The Washington times., 1901-07-24
POTOMAC PARK PROSPECT.
Land Capable of the Grandest Re.
suits, Says a Report.
Engineer I'm Charge of River Inn
provements Urges the DesirabiIity
of Making the Flats AccessfbIe to
the PubIic-DrcdgIng Operntions.

the improvement of the Potomac River
and its tributaries. yesterday submitted
his annual report to the Chief of Engi-
neers of the War Department. 1t is di-
vided into thirteen heads. as follows: I'm
provements of Potomac River at Wash
ington; Potomac River below Washing
ton; OccoQuan Creek, Va; Nomini Creek.
Va; Lower Machadoe Creek, Va; Rap
pahannock River. Va: Urbana Greek,
Va: Milford Haven, Va. York River,
Va; Mattaponi River, Va; Pamunkey
River, Va: James River. Va, and protec-
ton of jamestown Island, Va.
Speaking of the dredging operations at
Washington, the report says that the
work was delayed by ice in the river
until March II, 1901, when dredging was
begun In Washington channel and prose-
cuted almost continually day and night
until April 25. 1901. when 107,245 cubic yards
had been dredged and deposited upon the
park. and a channel twenty-one feet deep
and 400 feet wide excavated through the
bar at the entrance"
Continuing. Lieutenant Colonel Allen
says: THE dredge was at once trans
ferred to the Virginia channel, above
Long Bridge, where work was begun
April 20, 1901. and continued to the close
OF tne nScal year
In order to relieve navigation in the
Virginia channel at the earliest practi-
cable date. the work was first limited ex-
clusively to dredging the west cut 134
feet in width, which at the close of the
fiscal year had been practically completed
through the entire length of the shcal.
The total amount of material dredged
from this bar and deposited upon Poto-
mar Park during the fiscal ypar was ia
91S cubic feet.
The work was delayed by ice and mud
at the outset and by freshets during April
and May, but, notwithstanding these him
ORANGES, good progress has been made and
1t is anticipated that all the work provided
for under the contract will be. completed
early in the ensuing fiscal year.
THE highest of the freshets of this
spring Q90D reached its maximum eleva-
ton on April %, when the surface OF the
water was about 1T feet above the mean
low tide at the Aqueduct Bridge, 6.7 at
Easby's Point, and 65 at the Long Bridge.
No serious damage was done to proper
ty by these freshets, but soundings show
that large quantities of salt were deposit
ted by them upon the bar in the Virginia
channel above Long Bridge. A sample
of river water taken during one of these
freshets was allowed to settle in a gradu-
ated glass and found to contain per
cent of soft mud"
Under the subject of channel depth
Colonel Allen refers to the fact that Con-
gress authorized the dredging of cham
nels twenty-four feet deep at low tide
through all shoals in the Potomac River
below Washington. This work, he says,
is row in progress under & continuing
contract, and it is anticipated that it
will be completed during the ensuing fiscal
year.
The desirability, he adds. of extending
the advantages of increased depth in the
lower Potomac at an early date. so that
deep-draft vessels may reach the navy
yard and wharves at Washington, is OBJ
vious and need not be dwelt upon here.
THE additional material to be exca-
waited in order to establish twenty-four-
foot channels at Washington says Lieu
tenant Colonel Allen. should be deposit
ed upon the reclaimed Potomac Flats,
and there would thus incidentally result
the great advantage of raising the
park surface above all possibility of in
jury by the highest known freshets, as
we'll as the advantage VI dry area for
use by the people.
"The estimated additional cost of this
important improvement is $3.50, ,000 which. |
Congress has not yet acted |
upon the matter. has not been incorpor- |
ated in any money statement or estimates
presented in this report.
Upon the subject of Potomac Park the |
report says:
''The lands of these reclaimed flats
amount to 621 acres, while the areas of
the constructed tidal reservoirs aggre- |
gate lis acres. These flats are capable |
Of being transformed into one of the |
finest parks in the country. The greater |
alluvial soil. dredged from the bed of the |
river. upon which a luxuriant growth |
rapidly appears. The dredging operations |
will continue to afford material Of the |
same character. 1t is necessary that the |
greater part Of the area be for the pres |
ent- reserved for the deposit of material !
1redged from the river channel and tidal !
in connection with the improve |
meDt OF the Potomac River, and that |,
sufficient space be temporarily reserved |
Tor construction purposes near the sites |
Of the Memorial, Long, and new highway |
bridges and. OF the inlet gates and though |
4 Will probably be some years before |
he reclaimed area can be devoted eX-
clusvely to park purposes, still 1t ap-
pears desirable that commencement be |
made upon the park Improvement so as !
ic at the earliest practicable day.
IF the location of driveways, lakes, in
aqualities of surface. etc. for the COM
pleted park be known in advance, much
IF the dredging material can be deposited
as to avoid rehandling; also If the inlet
gates for the regulation of the flow of
water into the tidal reservoir be COM
1ined in one structure with the bridge for
carrying the driveway across the same.
4 marked increase of economy and effect
will result.
1T is generally understood that COM
plans for the Improvement of
he park system of Washington to be
submitted to Congress are to be prepared
)y commission composed of distin-
l,8N L., II 4
ieers. The definite adoption of some
'uch comprehensive plans for Potomac
Park would be of great advantage to the
work and to the community at large, L
wen II no appropriation for their execu-
ion was Immediately made.
plans for the development of the re-
claimed fats into a sort of rural park
nave been considered by this office. more
Project for their reclamation. and have
,een kept in view since that time by sew
raj officers of the Corps of Engineers in
harge of the work when considering the
nine bridges and other related
ubjects.
Continuing, the report says: THE i'm
rovement has reached stage where the
and preservation of the res
rvation require attention. The growth
# weeds and underbrush, which in the
ummer season especially renders access
o the various parts of the work difficult.
hould be cleared up each year until the
eservation is ready to be laid out and
raded Annual repairs will also be
eeded on the wall and reservoir gates
he proper police supervision of this ex-
ensive area of 62l acres has also become
matter of Importance In order to pre-
ent infractions of law, trespass, etc. the
eservation should be patroled.
1T is estimated 5000 will be required
er annum for maintenance. 1t is also
that the sum of 1895. 900 can be
expended during the fiscal year
ndng June go 1903 in carrying on work
nder the approved project" .