Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-07-25
fHE PLANS UNDER CONSIDERATION
Dredging Operations During the
Past Year.
WORK YET TO BE DONE

ment today. The operations on the Poto-
mac river at Washington were mainly con-
fined to dredging in the Virginia channel
with hydraulic dredge above Long bridge
by the contractor, Mr.. A. NJ. Clegg. Owing
to the bad condition of the dredge, how
ever, not much work was accomplished.
Considerable delay was also occasioned in
this work by the severity of the weather
during the winter, when the frozen condi-
ton of the river prevented a prosecution of
the work. 1t became necessary to extend
the time for the completion of the contract
from October 1, 1898, until September 30,
1899
The total amount of cubic yards of ma
ter1al dredged from the channels from the
commencement of the improvements in 1888
to date and deposited upon the flats is
10,S13,22 cubic yards During the last fiscal
year the dredging amounted to 1861 At
the close of the fiscal year ended June 80
last there remained about 10000 cubic
yards for Mr.. C.egg to dredge by the close
of the following September.
The Available Appropriation.
An appropriation of 100000 was made
by the act of March 3, 1892 for improving
the Potomac river at and below Washing
ton. OF this appropriation the sum of S74-
600 was allotted for improving the Poto-
mac river at Washington
The 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-
CURED 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 the Virginia channel of the Long
bridge.
ABOUT 800 linear feet of sea wall will have
TO be built on the northeast corner of the
tidal reservoir in case the bathing beach
shall ever be discontinued
Noi. Alien says that the sum of three hun
dreu thousand dollars can be profitably ex-
pended during the fiscal year ending June
30, 1901, in dredging the tidal reservoir
puildlng the inlet gates, dredging tha chan
nels of the Potomac, and depositing the
ufedged material, and extending the like
Preservation of the Reservation.
The Improvement has reached a stage"
says Col. Allen, where the maintenance
and preservation of the reservation require
attention The growth of weeds and under
brush, which, in the summer season es-
pecially, renders access to the various parts
OF the work difficult, should be cleared up
each year until the reservation is ready to
be iald out and graded, Annual repairs will
gates
The proper police supervision of this ex-
lenslVe area of G2l acres has also become a
mater OF importance In order to prevent
reservation should be patrolIed by mounted
men.
1T is estimated that $1,000 will be re-
CURED per annum for maintenance
Congress, by act of March >, 1897 and in
the following words, declared the reclaimed
flats a public park:
BE it enacted by the Senate and House
OF Representatives of the United States of
America in Congress assembled That the
entire area formerly known as the Potomac
mats, and row being reclaimed, together
with the tidal reservoirs, be, and the same
are hereby, made and declared a public
park, under the name of the Potomac
Park, and to be forever held and used as a
park for the recreation and pleasure of the
people"
beginning Park Improvement.
The reclamation of the flats has now
reached a stage when it appears desirable
as it is practicable, to make beginning
upon the work of park Improvement.
The greater part of the park area is
composed of a rich alluvial soil dredged
from the bed of the river and upon which
a luXuriant growth rapidly appears The
dredging operations will continue to afford
material of the same character so that
there will be sufficient for planting spaces.
The principal items of expense in The
park development, therefore, will be the
construction of drives and walks, and the
drainage.
1t is believed that the park should be
day, and it is therefore suggested that a
commencement be made by constructing a
broad and commodious river drive bordered
by wide bermes from the entrance to the
park at the foot of 26th street northwest
along the river front of sections l and 3
crossing the sewer canal and the reservoir
inlet by bridging, continuing along the
southeast margin, to be built at about the
future grade of average filling proposed for
the park, and which is several feet above
the freshet line of 1889. requiring an en-
bankment, which can be made partly of
material now in the park and partly of ma
teriaI to be dredged under operations for
improvement of the Potomac at Washing
ton. While a permanent roadway will be
eventually required, 1t is not regarded as
desirable today one at the outset the
new embankment, which should have time
for settling. 1t is therefore proposed to
place a temporary gravel covering, which
material may serve as a grade for a future
pavement for other purposes. ample pro-
vision to be made for drainage along and
through the driveway.
1t is understood that the sewer canal at
the foot of 18th street is to be abolished as
soon as the new sewer system is sufficiently
advanced.
The estimated cost of the bridges, drain
age etc, and of the driveway and embank-
ment above the plane considered in the
present project-work under which is in
progress-is placed al S135,o00.
Consideration of Plans
Plans for the development of the re-
claimed flats into a park have been con-
sidered by this office ever since the incep-
ton in 1881 of the project for their re-
clamation, and they have been kept in
view since that time, by the several off
GERS of engineers who have had charge of
the work. The officers have had, and this
Office still has, in this matter, the valuable
assistance of Mr.. ]. V. Duncklee, assistant
engineer. graduate of the Lawrence
Scientific School at Harvard. and who is an
able and experienced landscape and park
engineer. Part of his experience was
gained on parks in Brooklyn, n. Y, where
he was engaged for six years under such
eminent park authorities Frederick Law
Olmsted, John Bogart and John Y. Culyer |
The Potomac Flats Decision,
"One of the most important events of
the fiscal year relating to the improve
ment." continues Col. Allen was the de-
cision of the Supreme Court of the United
States in the cases of Martin F. Morris |
ct al, appellants, agt. United States, gen.
orally known as the Potomac flats case
and which involved questions relating to |
the title of the land and water comprised |
within the limits of the Improvement The |
decision virtually sustained the contention |
of the United States as to title, declaring |