Evening star., 1903-10-26
Dredging the Potomac.

the reservation in the proper condition for
the use as camp site for troops
Dredging the Potomac.
Gen Gillespie says that the amount eX-
pended upon the Improvement of the Po-
tomac river at Washington under the
existing project up to the close of the
fiscal year ending June 80 1903, was $2,-
333, 712, of which about $4,000 was ap
piled to maintenance.
The expenditure resulted in the dredE-
ing of channel 20 feet deep and 500 feet
wide through the bar above Long bridge
and in restoring the standard 20-foot
navigation by redredging shoals due to
freshets: in increasing the width of the
natural channel just below Long bridge
by so to 500 feet and in deepening 1T to
20 feet; in dredging a channel $50 feet
wide and 30 feet deep through the bar
in the Virginia channel near Giesboro
Point; in dredging the Washington chan
nel to width of 400 feet and depth of
20 feet for a navigation channel, and in
dredging between this navigation chan
mel and the wall of the adjacent re-
claimed area to a depth of II feet; in
dredging at the junction of the Wash
ington and Virginia channels; in dredg-
ing the tidal reservoir Oil acres) to
depth of about feet; in the conStruc-
construction of 3J2S9 linear feet of sea
wall, of which 4.190 linear feet has been
taken down and relaid, and 1866 linear
feet of training dixie.
The area of land reclaimed by these
operations is 621.12 acres Cor including
reservoirs, 1892 acres). which, by act
of March ;, 1897, was declared to be
public park, under the name of Potomac
Park.
The maximum draft that could be car
ried through the Washington channel on
June 30 1903, at mean low tide. was 10
feet; for the Virginia channel it 1S
feet The mean range of tides Is about 3
feet.
The benefits to navigation from the
h..i-n rlya cd
sells can come to Washington loaded
more heavily than was formerly the case.
Needed to Complete Work
The amount testimated) required for
completion of existing project is S519,-
O20; the amount that can be prOfitably
expended in fiscal year ending June 80,
1905, for works of Improvement and for
maintenance, in addition to the balance
available July /, 1903. is 100000.
The additional work proposed, Gen.
Gillespie says, is necessary for extension
of benefits to navigation interests and
for the maintenance of the Improvement
| in u serviceable condition.
River Below the City.
The work of improving the Potomac river
| below Washington under the present pro-
! ject has been completed, and Gen. Gillespie
| says no further appropriation Is required
| therefor A channel only 2U) feet wide is.
| however, regarded as rather contracted for
| river of the width and Importance of the
| Potomac and especially in view of the loca-
| ton of the Washington navy yard upon its
| shores.
1t is hoped that increase in width Of
| these channels. to 4DJ feet may soon be au-
! thcrized by Congress
Anaccstia River. improvements.
Regarding the inlprovfment of the Ana
costa river GEN: Gillespie says that the
| present project for expenditure of the ap-
preparation of Jufa l3. 1892, consists in
dredging a channtl twenty feet deep ard
300 to about 400 feet, width, from the river
mouth to the upper; linaisH of the navy yard,
| some slight increase in depth to be given
| Immediately in front Of the yard If practi-
cable and if needed Tie dredging to in
| clude easing the bfnds<s so far as can be
| done. frt -. a,-
| amounts to about 2sfo.tan IONS annually, and
| it is anticipated that the, tonnage will great
iy increase with Improvement of the chan
The amount expe1ded on the work of the
existing project 70 June 80 1903, was
s1s,110.93 none OF. which was applied to
The balance available July l.. 1903, was
$133 OG4.13. The amount (estimateO re-
guired for COMPLETION of existing project is
| 81, ,O67, ,OS1 .94. The amount that can be
proftably expended in fiscal year ending
June 30, 1905, in addition to the balance
| available July /, 1903, is 500, 900.
| Buildings and Grounds.
| The estimates for public buildings and
! grounds in ythe District, in charge of the
| chief of engineers, aggregate sG02, $50, as
| follows:
| For the Improvements and care, $49j,GJ0;
| for compensation of persons employed So,
620; for repair of existing telegraph lines
! connecting Capitol and depar. ments. $1.5)0:
| for contingent and incidental expenses.
| 500; for care of Washington monument
| and maintenance of elevator, s21i520
! Government Printing Office.
General Gillespie says that the building
| for the government printing office has not