Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-17

The first appropriation for improvement
or the Potomac river in accordance with
the report and recommendations of the
board of engineers was by act of Congress
OF August 2 1882, and as follows:
Improving Potomac river in the vicinity
OF washington, with reference to the inn
provement of navigation. the establish
ment OF harbor lines and the raising of the
flats. under the direction of the Secretary
OF War and in accordance with the plan
and report made in compliance with the
river and harbor act approved March 3.
1881, and the reports of the board of err
Slneers, made in compliance with the reso-
luton of the Senate of December Ii, 1881,
100000.
And it is hereby made the duty of the
Attorney General to examine all claims of
the title to the premises to be improved
under this appropriation and see that the
rights Of the government in all respects are
secured and protected, and If he deems it
necessary he is authorized to cause a suit
or suits in law or in equity to be insti-
tuted, in the name of the United States, in
the Supreme Court of the District of CO.
lLmbia against any and all claimants of
title under any patent which, ir his opin-
ion, was by mistake was improperly or
illegally issued for any part of the marshes
or flats within the limits Of the proposed
improvement.
The report contains full review of the
litigation that followed the enactment of
this legislation to settle the title to the
SO called "kidwells Meadows" and makes
the following statement of work done and
results obtained at the close of the fiscal
year ended June 80. 1895:
Dredging Virginia Channel Above
Long bridge.
The bar above the Long bridge has al
ways been the greatest obstruction to the
navigation of the rive; and dredging on
erations were accordingly commenced at
this locality under the first appropriation
of August 2. 1882. In 1854 a channel
about 300 feet wide aud 20 feet deep at
low tide was dredged by contract through
tho bar by means of cam-shell and dipper
dredges. the material transported by scows
to the margin of section / Of the area to
be reclaimed. From 1857 this channel
was increased in width to $50 feet. the
depth being 20 feet by dredging by the n.y.
draulic method.
A part Of the channel opposite section
II was widened on the left side about 3J4
feet in 1887 by dredging by the hydraulic
method, the depth being gradually dmin-
ished from 20 feet at the edge of the nav
igation channel to about Ii feet at the
northeasterly edge of the widened channel
The high freshet of June 1-3, 1889, caused
extensive shoaling in the dredged channel
This. with slighter shoaling from previous
smaller freShets, reduced the ruling depth
from 90 feet to IA feet. In 1890, for the
temporary relief Of navigation, a channel
40 feet wide and 10 feet deep was dredged
with ordinary clam-shell dredges.
In 1912 this channel was widened and
deepened and the standard depth Of 20
feet restored for width of go feet. The
length Of dredged channel was $500 feet
and the average height of the fill made
was from II to IA feet above low tide.
In April, 1884, as result of ordinary
freshets in the intervening period. the rul-
ing depth in this channel had become re-
duced to IT'S feet. A channel was there
fore dredged through the bar to 20 feet
depth and a width of go feet.
In 1894 this channel was widered to 400
feet.
Training Dixie, Virginia Channel.
In order to prevent the shoaling In the
Virginia channel above Long bridge and
the reformation of the bar above referred
to, a training dixie along the right of the
channel was projected and commenced in
1880 to contract the waterway during
freshets Of moderate height. The dixie
commences at the southerly end of the high
ground Of Analostan Island and on the
flats Of that island; consists. simply of an
embankment formed by clam-shell dredge