Evening star., 1905-11-06
POTOMAC RIVER WORK
Estimates of General Mac
kenzie for Improvements.
REPORT SUBMITTED
WHAT IS NEEDED AROUND WASH
INGTON.
Reclamation Of Land at Result of
Operations-Navigat Up to
Little Falls.

In his annual report, just submitted, IeH
Mackenzie. chief of engineers. describes In
detail the operations on various river and
harbor works In this vicinity during the
past year. The estimate for the improve
ment of the Potomac River at Washington
as revised In 1897 was $2,953, ,02o. The
amount expended on the work of the ex-
listing project to June 80. 1905. was 81, 49,
500. 40. of which about $693.5O was applied
to maintenance
The expenditure resulted in the dredging
of a channel twenty feet deep and 800 feet
wide through the bar above Long bridge and
in restoring the standard twenty-foot navi-
cation by redredging shoals due to freshets;
in increasing the width of the natural chan
mel just below Long bridge by so to 500 feet
and in deepening it to 20 feet; in dredging
a channel $50 feet wide and 20 feet deep
through the bar in the Virginia channel
near Gesboro Point; in dredging the Wash
ington channel to a width of 400 feet and
depth of 20 feet for navigation channel,
and in dredging between this navigation
channel and the wall of the adjacent re-
claimed area to a depth of II feet; in dredg-
ing at the junction of the Washington and
Virginia channels; in dredging the tidal
reservoir Oil acres) to a depth of about
feet; in the construction of the reservoir
outlet, and in the construction of 0,2S9 lin
ear feet of sea wall, of which $3.50 linear
feet has been taken down and relaid. and
5.9Go linear feet Of training dixie.
Reclamation of Land.
The area of land reclaimed by these
operations is 62112 acres Cor, including
reservoir, 739.42 acres), which. by act of
March 8, 1897, was declared to be a public
park under the name of Potomac Park.
The maximum draft that could be carried
June 80, 1905, at mean low water over the
shoalest part of the Washington channel
was 10 feet; for the Virginia channel 1t
was is feet. The mean range of tide is
about 3 feet.
OF Little Falls, three and one-haf miles
above Georgetown. but the Aqueduct
bridge, which crosses the river at George
town, 113 miles above the mouth of the
river, has no draw and limits the navigation
of large steamers and masted vessels.
The benefits to navigation from the i'm
provements made says Gen Mackenzie,
have been marked. Vessels of much
are now engaged in this trade and 1t is
understood that freight rates have been
materially reduced. The additional work
proposed is for the purpose of extension
of benefits and for the maintenance of the
Improvement in a serviceable condition 1t
Is proposed to apply the available funds
toward dredging in the Virginia channel,
the Washington channel and the tidal res
ervoir; to the construction of the inlet
gates, which, If constructed Immediately
after the dredging OF the tidal reservoir,
VIII prevent subsequent shoaling both in
this reservoir and in the Washington cham
mel; to the repair of the sea wall the extern
sion of the training dixie and the MAIN
tenance OF the outlet gates. The amount
required for completion of the existing prof.
ect is estimated at $3.50. .020'
Regarding the improvement of the Po-
tomac river below Washington Gen. Mac
kenzie says that as result of the expendl.
ture of SILL up to June 30 last chan
nels twenty-four feet deep and at least 200
feet wide have been dredged through six
of the shoals. while the dredging of the
seventh is in progress and is nearly COM
pleted.
LAS far as Is known" saws Cen Mao
kenzie, "the work done has had no material
effect upon freight rates. The work provided
for under the present project has been prac-
ticaiy completed and no further appropria-
ton Is required therefor A channel only
20O feet wide Is, however regarded as too
contracted for a river of the width and
Importance of the Potomac. especially in
view OF the location of the Washington
navy yard upon its shores"
The Anacostia River.
Referring to the Anacostia river improve
ment, General Mackenzie says:
The amount expended on the existing
project to June So 1905. was s149,e5o.36
none of which was applied to maintenance.
AS result of this expenditure a channel
twenty feet deep at mean low tide and at
least 800 feet wide Except at Buzzard
FONT. where the width is about 24O feet
has been secured for distance of $3.50
feet upstream from the mouth of the Ana
costa Cor up to the lower limits of the
navy Yard.
incidental to the Improvement of the
channel about 110 acres of flats have been
filled by the deposit of excavated material
TO an average height of four feet above low |
tide. Harbor lines have been established
up to Pennsylvania avenue bridge.
ihe maximum draft that could be car
ried on June 80 1905. over the shoalest |
part OF the locality under Improvement was
nineteen feet The mean range OF tides is
about three feet.
"Anacostia river Is navigable for large
vessels to the navy yard bridge, for tugs
and small vessels to Pennsylvania avenue |
bridge, and for small scows and lighters to
and three-quarters and eight and three |
quarters miles above its mouth.
The Improvement already made has been |
of benefit to navigation and has resulted
IN the diversion of considerable traffic from
the Washington channel, where conditions |
were rapidly becoming congested. 1t is
not known that any reduction in freight
rates has resulted from the work done.
The additional work proposed Is for the ex-
tension Of benefits. The estimated amount
required for completion of the existing
project is 81 OCT O62''
Gen Mackenzie says the Highway bridge |
across the Potomac will probably be open
for travel in short time He submits an
estimate of $11,G 600 for the payment OF ex-
penses incident to the operation Of the
bridge for the next fiscal year.
Estimates aggregating s375,575 are sub
mtted for the Improvement and care of
public buildings and grounds in the Dis
trict of Columbia, including S26l,I7 for
special improvements; sS4, ,7SO for compen-
saton of employees; s11 $50 for care and
maintenance of Washington Monument
81 800 for monument and wharf at Wake
field, Va. and $500 for rebuilding sea
wall on Potomac river front between ar
senal wall and n street south