The Washington times., 1901-10-31
The ENGINEER CORPS, WORK.
Many Local improvements Review
ed in General GiIIespfe's Report.

IhE ENUlNEER CURPS,. .WURA.
Many Local improvements Review
ed in General GiIIespie's Report.
Brig. Gen. G. L. Gillespie, Chief OF En-
gineors. L 5. A. yesterday made report
OF the work of that branch Of the service
for the last year to the Secretary OF War.
complete statement was made upon
the question OF fortifcstions and defences.
a considerable portion Of the report be Ing
devoted 10 a consideration OF Washington
improvements. which are in charge of
Lieut- Col. Charles ]. Alien.
The subject of river and harbor i'm
provemeuts is dealt with at length. a de-
tailed statement being made upon prac-
tically every stream OF water in the coun-
try The report takes up the question OF
the Potomac River. showing the average
depth. the channels and the improvements
by dredging. The Potomac Flats are also
discussed. and a statement made OF the
improvements accomplished and contem-
plated. 1t is proposed. says the report, to
continue the dredging OF the Virginia
channel during the present season to the
extent OF $4,000 cubic yards.
A ivTIE tiny report is made upon the re-
pairs of the Aque duct Bridge in charge Of
made upon the proposed Memorial Bridge
across the Potomac:
The Sundry Ciyil act, approved June
4, 1897. provided for survey. examing--
tion, etc, as follows:
Memorial Bridge across Potomac
River To enable the Chief OF Engineers
OF the Army to make the necessary sur
veys, SOundingS and borings and for Sc
curing designs and estimates for a me-
mortal bridge from the most convenient
of
or adjacent thereto, across the Potomac
River to the most convenient point of the
Arlington estate property. N,5oJ.
BY act approved March 3. 1893. Con
gress made the following appropriation:
Memorial Bridge across Potomac
River: To enable the Chief of Engineers
OF the Army to continue the examination
OF the subject and to make or secure de-
signs. calculations. and estimates for a
memorial bridge from the most convenient
point of the Naval Observatory grounds.
or adjacent thereto. across the Potomac
River TO the most convenient point OF
the Arlington estate property. the sum OF
5000
Competitive designs with estimates for
the bridge were obtained from four of
the most distinguished American bridge
engineers. each Of whom associated with
himseh ~ least one architect of estab-
ished reputation and ability. The designs
were all very complete, the estimates ac-
curately and carefully made and the
competition in every way gratifying.
The report of the board Of officers of
the Corps of Engineers and of architects
appointed by order of the Secretary of
war to consider and report upon the rela-
tive merits of these designs was submit
ted March 2S, 1890. and it is to be regret
ted that time admitted of but iVery few
Of the numerous and valuable drawings
obtained being reproduced in It.
The board recommended that design
No. of those submitted by w. H Burr
be adopted. with minor notifications
taken mainly from his design No /. sthe
cost of which notifications the detail in
which his plans had been worked up rem
dered susceptible of easily and accurately
estimating The estimated cost of the
design as recommended is 1850 00a''
The Washington Aqueduct and Wash
inston Filtration Plant are discussed
Upon the latter General Gillespie says:
By act approved June g. 1900. $2ee.Os9
was appropriated for establishing those
portions OF a filtration plant which are
essential to the operation of either system
or hitration adopted. including necessary
land, grading. masonry. and appurte-
nances. and by act approved March /.
lsOl, $5QD.Ot0 was appropriated toward es-
tablishing a slow sand filtration plant
With this appropriation 1,377 619 square
feet of land in the vicinity of the new
reservoir have besn purchased at the uni
form price of - cents per square foot.
amounting to $619. .92S. So, drawings of vari-
Gus details of the filtration plant have
been made. buildings and derrick erect
co. excavations made Tor the clear water
reservoir and forms for the same. and
excavations made for the intake for the
pumps to supply wafer to the filter beds
A Typographical survey of the site for the
nltration plant was also begun. Four
zS-inch pipe lines We're laid from the east
shaft gatehouse of the new reservoir to
the filtration gatehouse-
AS Congress has stipulated that the
Slow sand system of filtration shall be
adopted, an estimate of s.. 1.0O0, 900. which
has my approval. is submitted by the Of
hcer in charge to continue the work dur
ing the fiscal year ending June 30. 1896
General Gillespie makes the following
report upon the Improvement and care
Of public buildings and the Washington
Monument. all of which are in charge of
Col Theodore A. Bingham:
THE Executive Mansion has received
the usual care and such repairs and i'm
provements as the funds available woula
admit. The arrangements of water sup
ply, waste, and soil pipes has been i'm
proved by removing the old pipes and re-
placing them in d better way with new
pipes. The private diuing-room has been
repapered, redecorated, and repainted; tbs
main corridor, first floor. redecorated and
repatnted; paperinS and painting done in
other apartments and the north ana
south porticos repainted. An automatic
ire alarm system has been placed in the
attic, and some new carpets. furniture.
and furnishings purchased. Plans, with
estimates of cost, for extending the man
sion have been prepared in accordance
with Congressional action. The cO1SsrV-
atory was repainted; repairs made to that
building, to the greenhouses, and to the
stable.
AT the Washington National Monu-
ment the usual care required for Ioainte-
nance has been extended, an addition tn
the boilerhouse constructed, and a new
electric elevator installed The work Of
stifening the tie rods of the iron columns
within which the elevator car runs was
completed, and the 70-Yolt lamps in the
shaft replaced with lamps of 10 volts.
inspections have been made from time
to time of the various buildings occupied
as offices by the War Department, except
the State, War. and Navy Departments
building, in connection with their care,
repair, and safety
WORK OF PENSION CLERKS.