in
progress. The remainder of this channel
| from the upper end of the arsenal grounds
| to Its junction with the Virginia channel
Is still to be widened to 400 feet and made
| twenty feet deep. The widening and deep
ening of the Virginia channel below the
| Long bridge so as to facilitate the discharge
\ OF freshets and prevent overflow in the city
| Is still incomplete. A contract has been
| made with John Austin of Philadelphia for
| the removal Of the wreck of the steamer
! w. w. Colt In the Washington channel OF
| the Potomac river opposite Washington
| with February 10. 1894, as the date for COM
pieting the work. His bid for the work was
s1,137.