Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-12
WORK OF IMPROVEMENT
~nL. MILLER NOTES PROGRESS ON
POTOMAC RIVER.
Difficulties Encountered in Recon
struction of Aqueduct Bridge Pier
Other Interests.

Col Miller. corps of engineers, has made
a report to Gen Mackenzie chief of en-
g'neers in regard to the progress of work
on various public improvements in his
charge.
Regarding the improvement OF the Poto-
mac river he says that during the month
of April the contractors, the Atlantic,
Gulf and Pacific Company, dredged 10I. l20
cubic yards of material from the virgin d
channel above the Long bridge and deposit
ed IL on the upper end of section Ill or the
Potomac Park. raising that portion OF the
section fully up to grade. This section is
west of 18th street and is crossed by the
new speedway.
Under the approved project the speedway
will have to be raised six or seven rect at
certain points to reach the proper grade
The dredge used by the contractors Is work
ing night and day with an average rate OF
excavation of about 5l5 CUBIC yarus ai
hour
During the past month Sanford & Brooks,
contractors for dredging a channel In the
Anacostia river from its mouth to the navy
ward bridge dredged 81 sos cubic yards OF
material from the channel and deposlted
AZ on the flats in front of the Government
Hospital for the Insane. Col Miller says
that considerable time was lost In making
repairs to the plant and to the retaining
embankment. A grapple dredge was en-
gagged for several days in raising the en-
bankment
Difficulties Encountered.
According to the report, the contractors
for the reconstruction of pier of the Aque-
duct bridge. the Penn Bridge Company, are
having some trouble in pumping out the
cofferdam around the pier The pumping
plant consists of two horizontal boilers of
an aggregate capacity of sixty-five horse
power, connecting with two lo-inch CEN
trifugal pumps. Several tests have demon
strated that this plant Is not adequate for
the purpose, and the contractors have ex-
pressed their intention to largely increase
the plant. Col. Miller says II Is intended
to fill In, with concrete in bags. a number
of small holes in the underwater portion of
several of the other piers. These holes were
discovered during an examination of the
work last December. Though they are not
of a very serious nature Ii is deemed ex-
pedient to repair them at this time in ac-
cordance with established policy. 1t is es-
timated that the work will not cost over
500. including the payment for the serv.
ices of a diver.
The Highway Bridge.
Good progress is reported in the work
on the highway bridge across the Po-
tomac under the contract with the Penn
sylvania Steel Company. Most of the
piles at the southwest abutment have been
driven and good start made with piles
a. Pief w. Il, ana al the northeast aDut-
ment. Colonel Miller says that the re-
suits of the driving have been satisfac-
tory, good resistance being found at all
points. Several. hundred piles were re-
ceived early in the month, and later a
cargo of about 10000 feet of timber was
received for use In the construction OF
eofferdams. The construction plant has
been steadily increased and now consists
of three floating pile drivers, one land
driver, one derrick boat, two land derricks
one dredge boat one tug and several scows,
batteaus, etc. Colonel Miller says that
with the present plant and an additional
pile driver, the construction of which is
under way. the work ought to be pushed
rapidly. Besides the dredging at pier -
and at the adjacent abutment, digging has
been done at other points. and the ma
terial deposited on the Virginia side of the
river on the line of the approach embank-
ment. Ii is expected that the construc-
ton of the cofferdams will begin In few
days