Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-09
IMPROVING THE POTOMAC
Report Of Major Davis Upon the Progress
of the Work.
Timely Criticism of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company's Neglect of
the Long bridge Roadway.

In report to the chief of engineers in
regard to the operations for the improve
ment of the Potomac river, Major Davis OF
the engineer corps makes the following
pertinent remarks about the failure of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company to fulfill
its obligations to keep the roadway of the
Long bridge in good condition:
''The roadway Of the Long bridge is in
bad condition, and travel over it is greatly
impeded by the failure of the Baltimore and
Potomac Railroad Company to maintain
the same in good condition, as required by
the act of Congress approved June q, 1871.
The chief of engineers of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company has been repeatedly no
titled to have the roadway put in good con-
dition, but up to February % last the work
had not been commenced"
Ice Delays the Work.
Major Davis says that all work on the
Potomac river improvements was suspend
ed during the month of February on &C
count of the ice in the river. The unusu-
ally low temperature which marked the
opening Of the month was accompanied by
snow storms, resulting in the formation OF
heavy ice over the entire width of the
river. On February the ice was five or
six inches thick in the channel and ABOUT
nine inches thick in the tidal reservoir,
where there is no current. The Alexan-
dria ferry boats stopped running on Febru-
airy 6. The Norfolk steamers continued to
run until February s, when the increasing
thickness and extent of ice necessitated
suspension of their trips, and navigation
was then entirely closed. The severe snow
storm of February and was accom-
panied by high winds, which SO drifted the
snow that on February the Long bridge
was impossible by trains or teams. Traf-
fin nyft f6n fol
lowing day. With continued low tempera-
ture, the thickness of the Ice increased
to ten or twelve inches. Navigate
manned closed until February is. when one
of the steamers Of the Norfolk line broke
track up the river. During the latter
part Of the month the weather gradually
became warmer and the ice began to melt.
On February "a the District Commission
under the appropriation made by Congress
for that purpose, and on February % The
channels We're practically clear.
Dangerous Wreck In the Channel.
The steamer Lady of the Lake lying in
the Washington channel, at the wharf Of
the Clyde line of Philadelphia steamers,
near the foot of N street southwest, caught
fire on February Is. about 2:30 am, and
was burned down to the iron hull. The
fire was extinguished by the District fire
department. The hull was thus partly filled
with water, and when the fire was entirely
out the top of the hull was within about
ten inches of the river surface. Owing
probably to the leakage, the hull contin-
ued to settle until 1t sank to the bottom
about midnight of the same day. The hull
is about 20 feet long, with 81 feet beam,
but the oVerhanging and side wheel con-
struction Increases this width to about 40
feet. The wreck lies in 20 feet of water
just off the end of the wharf, in a direc-
ton approximately parallel to the Wash
h,,
40 feet, forming an obstruction to naviga-
ton, partic ulafly to vessels using The
wharVes in the immediate neighborhood.
On February IS these facts were reported
to the chief of engineers. He decided that
the owners were required to remove the
wreck under the provision of section 10 II
the act of Congress of September ID, 1870.
On February % the owners of the. steam
en- the Peoples Transportation Company,
were notified of the obstruction. No re-
ply having been received and no action
having been taken, another letter was adj
dressed to the company on February 26,
calling their attention to the matter and
requesting a reply. Up to February %,
however, no steps had been taken by the
company for the removal of the vessel.
Channel Work and Aqueduct Repairs.
The New York Dredging Company COM
menced work on the 26th ultimo, prepara-
tory to resuming dredging in the Washing
ton channel under their contract Major
Davis says 1t is proposed during March
to resume active dredging operations, to
commence the construction of the sea
wall on the tidal reservoir and to resume
work on the training dixie.
In regard to the work on the aqueduct
bridge, Major Davis says that the repairs
to-piers No. 2, 3, j, g. and have been
completed by means of concrete in bags,
put in place by diver. The concrete has
been protected from the action of freshets
by the use of riprap stone. The crib
for the Golfer dam at pier No. has been
built and sunk in place. Nearly all the
Wakefield sheet piling has been driven
around the outside of the crib, SO that the
Golfer dam is practically completed. Owing
to stormy weather, snow and extreme cold,
operations during February were carried
on with great difficulty. A temporary
fence was built on the roadway between
piers and s, in order that travel over the
two spans resting on pier might DE con-
fined to the east side of the roadway when
necessary during the progress of the work.
Active operations on the crib and trestle
towers will be resumed early In March.
Flooring for S1..5 Per 100 Feet.
Frank Libbey & Co., 9th and NY .ave.-Advt
equality Rather Than Price,"