Evening star., 1900-07-24
Col. Allen Favors Early Adoption of
Plans.
ANOTHER RESORT FOR THE PEOPLE
Urges That 1t Be Made More
Accessible.
MUCH CAN BE UTILIZED

Colonel Alexander Mackenzie. acting
chief of engineers. today received the an
nuaI report of Lieutenant Colonel Charles
]. Allen. corps of engineers. in charge of
the fnprov ement of the Potomac river and
its tributaries and river ard harbor works
in Virginia The failure of A. NJ Clegg to
execute his contract for dredging the Fir-
ginia channel above the Long bridge, and
the annulment of his contract stated
by Colonel Allen. who added that arrange
nents are being made for a continuance
of the work under new contract He
says that the Potomac river was frozen
over for about thirty-six days during the
winter. though the ice was not thick
enough to stop steam navigation Aside
from this the weather generally mild
and favorable for dredging operations
Colonel Allen says that Mr.. Clegg never
succeeded however. in doing one-half the
work required by his contract.
During the past fiscal year the reservoir
outlet gates were repaired. the ferce around
Potomac Park rebuilt where 1t had
been injured and some new fence con-
structed. A portion of the reclaimed area
was cleared of the brush for the deposit Of
dredSed material. and an examination made
nj the channels at Washington.
Maintaining Potomac Park.
The Improvement" says Col. Allen. has
reached stage where the maintenance and
D
teGtion. TT growth of weeds and under
brush which. 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 laid out and graded Annual repairs also
will he needed on the wall and the reservoir
gates. The proper police supervision of this
extensive area of f21 acres has also become
matter of Importance
In order to prevent infractions of the
law. trespassing, etc, the reservation
should be patroIled. 1t is estimated that
$1,000 will be required per annum for main
tenance
Colonel Allen devotes a chapter to the
condition and needs of Potomac Park. In
introducing the subject he reci;es the pro-
visions of an act Of Congress of March 3.
1s9I, declaring the reservation a public
park. Ito be forever held and used as a
park for the recreation and pleasure of the
people"
The land area of the reclaimed flats"
says Colonel Allen. amounts to 62l acres
and the of the tidal reservoir aggre-
gates lis acres These flats 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. aIluvial SOIL dredged
from the bed of the river and upon which
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 II is necessary that the greater
part OF the area be. for the present reserv-
ed for the deposit of material drefged from
the river channels and tidal reservoirs III
connection with the improv erlent of the
Potomac river. and that sufficient space be
temporarily reserved for construction pur-
poses near the sites of the Memorial and
Long bridges and Of the inlet gates. and
though it Will probably be some years be-
r0.Ar rf.Trr Il
clustvely to park purposes, still it appears
desirable that those portions which are now
susceptible OF such treatment be made ac-
cesslbie TO the public at an early day.
Early Adoption of Plans.
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 II the river improvement as
To give the best results In the park i'm
provement. Thus. If 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 if the
inlet gates for the regulation of the flow
Of water into the tidal reservoir be COM
bined In one structure with the bridge for
carrying the driveway across the same
marked Increase Of economy and effect will
result and. further. the dredging of the
order Of precedence that a good stratum OF
rich aIluvial soil should everywhere overlie
sand and other undesirable surface mate
riai other similar economies and advan-
tages Of beginning the park Improvement
at an early day suggest themselves
plans for the development of the re-
Claimed flats into a park have been con-
sldered by this office ever since the incep-
ticn. in 1Ssl. Of the project for their re-
clamation. and have been kept in view
when considering this and related subjects,
hat linz iaN-r b.. E
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 discIIs-
sion The plans shown upon map ac-
CCmpanytng This report give in outline the
main features of roadways proposed and
nave been prepared with the assistance Of
an able ard experienced landscape and
park engineer They would. however be
subject 20 some modification before begin
ming construction.
For Pleasure and Recreation.
The idea has been to plan a rural park
which should be as far as possible devoted
10 the pleasure and recreation of the peo-
pie. and To this end the location of drive
ways. walks. bridlcpaths speedways
bridges. Fairgrounds. lakes and islands.
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 at the earliest
possible day The report of 1888 presented
the reasons for and an approximate esti-
mate of cost of the desired modification.
The fac; that a 2i-fuOt navigation chan
mel is being provided in the lower Potomac
ard that The intention Of the original pro-
ject aIlopttSl in 1ss2 was that such depth
Of channels b. provided will accommO-
dare The largest vessels thct can reach ar
s"nal point will probably shortly neceSsi-
t.i;' a revision II ;he project and estimates
With this in view. The excavation of ad-
d.tional material To provide for the needs
- navigation Will aid in raising the surface
- the park above all danger Of injury from
Known frcshris.
AN estimated cost of making a very i'm
ppr;ant and considerable commencement of
the park Improvement along the above lines
and a; proposed grade submitted in
the last annual report, TO which attention
Is respectfully invited
Unlawful Occupancy.
At the opening Of the fiscal year there
were at least eight parties occupying por-
lions Of Potomac Park without authority of