The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-13
THE POTOMAC FLATS
Are Being Reclaimed and Will Make
Washington n Fine Park.

Washington Post.
For the first time in several years the
channel of the Potomac is now sufficiently
deep to permit vessels of the greatest
draught which come 10 Washington to pro-
coed, if desired. 10 Georgetown. The chan
mel above the bridge is 20 feet at its least
depth and is $50 feet wide. Ultimately it will
be 400 feet in width.
The removal Of the shoal which has OBJ
structed the upper channel was completed
some days ago by the Gulf, Atlantic and
Pacific Dredging Company, which has the
contract for the Improvement of the Poto-
mac flats, under the direction Of Lieut..
Col. Charles j. Allen. engineer corps.
United States army. Last winter a channel
20 feet in depth and 400 feet wide was
dredged at the east end of the Washington
channel at the mouth Of the eastern
branch. The material removed from the
river bed was deposited on the lower por-
tion Of the flats, to be known as Potomac
Park. and at the same time about a mile
of the stone wall surrounding the improved
flats was rebuilt with cement. and is now
a handsome feature of the artificial island
in the Potomac. designed for ultimate use
as a great pleasure ground for the people
of the capital.
The design of dredging the channel of the
Potomac at washington first LOOK the form
of congressional sanction and appropria-
ton in 1882. At that time low marshes COW
cred the water. front for long distan ces at
several points above and below Long bridge,
their grasses catching the sewage of the
city. They were unsightly and a constant
menace to health. These marshes have been
reclaimed by pumping the material taken
from the river bed through large pipelines
set on piles. 1t has been deposited on the
marshes. around which walls were first
built, and has made solid ground OF $50
acres of noisome swamp land.
The height of Potomac Park above mean
low water was established in 1882. at thir-
teen feet, this being two feet higher than
the highest point reached by the freshet
waters of 1877. In 1889, however, the freshet
waters reached a height of fourteen feet.
No change was made in the plans on this
account. as 1t Is not regarded as likely
that such a height will ever again be at
tanned by the water here. especilly in view
of the deepening and widening of the chan
mel and the proposed erection of q new
bridge in place of the Long bridge.
The process of dragging the channels and
filling the flats is an interesting one. A
hydraulic dredge of tremendous power is
used, and TO il are attached 1,2O0 to 1000
feet of pipe, whose outlet is at the portion
of the adjacent flats, where 1t is decided TO
deposit the material from the river bed.
The low parts of the flats are first dyked
off into sections of several acres each. con-
nected by sluice gates. When the dredge
begins to pump up silt. sand and water
from the river bed it is conducted through
the pipes and into the selected area OF
the flats. where its fluid nature causes it
~ ~ 49, $1,000 Va W. NAN
The soil, being heavier, quickly sinks, and
the water is permitted to run off through
the sluice gates, finding its way Dy a grada-
ton OF the areas TO the river again. The
material remaining quickly dries out, and
in a remarkably short time is covered with
a heavy growth of vegetation.
The latest portion of the flats to be filled
is the area Immediately to the east of the
| causeway which forms a part of the Long
bridge. This was selected because 1t was
lower than the rest and rather marshy at
times, making an unsightly appearance.
This has now been filled in. In selecting
the area TO be filled that nearest the point
of dredging is usually chosen, but in such
cases as the one just filled the necessities
of the occasion are regarded. What was
known as the Kidwell meadows were not
embraced in the work of improvement,
though within its contemplated area for
several years, owing to the litigation over
the ownership of that territory. This left
that portion of the flats in a condition
much behind the remainder.
The contract under which the dredging
and filling operations are now being con-
Quoted was entered into last September
and Immediately thereupon the dredging
company sent a giant hydraulic dredger
from Wilmington, Del, toward Washing
ton. This vessel was caught in a storm of
the Virginia capes and completely wrecked
The contracting company at once com
menced the construction of a new dredge
which was completed, and began work
day that it had done more work in a giver
time than any single dredge ever used in
the river operations mere.
The dredging and filling will continue
under the present contract for a year oil
more, or until the appropriation available
is exhausted. The operations have beer
carried on in this way since they were be-
gun, Congress appropriating. from time t
time, such funds as have been necessary
10 continue with the improvements. Wher
they are finally concluded Washington will
have this great area of $50 acres, bordereC
on one side by the river and on the Other
by the winding walls Of the tidal basins
n nark Of Tho richest OrnffpH manu- faoi
above tide water. and suitable for the
most artistic efforts of the landscape gar
dener and the road builder. 1t will bs
crossed by a railroad and wagon bridge
provided for by the recently enacted bill
for the change of grade, etc, of the track:
of the Pennsylvania Railroad in the Dis
trict of Columbia.