Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-22


Hams project by providing, in addition to
the general sum of 100000 for the former,
for continuing conSfhct work, to cost not
to exceed $4,000 for the latter, Thi. dis
tinction was accentuated by the wording
of the law In Its Anal form as agreed upon
in conference, which. striking out the APP
provement of the Anacostla river, added
to the provision about the continuing con.
tract work below the city the words lex
elusive of the amount herein and hereto
The board Of trsdg cogl mittee engaged in
this effort was actuated by a desire to Sc
cure funds for the Improvement Of the
the lower reaches. while seeking to pre-
servo the fund required for the improve
ments Immediately lat or near the city
Thus Its efforts before the Senate commit
Of the city fund twice as large as that
appropriated by the House. and in obtain
ing authority for the Secretary Of War to
engage in work to cost $4,000 below
Washington under the Hams project.
The board Of trade had unanimously in
dorsed the Hans project of improving thu
lower river, and worked for Its success
but was anxious that this improvement
should be accomplished in addition to and
not at the expense of the Washington har-
Dor Improvement.
Col. Aliens Project.
Col. Allen was called upon by Gen. VIII
son, chief of engineers, to devise a project
for the improvement of the Potomac river
in accordance with the appropriation In
his report Col. Allen quoted the statute,
and said it provided, as he understood 1t,
% for the continuation of work under the
existing project for improving the Potomac
river at Washington and CD for the COM
mencement of work under the project sub
mitted by Col Hams, Corps of Engineers
November 26, 1891, for improving the Po-
tomac river below Washington. After a
full consideration of the entire subject,
including description of the work involv-
ed under both projects, Col Allen recon-
mended the allotment of $4,000 from the
appropriation of March, 1899, for improving
the Potomac river at Washington and the
allotment of the balance of the appropra-
ton of $4,000 for commencing the work
of dredging at Mattawomah shoals, under
the Hams project of 1891. Col. Allen re-
ferred to the work yet to be accomplished
for the completion of the Potomac flats
Improvement opposite this city and the
necessity for continuing the work of dredg-
ing the Virginia channel. He represented
that the channel above Long bridge is liza
BILE to fill up by deposits from freshets
in which event, he said, navigation would
be seriously INSTRUCTED unless funds were
available for their removal.
shoaI Has Formed.
A shoal has already formed, he said,
at the lower end of Washington channel.
over which there is a ruling depth of sew
enteen feet at low tide. This forms an OBJ
struction to the present standard of navi-
gation-twenty fest-and the channel
through 1t, Col Allen said should be
dredged. so as to secure a depth of twenty
feet. He estimated that there are about
100000 cubic yards of dredging yet to b.
done in the Virginia channel and about
$4,000 cubic yards of dredging in the Wash
ington channel. He said that funds are
required for clearing brush and to provide
for deposits of dredged material on the
reclaimed area, and also for the repair
with the improvements opposite Washing
ton. In view Of his belief that a river
and harbor bill may NOT be passed for two
years, he sal" it appears to be necessary
in the interests of navigation to apply a
sufficient amount from the appropriation
of March, 1899, to the works now in pro-
gress opposite this CITY,. He therefore rec
commended an allotment! of $4,000 for this
purpose from the appropriation of March.
1899 va A.
After detailing TIE Work necessary for
the removal of the Instructions in the
channel below Washington, Col. Allen
made the following estimate of the cost of
the Improvement: a -,
Estimates, Of Cost.
Kettle Bottom shoals 1920; Maryland
Point shoal $50, 49, Smith Point shoal, $685.
900 and Mattawoman shoals, s93,ss5. max
ing the total cost of the project s15s, 400.
He said that the general project under the
provisions of the act OF GMareh B. 1899, will
include the dredging of channels "a feet
deep and 200 feet wide through all bars of
less ruling depth below Washington, the
work to be done under a continuing con-
tract, after inviting proposals by public
advertisement, the total amount to be eX-
pended under the contract not to exceed
$3.50, 600 in addition to the amount allotted
for the work from the appropriation of
March 8, 1890 Col Allen said that in con-
the amount to be allotted to the
work below Washington from the appro-
priation of March last it is proper to as
sumo that a second appropriation for the
work under the continuing contract will be
made at the nexe session of Congress. The