Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-28
Basis Of the South Side Of Pennsyl-
vania Avenue.
PROVED BY THE SINKING OF WELLS
Washington Market Company's
Work DispeIs Popular Beliefs.
LETTER TO CONGRESS

Mr.. William Birney has written letter
to the House District committee relative to
the geological formation of the land on the
south side Of Pennsylvania avenue in refer
ence to its use for the location of public
buildings. Mr.. Birney says:
I'm view of the vigorous attack of SEN
ator Vest on the south side of Pennsyl-
vania avenue affording sites for public
buildings, in pursuance of a generally ap-
proved municipal policy, l beg to call your
attention to facts proving that that local
ity is neither bog, nor qucksand, nor a
swamp, and that it can be protected from
river freshets.
"In the last ten years the WASHINGTON
Market Company has sunk twelve wells,
varying in depth from 81 feet to 525, all OF
them within space of 800 feet. In all of
them a solid stratum of tough clay was
found at a depth of between 13 and IA feet.
Below the clay there found in each
well solid rock known as Piedmont gneiss,
one of the hardest known.
Bored Through Rock.
1T was necessary in sinking the deepest
we'll to bore through this rock for more
than 400 feet. For ordinary building a good
foundation can be had in the top stratum
of earth; the Center market structure rests
securely on cross beams and cement laid
not more than six feet below the surface;
and it was not necessary to go down to the
clay stratum. IL or IA feet below the sur
face. except for the tank rooms, in which
weight of more than $50 tons rests upon a
small surface.
'As TO the large cost of the basement of
the new post office building, $4,000 is in
fair proportion to the s2,4UU,000 appropri-
ated for the whole building. If 1 am cor
rectly informed it was necessary to go
tIr-f fn1 feat he. tnaIr dot ion
of the Pension building.
without Justification.
THE numerous buildings on the north
side of Pennsylvania avenue show no signs
of weakness in their foundations. The level
and geologic formations are practically the
same from 18th street to Capitol Hill. On
the facts, the cries of bog, swamp and
quicksand should be dismissed without
justificati ton. The rock basis of the south
side of the avenue will support a building
as heavy as the Capitol.
THE last freshet was in 1889. Since that
time the river channel has been deepened
somewhat. a little more depth in the river
channel the elevation of the Long bridge
and the completion of the sewer system
will relieve Washington from all danger
OF overhows. If necessary, the retaining
wall west of the filed park on the river
might be raised a few feet. This would af-
Holland is protectedi from overflow by
dykes, the capital of this republic might
be protected in the same manner.
If occasion should demand, l will on
request. furnish the names of engineers
well diggers and others who will establish
the above facts in detail. respectfully sub
init the subject for your consideration"
No Obstruction of the View.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
As slight contribution to the very gem
eral concurrence in the proposition to place
the library to be built by Mr. Carnegie on
Mount Vernon Square, it might be oppor-
tune to show that the objection to this
site, raised even by some excellent friends
of the District, that certain important WIS.,
tas would be obstructed thereby will hard
ly hold, in view of actual study of the
grades Of the streets intersecting at that
place.
have frequently noticed that a very
slight falling away OF q grade from a gen
eral level, or the intrusion of a slightly
higher point than either the point of sight
or the object to be seen, does by the evil
dent operation of natural laws obstruct a
vista In much greater degree than would
be thought likely without investigation.
Such case largely obtains at Mt Vernon
Square (Which, by the way, is not an orig
inal appropriation" or reservation, but is
merely a resultant of the intersection of
many Streets
But four streets can be affected by plac-
ing the building in the center of this square
massachusetts avenue, New York avenue
Sth street and K street.
As to Sth street, 1t Is already cut off for
ever by the patent office only a few blocks
to the south. Massachusetts avenue has a
decided bend at New Jersey avenue which
leaves now but a short vista from 7th street
eastward and the grade falls away to the
eastward to such an extent that even If the
square were now clear of all shrubbery
/ doubt If there would be a clear view to
New Jersey avenue from any point west of
9th street, and, vice versa, from any point
east Of 18th street or 9Th street to any point
between 9th and 18th, where there Is a de-
cided summit cutting off effectually the
western view. AS to X street, the same
conditions apply-the part between 9th and
10th being level and from 7th street east
ward there being a fall of 10 feet in 800,
completely destroying vista of any conse-
quence.
There is less fall to the eastward on New
York avenue than on the other two streets
but 1 think quite enough to materially af-
feet in a similar manner any considerable
vista-a difference of less than five feet in
500 being found in this case.
l think it is clear that those who object
on this score have not fully considered the
facts in the case, which seem to me con-
elusive. On the other hand, rare. indeed is
a chance of this sort presented to an archi-
tect, to design a beautiful building, grace
full and noble in every line and standing
the chief object, the center and crown
of no less than eight vstas.
HENRY B. LOCKER.