Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-11
RIVER IMPROVEMENT
Work in the Potomac in
This Vicinity.
COL. LEACH'S REPORT
DREDGING OPERATIONS PROSE
CUTED CONTINUOUSLY.
RELAXING of Sea Wall Along Washing
ton Channel of Potomac Park
Other Work.

Other Work.
Lieut. Col Smith s Leach. Corps of En-
gineers has submitted his annual report to
Gen. Mackenzie. chief of engineers. of op-
erations on river and harbor works in this
vicinity during the past fiscal year.
Regarding the Improvement of the Poto-
river at Washington he says that
dredging operations were prosecuted con-
tinuously day and night with but slight in
terruptions for repairs until October 1 last.
when the limit of work practicable with
the funds available was reached The total
number of cubic yards excavated during
the past year was $685. all of which was
deposited on section l of Potomac Park. be-
low the Easby's Point hgh-level sewer. As
result OF the dredging done under this
contract channel at least 81 feet deep and
$50 feet wide was restored through the Vir-
gsnia channel above Long bridge. For
considerable distance of its length this
channel is 400 feet wide.
The refaying of a portion of the sea wall
along the Washington channel side OF Sec
ton 3 Of Potomac Park was begun April 4.
1904 and is still In progress. Up to the
close of the year 10 feet had been relayed.
This wall was originally built as a dry wall
in 1892. 1t has settled slightly and the up
per courses of stone. Col. Leach says. have
been thrown out of place by malicious per-
sons and the action of steamboat swells.
A portion of the wall extending from the
lower end of section 3. about half way to
the Long bridge. was reiayed In 1885 and
1897. the portion above mean tide being laid
In cement mortar. and Is now in excellent
condition. The wall now being rebuilt ad-
joins that work and Is being made of the
same character.
Col. Leach says that the winter of 1904
nd nnn of al a
river was frozen over about the middle OF
December and remained frozen the greater
part of the time until about the middle OF
March 1t was reported frozen to its
mouth. The ice attained it's maximum
thickness of thirteen inches at Easby's
Point and fifteen inches above the Aaue-
duct bridge in February. The Norfolk
steamers and the navy yard tugs succeeded
in making their scheduled trips. but other
Mise navigation was entirely suspended for
several weeks,
Expenditures for the Year.
The total expenditures during the fiscal
year on the Potomac river Improvement
was ST 4S4 OF which ST. Cos were expend-
ed upon work In connection with dredging
operations and S4,ST9 upon the reconstruc-
ton of the sea walls and minor works of
maintenance. Col. Leach says that the en-
tire project is now nearly two-thirds com
pleted.
'@rhe project for this improvement" Col
Leach says. does not specify the projected
channel depth in feet. but provides that
the channels shall be of sufficient depth to
accommodate the deepest draught 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
Washington was twenty feet, and all eStf-
mates for the improvement at Washington
are based 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 i'm
provement at Washington. For this in
crease the present estimates. however, do
not make provision, and no work with that
depth In view will be undertaken until il Is
authorized by Congress The desrabilty of
extending the advantages of increased
depth in the lower Potomac river at an
early date. 50 that deep-draft vessels may
reach the navy yard and wharves at Wash
ington. Is obvious and need not be dwelt
upon here. Incidental to the deposit of the
additional material thus excavated from
the channel. there would result the great
advantage OF raising the surface of Poto-
mac Park above all possibility OF injury by
the highest known freshets. The estimated
additional cost of that important modtfica-
ton of the project. which 1t Is hoped will
soon be authorized by Congress. is $500 600"
Potomac Park.
With reference to Potomac Park, Col
Leach says:
Congress. by act OF March 8, 1897, de-
clared the reclaimed flats public park
This extensive tract, amounting to 62l acres
OF land and lis acres Of inclosed water
area. is capable OF being transformed into
one Of the finest parks in the country. For
further Information reference Is invited to
the annual reports of the chief of engineers
for 1899. 1900 and 1901. While 1t Is neces-
sary that the greater part of this area be-
for the present reserved for the deposit of
material dredged from the river channels
l. sufficient funds were appropriated. GER
tain portions of the could be soon
filled 10 their final height and covered with
II rich alluvial soil by dredging and there
after devoted exclusively to park purposes
During the past fiscal year about It. 900 Gu
bic yards OF good earth. free from objec-
tionable matter. were dumped upon Poto-
mac Park at localities remote from the
river where deposits by dredging is most
expensive. and graded by private parties
urIder permit, free of cost to the United
States"
In a chapter on appropr:at tons. Col. Leach
estimates that 1t will require $46902U to
complete the existing project for the i'm
provement of the Potomac river at Wash
irgtou and says that $500. 900 can be profit
ably expended on that work during the
next fiscal year. In addition to the balance
available July last of SJ4 952
because OF the continual shoaling OF the
dredged channels by deposits from freshets
and the considerable expenditure required
for the maintenance OF this Improvement"
says Colonel Leach, lit has been impossible
with the small appropriations recently mada
for this work. to undertake any extensive
operations toward the completion of the
general project. Attention Is invited to the
fact that OF the 81. 534.OC which have been
appropriated for this work. 81 035. 900 were
appropriated In the first ten years, from
August. 1882. to July. 1892. and but $490-
OOo have been appropriated In the thirteen
years since the latter date.
at Is thought that the time has arrived
when. in response to the urgent popular de-
mand for better navigation facilities and
for additional park space the appropria-
lions for this work should be made on a
scale which will insure the completion of
the entire project Including the Increased
channel depth and height OF fiiD within
few years.
Freshet Deposits.
"a considerable appropriation Is now nee
essary for maintenance and for the removal
OF freshet deposits. while II Is essential for
economy that an appropriation sufficient
for the final dredging of the tidal reservoir
and for the construction Of the reservoir
Inlet gates be made at one time. as the
tidal reservoir will be inaccessible to
Fra huh nd ha