The Washington times., 1902-07-25
Captain Allen Makes Re-
port on Work Being
Done Above the City.
RECLAIM!NG THE FLATS
Dredging Operations Afford Rich Ai-
luvial Soil, Which Will Transform
Flats Into a Fine Park-Completion
at Early Date Urged.

anu DtlON tue CITY VI W
Colonel Allen outlines with much de-
tail the work that is being done at the
present time for the improvement Of the
navigation of the river by dredging out
and widening the channel. reclaiming the
fats and the cleaning of the Washing
ton channel of the sewage.
He says that in order to make these
very necessary improvements in the
river it will be necessary to make the
channel twenty feet deep at low water,
and TO fill in the flats to height OF
three feet above the food plane of 1871
and to provide a tidal reservoir above
the Long Bridge.
This was the project as first laid out
by the act of Congress approved August
2. 1882. In 1890 training dixie on the
Virginia shore, extending down stream
from the foot of Analostan Island, was
added.
Contemplated Improvements.
When the Improvement of the Potomac
River in the vi .litv of Washington was
first decided upon the project provided.
Colonel Allen says, for the building ca
the Long Bridge some time in the not
distant future and the interception of all
sewage now discharged into the Wash
ington charnel and it's conveyance to the
James Creek sewer canal. Neither Of
these works, however. was included in
the original estimated cost of the i'm
provements, which, in 1882, amounted to
81, 71G.3 .355. In 1891 the estimate was re-
vised so as to amount to s2.953.020.
( The report shows that the total amount
expended TO the close of the fiscal year
ending June 80 1902, was 81, ,346. .411T6
In September of last year the dredg-
ing under the contract with the Allan
tic. Gulf and Pacific Company, in the
Virginia channel, above the Long
Bridge. was completed. Colonel Allen
states that excellent progress was made
on this work, and when IL was discon-
tinued III 900 cubic yards OF material
had been dredged out OF the channel and
deposited.
AS a result of this remarkable work
there existed in September of last year
a channel 400 feet wide, and twenty feet
deep. cut through the bar at the en-
trance to the Washington channel. and
the channel had also been made through
the entire length of the bar In the Vir-
ginia channel. which has a depth OF
twenty feet, and width varying from
270 feet to 400 feet. The material
taken from these channels, the report
states, has been deposited on Potomac
Park, and has greatly raised the grade
OF the lower portion of that place.
Colonel Allen makes some interesting
comments upon the freshet which &c
Cured as a result of the freezing of
the river last February. The freshet.
he says, attained its maximum height On
March 2, and the water at low tide on
that day reached an elevation OF twelve
feet at the Aqueduct Bridge.
To Accommodate Largest Craft.
In speaking of the improvement Of the
river, Colonel Allen says:
'It is regarded as necessary to the
proper execution OF this plan. that the
channel depths in both Washington and
Georgetown harbors should be sufficient
to accommodate the largest draft yes
sells that can be brought up to Arsenal
Point, with such additional depth at the
wharves that vessels can receive their
full cargoes without drowning at low
water
The work of dredging the river below
Washington. as authorized by Congress
in 1899. will probably be completed dur
ing the present fiscal year. The act au-
thorized the dredging of the channel to
4 depth of twenty-four feet at low tide
through ell shoals In the river below
Washington. Upon the completion OF
this work the channels at Washington
will be deepened in a similar. manner
The material to be excavated in order to
establish channels at Washington Col
cnel Allen recommends be deposited
upon the Potomac Park fiat He esti-
mates the additional cost of this i'm
portant Improvement to be S592, 900.
In speaking of the Potomac flats now
being reclaimed. Colonel Allen says:
These flats are capable Of being
into one OF the finest parks
in the country. The greater part OF the
park area IS composed of rich alluvial
soil dredged from tho bed of the river.
upon which n luxuriGnt growth rapidly
appears. The dredging operations will
continue to afford material of the same
character.
1T IS necessary that the greater par.
of the area be for the present reserved
from the river channels and tidal reser
,cir in connection with the improve
ment of the Potomac River, and that
sufficient srace be temporarily reserved
for constructing purposes near the sites
Of the Memorial Long and new high
way bridges and OF the inlet gates. and
hence 1t Will probably be some years
before the reclaimed area can be devoted
to park purposes.
Early Completion of Work Urged.
"In response to the urgent popular de- |
mand for this additional park space, 1t |
is regarded as especially desirable that
the dredging of the adjacent river chan
nels and the filling OF this area be COM
pleted at the earliest practical date. and
1t is hoped that the full amount esti-
mated for the ensuing year may be ap-
Without waiting for the |
of the river Improvement |
certain of the roads and parts of the |
park surface could be advantageousIy |
and economically prepared for park pur- |
poses. in conjunction with the work of |
the river Improvement, as has been
pointed out in preceding reports OF this |
office, and certain small portions of the |
park could thus be rendered TO the pub
lie"
Colonel Allen continues:
"A small tract of land. containing
about thirty-one acres, adjacent to the |