The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-25

Col. Charles J. Allen yesterday presented
his annual report to the War Department.
Colonel Allen has charge of the improve
ment Of the Potomac River and Tributaries.
and it is recommended among Other things
that Potomac Park should be beautfed
and made a breathing place for the psople
Of Washington.
The improvement" says the report,
has reached a stage where the maintsn-
anee and preservation of the reservation
require attention. The growth of weeds
and undeIbru which, in the summer sea
son especially, renders access to the va
rious parts of the work difficult, should be
cleared up each year until the reservation
is ready to be laid out and graded. Annual
repairs also will be needed on the wall and
the reservoir gates. The proper police su-
pervision of this extensive area of 621 acres
has also become matter of Importance.
In order to prevent infractions of the
law, trespassing, etc. the reservation
should he patrolled. It is estimated that
$4,000 will be required per annum for main
tenance."
The land area of the reclaimed fats
amounts to GIL acres, and the area OF the
tidal reservoir aggregates 11S acres. These
fats are capable of being transformed into
one of the finest parks in the country.
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.
While it is necessary that the greater
part OF the area be, for the present, re-
served for the deposit of material dredged
from the river channels and tidal reser-
voirs in connection with the improvement
OF the Potomac River. and that sufficient
space be temporarily reserved for cons.ruc-
ton purposes near the sites of the Memo
rial and Long Bridges and of the inlet
gates, and though it will probably be some
years before the reclaimed land can be de-
voted exclusively to park purposes. still 1t
appears desirable that those portions which
are now susceptible Of such treatment be
made accessible TO the public at an early
day.
1T is obviously desirable that complete
and comprehensive plans be early adopted,
as the greatest economy and artistic effect
can be obtained by so conducting and tim
ing the work of ;ti, figer Improvement as
to give the best results In the park i'm
proyement Thus, il the locations Of the
driveways, lakes, inequalities Of surface,
etc, of the completed work be known in
advance, the dredged material can be so
deposited as TO avoid rehandling; also II
the inlet gates for the regulation OF the
flow OF water into the tidal reservoir be
combined in one structure with the bridge
for carrying the driveway across the same
| a marked increase of economy and effect
| will result, and, further. the dredging of
4 the river chan sells might be conducted in
! such order OF precedence that a good stra-
| tum of rich alluvial soil should every
where -overlie sand and other undesirable
surface material. Other similar econc-
| mics and advantages OF beginning the park
| Improvement at an early day suggest
| themselves.
plans for the development of the re-
| claimed fats-ilto park have been con-
| sidered by this office ever since the in
| cep:ion, in 1881, OF the project for their re-
| clamation. and have been Kept in view,
when considering this and related subjects,
! since that time by the several officers Of
engineers who have had this work in
charge. Especially has this been the case
/ in the last few years when the Long and
Memorial bridges have been under discus
| sion. The plans shown upon a map ac-
| complaining this report give in outline the
main features of roadways proposed. and
| have been prepared with the assistance
| OF an able and experienced landscape and
| park engineer. They would. however, be
subject TO some modification before begin
| Ling construction.
the idea has been to plan a rural park
| which should be as far as possible devoted
TO the pleasure and recreation of the peo-
pie and TO this end the location OF drive
ways walks, bridlepaths, speedways,
bridges, Fairgrounds. lakes. and islands,
I and fountains and vistas. etc. have been
| considered.
The matter OF the ultimate grade Of the
park surface is one Of vital Importance and
should be determined upon al the earliest
! possible day The report { 1898 presented
/ the reasons for and an approximate esti-
mate Of cost of the desired Modification.
THE fact that a twenty fOur-foot navi-
| Cation channel is being provided In the
/ lower Potomac and that the intention of
| the original project adopted in 1882 was
| that such depth Of channels be provided
as will accommodate the largest vessels
| that can reach Arsenal Point will prob
| ably shortly necessitate a revision OF the
| project and estimates with this in view.
The excavation Of additional material to
| provide for the needs Of navigation will
|