The morning times., 1896-07-18
IMPROVING THE POTOMAC
Annual Report on the Harbor
and F0rtiflcatiOnS.
CARE OF THE BIG PARK
Ma jor Allen Calls Attention to the
Necessity of improvements on the
Big Reservation Which Has Been
Reclaimed-Dredgin the Channels
ana Completing Sea Walls.

The annual report OF operations on the
river and harbor improvements and fort-
fcations IN the Districi has been submitted
by Major Charles V. Allen, Corps of En-
gineers, to Gen. Craighill.
The report says tile Dar above the Long
Bridge has always been the greatest OBJ
slruction to the navigation or the river
and dredging operations were accordingly
commenced At this locality under the
first Appropriation OF August 2, 1882.
In L S94 this channel was widened to 400
feet.
In order TO prevent shoalinG in the
Virginia channel above Long Bridge Il
training dixie along the right OF the chan
mel was projected and commenced In
l 500. In June, 1895, the part built OF
rip rap had attained a length OF 8, 2UO
feet.
The dredging or the Washington channel
under the present plan OF Improvement COM
menced December "a, 1884.
The report shows the operations during
the years between 1884 and sS4 when
the remainder OF the navigation channel
was redredred and wideDed 10 400 feet.
THE TIDAL RESERVOIR.
In 1856 a part OF the tidal reservoir
was dredrcd 10 Il depth or eigBt feet and IN
/ s34 another section was dredred To the
same depth.
In advance OF the dredging operations
III the adjacent channelsthe outer inareinof
the area To be reclaimed was outlined by
eInbankmen,s and a trench formed, which
was gradually widcned from 90 10
200 feet. In general terms the present
height or the reclaimed area above low
tide Is Section /, from to IL feet,
section 2, from o To - feet, and section
3, from 8 10 q feet.
Sea Wall.-The reclaimed area is being
protected un the water front by sea wall
resting ON n foundation OF rprap stone.
The foundatiun is about 20 feet wide on
the bOttuin and feet on the top, which is
at the level OF low tide. 1t has been
done Icy hired labor. The season OF / s95
proved a very favorable one for work of
this character, and operations were con-
unued without intermissiun until Deem
Der -, 1896. Work was resumed un the
part remaining 10 he completed on the
Virginia channel front of section ! i'll
March, / SS6. and on June 80, 1896, was
still i'll progress.
ON THE TRAINING DIXIE.
On June 80, 1895, the extension Of the
training dixie on the right Of the Virginia
channel was in progress, and continued
until August 10, 1896.
In general it may be said that the ex-
pcnciiture OF So, 2,03U,32 .33 up To June 80,
1895 uncluding liabilities outstanding
that date), resulted III tie dredging oil
channel 20 feet deep and 500 feet wide
through the bar above the Long Bridge,
and iii restoring the standard Of &c foot
navigation by dredging after the shoaling
resulting from various subsequent fTeshets;
IA 10 nj oh. i'm boil
the Long Bridge from so to 500 feet, with
depth of 20 feet; in dredging channel
$50 wide and 20 feet deep through the bar
in the Virginia channel near Gesboro'
Point; in dredging in the Washington chan
mel Il channel for navigation 20 feet deep
and 400 feet wide from Long Bridge to
Giesboru' Point; in dredging between the
navigation channel and section to the
depth of / 2 feet: in dredging the junction
Of the Washington and Virginia channels to-
depths Of from IL 10 20 feet: in dredging
the tidal reservoir 111 acres) to a depth
OF about feet; in the construction of the
reservoir outlet, 32.645 linear feet OF sea
wall, 5,T75 linear feet of training dixie.
and in the reClamation Of 621 acres of land
To heights Of from to IL feet above low
tide.
During the fiscal year which ended June
80, 1886, the expenditure OF S42.692.26
including outstanding liabilities, further
resulted i'll the construction of 6,240 linear
feet of sea wall and the extension of the
training dixie 100 feet.
IMPROVING THE RESERVATION.
The improvement Of the reclaimed area
has now reached stage where some
attention needs to be given the mainten-
aDce and preservation of the reservation.
The growth OF weeds, willows and other
trees, and underhrush, which, in the sum-
mer season especially, render access to the
various parts of the work quite difficult,
should be cleared up each year, until the
reservation is ready to be laid out, graded
and sOwn with grass seed. Annual repairs
will also be needed on the wall and reservoir
gates.
The proper police supervision of this eX-
teDsive area of 621 acres has also become
matter of importance. In order to prevent
iDfractions of the law, trespasses, ETC., the
reservation should be patrolled by mounted
police or watchmeD, and it is recommended
that annual provision he made for two
watchmeD. tits estimated that So, 900 will
be required per annum for maintenance.
COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION.
The benefits to commerce and navigation
have been most marked. Vessels OF the
draught now engaged in the coal trade from
Georgetown were formerly unable to cross
the bar in the Virginia channel. The in
creased depth now practicable has decreased
freight rates materially. In the Washington
channel the increased depth has enabled
deeper draught vessels engaged in the ice
trade to reach the port, and freights have
decreased, whileiDcreased width has greatly
facilitated the management of steamers
navigating the river. All of the coalshipped
aDdmost of the asphalt received dpassthrough
the Virginia channel. The greater part of
the ice received and all freights received
by steamers come through the Washington
channel Wood and ice also go up the
ADacostia River.
Thc items of work remaining to be COM
pleted are as follows: The dredging of the
Virginia channel and the raising of the
remainder of the reclaimed area to the re-
quired height, the dredging of the tidal
reservoir, the completion of the sea wall,
the construction of the reservoir inlet and
the completion of the training dixie on the
right of tn e Virginia channel above the Long
Bridge.
The sum of $3.50. 900 can be profitably
expended during the fiscal year ending June
80, 1898, toward completion of the project.
Change of Schedule on Il. Il o.
Under the new schedule taking effect
the 18th instant, the Baltimore and Ohio
fast express for Pittsburg and Chicago will
leave Washington at 10 a. m. instead of
11:30 a. M, as heretofore, reaching Pitts