Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-22
DREDGING THE RIVER
Report Of Operations for I'm
provement of the Potomac.
MORE MONEY NEEDED
SHOALING, CAUSED BY FRESH
FTs, A SERIOUS OBSTACLE.
Channel Only Half as Wide as Was
Desired-Work in Anacostia
River-Potomac Park.
MORE MONEY NEEDED

River-Potomac Park.
The annual report of operations for the
Improvement of the Potomac river ana
its tributaries at and near Washington
city was made public today by General
Mackenzie chief of engineers. In regard
to the dredging of the Virginia channel
above the Long bridge it is stated that
the shoaling caused by deposits from
recent freshets was so great that instead
of being able to obtain channel twenty
feet deep and 400 feet wide. was antic-
ipated. the available funds were sbarely
sufficient to secure channel twenty feet
deep and 200 feet wide, except on the
portion below the lower angle of the
channel and near the bridges under con-
struction where the width was made 400
feet The proposed dredging of the flats
of the Virginia channel near Easby's Point
had 10 be abandoned. The total amount
of material dredged from this channel was
406 AS cubic yards. of which 101, 40 cubic
yards were deposited upon the upper end
of section of Potomac Park and 2a9.22S
cubic yards were deposited upon the por-
ton of section 1 below the Easbys Point
high level sewer.
During the last fiscal year the sum of
$40. 29667 was expended upon work in con-
nection with the dredging operations and
the sum of S6.o1O24 upon other works of
maintenance. In June last an allotment
of $4,000 was made for the restoration
and maintenance of the Potomac river at
this city, and contract for dredging the
Virginia channel above the Long bridge
was awarded the Atlantic, Gulf and Pa
cifc Company. The report states that ow-
ing to the numerous slight but exceedingly
muddy freshets of the past spring and
summer the channel has so shoaled that
1t cannot be restored to its full customary
width of 400 feet with the funds on hand
The entire project is now about two-thirds
completed
For Heavy Draft Vessels.
The project does not specify the pro-
jected depth in feet, but provides that the
channel shall be of sufficient depth to ac-
commodate the deepest draft vessels that
can be brought up to them. At the time
of the adoption of the project the ruling
depth in the Potomac river below Washing
ton was twenty feet, and all estimates for
the improvement at Washington were ba sed
upon that depth. The ruling depth in the
lower Potomac has now been increased by
dredging to twenty-four feet at low tide
which accordingly makes that the present
projected depth for the Improvement at
Washington The officer in charge says
no work with that depth in view will be
undertaken. however, until 1t is authorized
by Congress. He says that the desirability
of extending the advantages of increased
depth in the lower Potomac river at an
early date so that deep-draft vessels NAV
reach the navy yard and wharves at Wash
ngton Is too obvious to be dwelt upon at
this time Incidental to the deposit of the
additional material thus excavated from
the channel there would result he saws
the great advantage of raising the surface
of Potomac Park above all possibility of
injury by the highest known freshets The
estimated additional cost of this important
modification of the project which he homes
VIII soon be authorized by Congress, is
$500. 900.
Because of the continual shoaling of the
Credged channel by deposits from freshets
and the considerable expenditure required
for the maintenance of this improvement
1t has been impossible with the small ap-
preparations recently made for this work
the report says, to undertake any extensive
operations toward the completion of the
general project. Attention is invited to
the fact that of the S2,4S4,OO which has
been appropriated for this work 81, 035, 600
was appropriated in the first ten years.
from August, 1882. to July, 1892. and only
$4,000 has been appropriated in the twelve
years since the latter date.
1T Is thought" says the report. that the
time has arrived when in response to the
urgent popular demand for better naviga-
ton facilities and for additional park
space, the appropriations for this work
should be made on a scale which will in
sure the completion of the entire project
dncluding the increased channel depth and
height of filD within Il few years. A con-
siderable appropriation is now necessary
for maintenance and for the removal of
freshet deposits, while 1t is essential. for
economy, that an appropriation sufficient
for the final dredging of the tidal reser-
voir and for the construction of the inlet
gates be made at one time, as the tidal res
erVoir will be inaccessible to dredge after
the gates are built, and the construction of
the gates will prevent the present rapid
shoaling in the reservoir. The sum OF
S400,O0O can probably be expended during
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1906, in the
accomplishment of the work above out
lined, and IT is hoped that the full amouI.e
requested will be appropriated. The work
provided for under the present project Tor
the Improvement Of the Potomac river be-
low WashiuE tOn has been practically COM
pleted, and no further appropriation is re-
uuired therefor, but should the widening
of the channel to 400 feet be authorized the
sum of $4,000 could be prOitably expend-
ed in dredging during the fiscal year end
ing June 80 1905.
In Anacostia River.
Regarding the Improvement of the Ana
costa river the report says in part;
During the year total Of GSo.346 cubic
vards of material was excayated from the
channel and deposited upon the flats In
front of the Hospital for the Insane AS Il
result of the work done. channel 20 feet
deep at mean low tide and at least 300 feet
wide Except at Buzzard's Point, where the
width Is a bout 24O teet has been made
available for a length of 600 feet upstream
from the mouth of the river Cor little over
two-thirds OF the distance from the mouth
to the navy Yard and about 100 acres of
fats have been filled In to above low tide,
about twenty-five acres of which are now
above high tide. The entire project is about
one-twentieth completed. During the fiscal
year the sum of s66. 181 40 was expended
upon work in connection with the dredging
operations and the sum of about $500 on
work in connection with the establishment
of harbor lines.
1T is anticipated that this Improvement
will he OF great benefit TO the general gov
eminent and to the city of Washington. At
the Washington navy yard there has been
established one of the finest gun shops in
the world and large sums have been
pended In enlarging and increasing the IA
CilitieS of the establishment. The improve
ment OF the channel will render this navy
yard accessible to a large number of vessels
of the navy. The trade and commerce of
Washington are increasing. while the wharf
facilities along the Potomac front are in
adequate for the present traffic and afford
room for expansion. The Improvement of
the Anacostia will give the needed addi-
uonal wharfage facilities.