Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-07
THE POTOMAC RIVER
A Project for Its Improvement Now
Approved.
COL. ALIENS EXHAUSTIVE REPORT
Work to Be Done At and Below
the City.
AMOUNTS TO BE ALLOTTED

Department has approved a project sub
mitted by Col. Charles J. Allen, corps of
engineers, for the expenditure of 100000
for the improvement of the Potomac river
at and below the city of Washington, and
operations will begin at once. The act OF
March 3, 1899, appropriated 100000 for the
improvement of the Potomac river at and
below this city, and provides that the Sec
rotary of War may enter into a contract or
contracts for the materials and work neces-
sary for the completion of the improve
ments below the city of Washington, in ac-
cordance with project submitted Novem-
Der 6, 1891, to be paid for as appropriations
may from time to time be made by law, not
to exceed in the aggregate $15o,G00, exclu-
sve of the amount herein and heretofore
appropriated"
In his report on the subject Colonel AL
len says that the abOVe-QUOted section pro-
Vides, as understood, a. for the continual
ton of work under the existing project for
improving the Potomac river at Washing
ton, and CD for the commencement of work
under Il new PROJECT for Improving the PO-
tonlac river below Washington. As these
two projects differ materially, he has con-
sldered them separately.
improvements at Washington.
In chapter regarding the improvements
at Washington, d. c., he describes the
work accomplished under the project
adopted by act of Congress August >, 1sS2
This project has for its objects the improve
ment of the navigation of the river by wild
ening and deepening its channels the re-
canatiOn of the flats in front of the city
by depositng on them the material dredged
from the channels, the establishment of
harbor lines and the construction Of "a tidal
reservoir provided with automatic inlet and
outlet gates for the renewal of the water in
the Washington channel.
The channels for navigation are to be
dredged to a depth of twenty feet at low
tide. The flats above Long bridge are to
be filled to a grade of three feet above the
frashat plane of 1871 and those below Long
bridge to the same grade along the middle
longitudinal line, sloping toward each chan
mel, to a grade of six feet above low tide
at each margin OF the fill. The estimated
cost of the improvements as revised in 1897
Is $3.50, G20 The project also considered
the rebuilding of Long bridge and the in
PERCEPTION Of sewage along the Washington
channel, but neither of these was included
in the estimated cost of the improvements
The total of appropriations for this work
from August = 1852, to June j. 1886. inclu-
sive, was $2,2S5, 900.
Work Yet to BE Done.
Col. Allen describes the work that has
already been accomplished under this pro-
ject, and says that the work required to
complete it is the completion of the dredg-
ing of the channel; the raising of the fats
the tidal reservoir; the construction of the
inlet gates; the completion of the sea wall
and the completion of the training dixie.
Dredging operations are now in progress
in the Virginia channel. Col. Allen says
that if the dredging is carried on according
to the contract with Mr.. Clegg, a channel
400 feet wide and 20 feet deep will be
cured through the present shoals. The
channel, however, above Long bridge. he
says, is liable to fill up by deposits from
freshets, and in that event navigation
would be- seriously obstructed unless funds
We're available for their removal. AS
river and harbOr bill may not be passed
for two years, he says it appears necessary
In the interests of navigation to apply
sufficient amount from the appropriation Of
March 3, 1899, to the redredging of this
channel when necessary. a shoal has
formed at the lower end Of the Washing
to channel, over which there is a ruling
de- h of about II feet at low tide. This
forms obstruction to the present stand
ard of navigation co feet, and the chan
mel through it, Col Allen says, should be
dredged so as to secure a depth of 20 feet.
Funds are also required for the repair of
existing structures, care of United States
property and the usual contingencies.
Dredging the Channel.
1t is therefore recommended by Col. AL
len that an allotment of ST4, 900 be made
from the appropriation Of March, 1899, for
improving the Potomac river at Washing
ton, approximately as follows:
Dredging in the Virginia channel above
Long bridge (about 2SO,OOO cubic YARDS,
$42 900; dredging in Washington channel
(about 10000 cubic yards), $4,000; clearing
brush, to provide for deposits of dredged
material, $500 care of United States
gineer property two years, $500; repairs
to outlet gates, sea wall, etc, s., 800; con-
tingent expenses, engineering. office, super
intendence and inspection, $12, 800.
1t is further recommended that the dredg-
ing be done by contract, after the usual
public advertisement, and that the contin-
gent work, repairs, etc, be done by hired
labor, this method, Col Allen says, being
the most economical and advantageous to
the government.
Improvements Below Washinston
In submitting project for improving the
Potomac river below the city of Washing
ton, in accordance with the provisions of
the act of March 3, 1899, Col Allen refers
to the report made by Col. Hams, corps of
engineers. November 20, 1891, upon sur
vey of Potomac river, Virginia and Mary
land up to the city of Washington, with
view of removing distractions and deepen
ing the channel" and points out the diff
culties of the situation under the condi-
tiohs prescribed by Congress.
= He says that the survey of 1891 was based
on standard of navigation of tWentv-four
feet at low tide while the width of chan
mel proposed was 200 feet. The project
and estimates contained in Col. Hams re-
port contemplated the improvement Of the
bars below Washington, and also the deep
endng of the channels at Washington TWEEN
ty-four feet. The act Of March 8, 1885,
however. provides for the completion of
the improvement below the city of Wash
ington in accordance with the project sub
mfted November 6, 1891, evidently limiting,
Col. Allen says, the twenty-four-foot chan
nels to the part Of the river below the city
The distractions to a twenty-four-foot nav
igation below the city occur at the follow
ing named bars or shoals: Kettle Bottom
shoals, Maryland Point shoals, Smith Point
shoals and Mattawoman shoal. Col Allen
describes each OF. these shoals, and makes
the following estimate of cost of channels
200 feet wide and twenty-four feet deep
through them: Kettle Bottom shoals.
81 800; MARYLAND Point shoal. $40, 49, smith
Point shoals, 500 900. and Mattawoman
shoal, 1913 .SS5, making the total cost of the
project $15S, 400. He says that the general
project under the provisions of the act of
March 3. 1899. will include the dredging of
channels bwentyfour feet deep and 200 feet
wide through all bars OF less ruling depth
below Washington. the work to be done un-
der a continuing contract, after inviting
proposals by public advertisement, the total