The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-19
IMPROVING THE POTOMAC.
Col. Aliens Annual Report to TN
Secretary of War.

Col Aliens Annual Report to the
Secretary of War.
The Secretary of War has just come
into receipt of the annual report Of Col.
Charles J. Allen, corps of engineers, who
has charge OF the Potomac and its tribu-
taries. Il deals principally with the pro-
gress and future possibilities of the pro-
sect for improving the river, as adopted
by an act Of Congress, August 2. 1852,
which contemplates widening and deepen
ing the channel. retaining the fats by
depositIng dredgings thereon, and estab-
fishing q more complete sewerage system
and also harbor lines. beyond which no
vharves shall be built.
The project also considered the rebuild
ing of Long bridge and the intercepting of
sewage discharged into the Washington
channel and it's conveyance to the James
Creek sewer canal, but neither Of these
were Included in the estimated cost of
the irnprovement, which was s2.712,355
This estimate, as revised in 1897, was in
creased to 1856. O2O for reasons stated in
the annual report Of the chief engineer
for that year. A training dixie on the Viz
Einia shore was added to the project In
1850.
In the course of his report Col. Allen
says:
During the year considerable progress
was made in the work Of reconstructinG
and raising the sea wall along the Wash
tngton channel front, or of section 3, being
that portion of the reclaimed area below
the Long Bridge. The length of the wall
also feet. AS the wall was completed
gravel backing was placed behind IL TO
afford efficient drainage, and the earth
was banked up against the gravel. The
total length of sea wall built to date is
5.2S9 linear feet. of which 1910 linear feet
have been taken down and relaid.
@.The Improvement has now reached a
stage where the maintenance and preser-
walton require attention. The growth OF
weeds and underbrush, which, in the Sum-
mer season especially, renders access TO
the various parts of the work difficult,
should be cleared up each year until the
reservation is ready to be laid out and
graded. Annual repairs will also be need
ed on the wall and reservoir gates.
THE proper police supervision Of the ex-
fensive area of 62l acres has also become
matter Of Importance In order to pre-
vent infractions of the law, trespasses,
etc, the reservation should be patrolled,
and IL is recommended that annual pro-
vision be made for watchmen- 1t is esti-
mated that $500 will be required per an
mum for maintenance"
Col Allen remarks that Congress, by
the act OF March 8, 1897 set aside the re-
claimed fats sfor a public park under the
name of the Potomac Park, Ito be for
ever held and used as q park for the
recreation and pleasure of the people"
lie says the flats are capable of being
transformed into one of the finest parks
in the country. The present project for
creation of the reclaimed area contem-
plates carrying the work 10 an elevation
of two feet above the flood plane of 1877.
The exceptionally high food OF 1889 ex-
ceeded that OF 1877 at the site of the flats
by about three feet.
"If the raising OF the flats be limited"
ne continues, ito the elevation contem-
plated in the present project, the river
surface, in case of another flood equal
10 that of 1882 viii stand at about the
same level as the highest surface of the
reclaimed fats. Although such floods sell
dom occur, and when they do occur are
generally Of short duration. the surface
of the park should be high enough to Sc
-ure its areas. drives, etc. against injury
from any food
1T will probably meet requirements II
the entire acreage of the reclaimed area
feet above the food plane of 1889. Such
tncrease, including the necessary strength
ening and readjustment of sea wall and
contingencies would probably cost, ac-
cording TO present prices, about 81, o00. 900;
this in addition 10 the cost of completing
the reclamation of the fats under the
present project. In laying out the land
for q park an adequate system of drain
age has TO be considered"
The report is accompanied by CONNER
cial statistics furnished by Mr.. J. W.
Averill, Of this city running from the
calendar year of 1887 to the calendar year
1887. These figures show that the total
receipts and shipments OF coal. ice, lum-
Der, sand, wood, ETC., during the year 1881
were 6ls.e72 tons. and that similar receipts
eno shipments in the calendar year 1897
aggregated 625, 4SS TONS a reduction OF a
little less than 100000 tons In 1887 the
number of vessels of various classes ar