Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-12

this subject were Of a portentous charac-
ter. follows: The proposition to arch
the lower part of Rock creek means that a
dam of unusual thickness. with its top at
the elevation of about seventy feet, is to be
thrown across the valley of the creek, from
it's mouth TO its intersection with Massa-
Chusetts avenue extended, thus connecting
the valley above the dam to the height of
the contour of seventy feet into n reser-
vuir. This reservoir must he prevented from
filling up with water to any marked ex-
tent by an outlet having sufficient capacity
to provide free discharge for the stream
during the heaviest and most prolonged
rain fall that may be expected to occur
throughout the BASIN
Subject to Floods.
with the project carried 70 completion
:he gap between Washington and George
town will cease to exist, and a densely
populated area will be subject to flooding
and possible disaster, If the dam be over
topped. The outlet once built, its discharg-
ing capacity will become practically a
hxed quantity, while the ability of the
basin to produce higher and higher floods
at the head of the outlet will constantly
increase as its surface passes from q rural
to an urnan character.
"A further danger which must not be
overlooked lies in the fact that a great
freshet In Rock creek may be expected to
bring down large trees, portions of iron
and wooden bridges, and other debris in
large quantities. Unless the covered cham
mel be made of ample dimensions its mouth
would be subject TO stoppage by drift OF
the kind described. Whether flood in the
city would follow or rot would depend on
the period required to fill the reservoir
formed by the embankment over the COW
cred channel, and the possibility, which is
by no means apparent. of clearing away
the drift within reasonable time.
Ine contents of the reservoir are esti-
mated at 1fI,HU.0O cubic feet. With water
entering at the rate OF 10000 cubic feet
per second, and none leaving it, the ressr-
voir would be filed in about two hours and
a half"
Capt Russell also said:
The creek is rot iii any sense a menace
10 health. If it merely carries storm water
uhcontaminated with sewage, whether 1t
Fenal2s an open conduit or is arched over
from a sanitary standpoint I can see no
necessity Cor covering the creek at all il
the sewage is kept out of it.
Cost CT the Work.
The estimated cost of the work, includA
ing condemnation of land would amount
10 nearly $l0,OOO,OoO. and after deducting
the value of the land reclaimed there would
be deficit of nearly 81 .50O, 900, thus OIL ac-
count of the expense. if for no other reason,
preclud1ng the possibility or expectation of
enecting d reclamation by this plan.
since Capt. Rosselfs report was made
30 acnon whatever has been taken toward
Rock creek, as recommended by, him. uor
the adoption of any ether plan in reference
to said area.
THE dumping of refuse of all kinds and
of earth along the banks of the creek has
continued, and still continues. The result
has been that the people of the neighbor-
hood, impatient at the delays and excuses
offered by those in control, have deter
mined that something must be done, or
that at least some plan shall be adopted
for the completion of the long-talked-of
project.
To this end the letter above referred to
has been prepared, and. as stated, will be
presented to the Commissioners by a COM
mittee of influential citizens at an early
Gay.
1t will be urged that the extension of
Rock Creek Park to Pennsylvania avenue
Will be the most economical and safest, 3s
well as the best. solution of the problem
and that " is believed that the embellish-
ment of this area will be inexpensive. At
fording, as it does, such great natural ad-
vantages, it will. with natures aid. consti-
tute one of the most attractive and beauti-
fui regions of the nations capital