Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-24

claimed, together with the tidal reservoirs,
be, and the same are hereby, made and de-
clared public park. under the name of
Potomac Park. and to be forever held and
used as park for the recreation and pleas
ure of the people,
The land areas of these reclaimed flats
amount to 621 acres. while the areas Of
the constructed tidal reservoirs aggregate
118 acres. "These flats" says Colonel AL
len. "are capable of being transformed into
one Of the finest parks in the country. The
greater part Of the park area Is composed
of rich alluvial soil, dredged from the bed
of the river, upon which luxuriant growth
rapidly appears. The dredging operations
will continue to AFFORD material of the same
character. H-t
1T Is necessary that the greater part Of
the area be for the present reserved for the
deposit of material dredged from the river
channels and tidal reservoir In connection
with the improvement Of Potomac river,
and that sufficient space be temporarily re-
served for construction 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 exclu-
sively to park purposes
Drives Might Be Built.
In response to the urgent popular de-
mand for this additional park space 1t re-
garded as especially desirable that the
dredging Of the adjacent river channels and
TIC ulilUS VI tiIio dlSd We COluplGLeu dI tue
earliest practicable date. and it is hoped
that the full amount estimated for the en-
suing year may be appropriated. Without
waiting for the completion of the river i'm
provement certain Of the roads and parts
Of the park surface could be advantage
ously and economically prepared for park
purposes, 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
<h,,o ha rod To
"A small tract Of land, containing about
thirty-one acres. adjacent 70 the monument
grounds and separated from the remainder
of the park was transferred to the control
of the officer in charge Of public buildings
and grounds during the past year.
"All unauthorized occupation Of the por-
ton Of Potomac Park under the control Of
this Office has ceased.
Depositing Earth in Potomac Park.
Deposits by citizens, at their own ex-
pense, in Potomac Park, Of desirable clean
earth, free from Objectionable matter have
always been permitted by this office, sub
iect to certain restrictions which guard the
interests Of the United States. These per-
nits are in regular form and are Of rec
ord.
During the past year this privilege has
been a great convenience to various private
parties, and at the same time the United
States has obtained in this way and with
out cost to itself, about 5000 cubic yards
of good material. deposited and graded
free of cost at localities remote from the
river, where deposit from dredging Is most
expensive, or thrown up In entertainments
which will later, serve for retaining and
grading deposited material. thus reducing
the cost of future dredging and deposit
The total amount OF good material placed
in this manner upon Potomac Park for a
number Of years past Is estimated as 3O0-
600 cubic yards.
Clearing Away Underbrush.
s'The Improvement has reached a stage
where the maintenance and preservation Of
the reservatfonreauir,e attention. The growth
of weeds and und erbfush which. in the sum-
mer season especially, renders access to
the various parts Iof the work difficult.
should be cleared Up each year until the
reservation fs,ready to be laid out and
graded. Annual repairs will also be need
ed on the wall and the reservoir gates. The
proper police supervision of this extensive
area of 621 acres has also become q matter
of Importance In order to prevent infrac-
ton Of the laWs treapasses, etc. the reser-
walton should be patEolled. It is estimated
maintenance" IN
Estiihate IF $4oO, 900.
It is also estimated that the sum of $780,
600 can be proftably expended during the
fiscal year ending June so. 1904. in carrying
on work under the approved project. The
items making up the foregoing amount are
as follows: Dredgins in tidal reservoir.
| $4,000: dredging IN Virginia channel. $685.
600; dredging in Washington channel. ST.
500; dreding at junction of Washington and
virginia channels. $500: construction Of
reservoir inlet gates, $4,000; extension Of
training dixie and raising existing dixie
where required. $4,000; repair of sea wall,
SIS, coo; maintenance $S,800; CONTINGENCIES
about per cent, $4,000. Total. 100000.
ON THE LOWER POTOMAC.
Results Of Operations Under the Act