Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-12
Potomac River Work.

POTOMAC River WOrR.
General Mackenzie reports that the work
provided for under the present project for
the Improvement of the Potomac river be-
low Washington city has been completed
except a small amount of dredging at the
naval ma gaZine shOal, and that no further
appropriation is required therefor. He
says. however. that a channel only 200 feet
wide is regarded too contracted for
river of the width and Importance of the
Potomac. especially in view of the location
of the Washington navy yard upon its
shores. The total tonnage annually pass
ing through the dredged channels of the
lower Potomac Is estimated at 100000
tons Tue channels. although narrow. have
been bouyed, and are of great benefit to
deep draft vessels traversing the river.
Referring to the improvement of the
Anacostia river. General Mackenzie says
that the amount expended under the pres
ent project to the end of the last fiscal
year was SS4.GS1 AS a result of this ex-
penditure channel 20 feet deep at mean
low tide and at least 800 feet wide Except
at Buzzard Point, where the width Is about
2fO feeD has been made for a length OF
1000 feet upstream from the mouth of the
Anacostia Cor about two-thirds of the dis
tdnce from the mouth TO the navy Yard
and about 100 acres of flats have been flied
In to above low tide. about % acres OF
which are nov above high tide.
The maximum draft that could be carried
on June 30, 1901, at mean low tide over
the shoaiest part of the locality under i'm
provement was about 10 feet The mean
range of tide is about feet
The commerce of the Anacostia river
now amounts to about 2S5,0OO tons annu-
ally, and General Mackenzie says IL Is or
much Importance not only locally but ma
tiOnally. owing to the location of the navy
yard on its shores. 1t Is anticipated that
the trade VIII greatly Increase with the
Improvement of the channel. 1t is estf-
mated that 81 .06I .052 Will be required TO
cOrnDletp existing baf
s20O.O00 can be proftably expended In the
next fiscal year on the work In addition
to the unexpended balance of $50. ATS.
Anacostia Flats.
The survey of United States land within
the fats of the Anacostia river from its
mouth to the boundary line of the Dis
trict has been completed and transmitted
To the Attorney General, who Is charged
by law to report upon the nature OF the
title to the lands embraced in said ter
ritory
A chapter of the report is devoted to the
operations during the past year for increas-
ing and filtering the water supply of the
District of Columbia many details of which
have been already published in The Star as
the work progressed from time to time.
General Mackenzie says that the consump-
ton and waste of water measured June
-. 1904. amounted to Go 193, 900 gallons per
Diem. being the largest June measurement
ever taken. Estimating the population of
the District at 2S1.O4S. that measurement
gives a daily per capita consumption and
waste OF 23o gallons. On this point General
Mackenzie SAYS:
careful and trustworthy investigations
made IN various cities in the United States
snow clearly that daily per capita allow
ance OF 100 gallons Is ample for ALI domes-
Tie. business and public purposes. and tina,
any considerable increase above this
amount must be attributed to excessive
1Shi nptn Ig.;o
fectlng the use of water differ material y
from those In ordinary cities Nevertheless
extravaganza in the use OF city water has
become apparent. and constitutes a seriou.
menace To the supply by the Washington
aqueduct with its present capacity-76 600
OD gallons-and at the rate of increase the
ultimate limit would be reached in about
ten years.
The present consumption and waste hav,
also an important bearing on the subject o.
nitration. filtration plant has been au
thorized by Congress and Is now being con
structed. III Ia probable that the cost OF
filtration will be about 81 per million gal
Ions. or. at the present rate OF consump
ton. about $500 per day. or $4,000 an
nuaily. This is a large charge and can b,
reduced only by a reduction in consumption
In the opinion OF the local engineer of
ficer I'm charge OF the aqueduct the exist
ing conditions suggest two remedies-eithel
the reduction of the consumption to a rea
sonable rate. loo gall@ns per capita pel
diem. by the use of meters. or the increa S,
of the present supply to keep up with tn,
present demand by the building of a secont
conduit from the Great Falls of the Poto
mac. The necessary surveys of practicabi,
routes for this conduit should be taken 4,
hand at once. and an estimate for this worl
Is submitted by the officer In charge"
IL is estimated that $44 900 can be profit.
ably expended In the operation. mainte
nance and repair of the Washington auue
duct and its accessories of which amour
$4,000 Is required for preliminary sur.