Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-01

| III At "ten=tWo''
| of consumption about $500 per day, or
| $4,000 annually.
| In order to ascertain the results of filtra-
| ton of Potomac water by the two accepted
| methods-the mechanical or American sys-
| TEN of rapid filtration, and the slow sand
| or English system-two filters have been
erected, one on the English system and the
| other embodying the recent Improvements
on the American system. Experiments are
being conducted with 4 view to showing the
reduction in trubidities, the meteorological
results. and the safe rate of filtration to be
adopted in the special case of Potomac
water
| WHARF RIGHTS AND HARBOR LINES.
One of the most important events of the
fiscal year relating to the improvement Of
| the Potomac river was the decision of the
Supreme Court of the United States in the
case of Martin F. Morris ct al, appellants
against the United States, generally known
as the Potomac flats case 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 the kidwell and
other claims on section invalid confirming
the title of the United States to the wharves
on Water street and removing all legal OBJ
stacles to the prosecution of the improve
C1ent.
During the year Gen. Wilson, the chief
of engineers, and the Secretary of War APP
proved plans prepared by Maj. c. f. l.. 3.
Davis and Lieut.. Col Charles ]. Allen, for
the establishment of harbor lines in the Po-
tomac river in accordance with the pro-
visions of act of Congress of August 9,
1882, and September 10, 1890. These plans
contemplate Il bulkhead line extending
around the area reclaimed by the United
States, from Easby's Point. near the foot Of
9th street, TO the southwest abutment of
the Pennsylvania Railroad Companys
bridge across the Washington channel, and
a bulkhead line along the water front of
the city of Washington on the Washington
channel between the Long bridge at the
foot of 14th street and the junction of the
Anacostia and Potomac rivers. off the
lower end of the United States arsenal
grounds. So much of the wharf line of the
Anacostia river lies south of reservation
No. Omitted States arsenal grounds) is
also made part of the bulkhead line, SUBJ
ject to such notifications as may be found
convenient and economical in the construc-
ton of wall, in order that the triangular
area thus nclosed may be filled in, as con-
templated by the plan for the Improvement
OF the AnacoStia river.
POTOMAC PARK.
A reclamation of the Potomac fats has
reached stage when 1t appears desirable,
as 1t is practicable, to make a beginning
upon the work Of park Improvement.
The greater part of the park area Is COM
posed of rich alluvial soil, dredged from the
bed of the river, and upon which luxu-
RANT growth rapidly appears According to
Col Allen, the engineer officer in charge,
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, he says. will be the
construction of drives and walks, and the
drainage.
1t is intended that the park shall be made
accessible to the public early day, and
it has been suggested that commencement
be made by constructing broad and COM
modiouS 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 1 and II, cross
ing the sewer canal and the reservoir inlet
by bridging, continuing along the southeast
margin of the reservoir to a crossing on
truss trestle bridge to be erected at a
suitable distance above the present cause
way bridge. This driveway, with its branch
along the southeast margin, are to be built
at about the future grade of average filling
proposed for the park, which is several feet
above the freshet line of 1889, requiring an
embankment which can be made partly of
material now in the park and partly of
material to be dredged under operations for
the improvement of the Potomac river at
Washington. While a permanent roadway
will be eventually required, it is not con-
sdered desirable to lay one at the outset
on the new embankment, which should
have time for settling. 1t is therefore pro-
posed by Col. Allen to place a temporary
gravel covering, which material may serve
as a subgrade for future pavement or
for other purposes Ample provision can
easily be made for drainage along and
through the driveway. The estimated cost
of the bridges, drainage, etc, and of the
driveway and enDankmGQt. Is placed
s135 600.
POTOMAC RIVER IMPROVEMENT.
The operations for the Improvement of
the Potomac river during the past year
have resulted in the dredging of a channel
twenty feet deep and $50 feet wide through
the bar above the Long bridge, and in re-
storing the standard twenty-foot naviga-
ton by redredging shoals due to freshets;
in increasing the width of the natural
channel just below Long bridge from fifty
to 500 feet, and in deepening it to twenty
feet; in dredging a channel $50 feet wide
and twenty feet deep through the bar In
the Virginia channel near Giesboro' Point;
in dredging the Washington channel to a
width of 400 feet and a depth Of twenty
feet for navigation channel, and in dredg-
| ing between this navigation channel and
the wall of the adjacent reclaimed area to
a depth of twelve feet; in dredging at the
| junction of the Washington and Virginia
channels; in dredging the tidal reservoir
| Oil acres) to depth of about eight feet;
| in the construction of the reservoir outlet
and in the the construction Of about IS, 600
linear feet Of sea wall and about 5000 linear
feet of draining dyke The slowness of the
| dredging operations during the past year,
| however. has permitted shoaling Of a
part Of the channel above the bridge, 50
| that the present maximum channel depth
| at that point Is but fifteen feet. It is ex-
| pected that this shoaling will be removed
| during the present fiscal year. With this
] exception. the channels afford standard