Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-17
ANACOSTIA RIVER
Special Report Recommending It's
Immediate Improvement.
RESULTS OF SURVEY BY COL. ALLEN
Two Projects With Estimates of
Cost by Sections.
AREA OF RECLAM ATION

by Col. Charles j. Allen, corps of engineers
in a special report to the chief of engineers,
giving the results of a survey made by him,
in compliance with a joint resolution of
Congress, approved April II, 1898. That res
oIutfon called for project, with estimates
of cost for the Improvement of the Ana
costa river and the reclamation of its fats
from its mouth to the line of the District
of Columbia. The report contains mass
of interesting matter including a general
description of the river and a brief history
of previous efforts for it's improvement.
The following are extracts from the report:
The harbor lines were approved by the
Secretary of War May 81, 1892. Between
the mouth of the river and the navy yard
the distance between bulkhead lines is 800
feet and the distance between wharf heads
lines 800 feet. Between the Navy Yard
bridge and Pennsylvania avenue bridge the
distance between bulkhead lines is 800 feet
and the distance between wharf heads or
lines 100 feet The subject Of harbor lines
above Pennsylvania avenue bridge was left
for future consideration
The joint resolution of April II, 1898,
providing for the Improvement of the river
and directing the preparation of the project
ard estimate, carried an appropriation of
$1,000 for the cost of surveys and other ex-
penses, instead of $4,000 at first pro-
posed. AS it was manifestly impossible
plete surveys of the river and prepare the
n APPS, project and estimates required it
was necessary to utilize. far as possible,
previous surveys and existing maps of the
river. The greater part of this informa-
ton referred to the section of the river be-
tween the mouth and the Navy Yard bridge,
but there were also considerable data avail
able relative to the section between the
Navy Yard bridge and Pennsylvania ave-
nue. bridge. Accordingly, the field opera
tons of the survey were first directed to
the upper section of the river between the
line of Massachusetts avenue extended and
the District boundary line, of which no re-
cent surveys or maps were availa bic
Necessity Recognized.
THE necessity for the improvement ofAn-
acosta river has been so fully recognized
by Congress in the joint resolution of April
II, 1893, and in previous acts and resoiu-
tons calling for surveys or making appro-
priation- for temporary relief to navigation,
that no arguments are needed here to en-
phasize the importance of this work. 1t is
sufficient to review in general way the
principal reasons for the project as SUBJ
mitted and which are as follows:
4. Access to the navy yard-At the Wash
inston navy yard there has been establish
ed one of the finest gunshops in the world
Tor the fabrication of modern guns for the
navy. Large sums have been expended an
nualiy in charging and increasing the IA
cilitics of the establishment. In time of war
itS liSuldI JosllIou flldheS IL OF great value.
That this important establishment should
be accessible to at least several classes of
naval vessels is evident At present this IS
far from being the case. The channel be-
tween the mouth of the Anacostia and the
navy yard is SO narrow and crooked that
it cannot safely be navigated by vessels
of any considerable size, while the availa-
BILE depth is insufficient for any except those
of very light draft. The channel in this
part of the river should be widened and
deepened. Congress has before it a project
Tor improving the Potomac river at and be-
low Washington, so as to secure a naviga-
bic depth of "a feet al, low tide and the sur
veys made show that this depth can be Sc
cured up to Washington for comparative
ly small outlay. This depth. if adopted for
the Potomac, should be provided up to the
navy yard so that, If desired, vessels of
about that draft can reach that point
increased facilities for commerce and
naVlgation-The trade and commerce of
Washington are increasing with the growth
and extension of the city. Statistics of river
tfaff1c during the last ten years for in
stance, show an almost steady increase in
receipts ana shipments of coal ice, lumber
SAND, wood etc, while the number of YES
SeIs arriving and departing each year shows
nke increase. The wharf front along the
Washington channel furnishes nearly all
the existing wharf facilities and these have
been reported as Inadequate. If the existing
Wharves could be rebuilt, additional room
could be provided but the frontage would
still be limited and most probably insult
hcient for the needs of large and growing
city. As practically all the remainder of
me 3n fotomac river front below Easby's
Point Is taken up by Potomac Park Ghe re-
claimed area of Potomac fats) the only
place for adequate expansion would be
the water front of Anacostia river, where
with wide and deep channel for naviga-
ton, there would be admirable facilities for
the construction of substantial and COM
modlous Wharves, giving close and con-
Vsnlenl access to the southeastern section
or the city, with a comparatively short haul
for delivery of material and supplies.
Insnnitnry Conditions.
80 Removal of insanitary conditions-The
greater part of the area of the Anacostia
river along the city front is made up as
already stated, of wide and extensive flats.
In the lower sections Of the river these
mats are submerged al low tide, the depth
OF water ranging from one to four feet
In the summer and fall they are covered,
as said, with dense subaqueous growth
(known locally as eel grass), which more or
less obstructs the flow of the tidal cur
rent. In the upper sections of the river and
near Benning bridge the fats are slightly
above low tide, but are overlooked at high
tide ana covered with a growth Of wild
rice Along the Anacostia front of the
city there are reported no less than eight
sewer outfails, commencing with the large
boundary sewer on the north and ending
with James Creek canal, near BuzZards
Point. These sewers carry large volume
Of sewage into the river each day. In the
much of the sewage is carried into the
channel gradually reaching the Potomac
But in the upper part of the river, and par
ticularly on the food tide, the sewage is
carried over the fats and widely dissent
mated, and as the tide falls 1t remains
lodged in the aquatic grasses, where it
ferments in the summer and autumn heat
constituting an active source of disease
The fiat at the outlet of the boundary sewer
already described, probably represents the
maximum of the existing nsanitary con
ditions. These same conditions prevail,
though in lesser degree. on the flats be-
low, and particularly on those in front of
the navy yard and the reservation of the
Government Hospital for the Insane as the
projection of Poplar Point and the fill made
here in accordance with the plan of 1881
tend. as reported, to retard the already
slow tidal current.
The result of this insandtary condition
| is. as reported, the prevalence of maiariaI
diseases in the portions ~ the city and
District which border the river. Reports
of the surgeon general ofsthe navy show
| that diseases of this character have been
prevalent at the navy yard, while the off,
Ger IN charge of the Government Hospital
| for the Insane has frequently called atten-
ton in his annual reports to the condition