Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-24
FOR DEEPER SHIP CHANNEL
Land Will Be Reclaimed for Addition
al Forks.
BETTER HEALTH IS ASSURED
There is Still Over 100000 to Be
Expended Even as the Project
is Outlined.


day received the annual report of Capt
Spencer Cosby. the engineer officer in
charge OF the Improvement of the Potomac
river and It's tributaries. Regarding the
Improvement of the Potomac at Washing
ton. the report says:
because OF the continual shoaling of the
dredged channels by deposits from, fresh
cts and the considerable expenditure re-
qulred for the maintenance of this improve
ment, 1t has been impossible. with the small
appropriation recently made for this work.
to undertake any extensive operations
toward the completion of the general prof.
ect Attention is invited to the fact that
OF the s.. 534. 900 which has been appropri-
ated for this work S2o35.000 was appro-
prated In the first ten years from August
1882, to July. 1892, and but $499,0OO has
been appropriated in the fourteen years
since the latter date.
1T Is thought that the time has arrived
when, In response to the urgent popular
demand for better navigation facilities and
Tor additional park space the approprfa-
tons for this work should be made on a
scale which will insure the completion of
the entire project Including the increased
channel depth and heighth of llD within a
rev years. A considerable appropriation
is now necessary for maintenance and for
the removal of freshet deposits, while Il is
cSStutlal IOT economy Indt 9nDrODrla-
tlon sufficient for the final dredging of the
tidal reservoir and for the construction of
the reservoir inlet gates he made at ona
time, as the tidal reservoir will be mac
cessible TO a dredge after the gates are
built, and the construction of the gates
VIII prevent the present rtpid shoaling in
the reservoir.
Channel Improvement
The project for the Improvement of the
channels at Washington does not specify the
protected depth in feet. but provides that
the channels shall be of sufficient depth
to accommodate the deepest draft vessels
that can be brought up to them At the
time OF the adoption of the project the rul-
Ing depth in the Potomac river below
washington was twenty feet, and all esti-
mates for the improvements 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 improve
ment at Washington For this increase the
present estimates. however do not make pro-
vision and no work with that depth In view
VIII be undertaken until 1t is authorized by
Congress The desrablity of extending the
advantages of increased depth in the lower
Potomac river at an early date so that
deep draft vessels may reach the navy yard
and wharves at Washington. liz obvious and
need not be dwelt upon here. Incidental to
the deposit of the additional material thus
eNcavated from the channel there would re-
suit the great advantage Of raising the sur
race Of Potomac Park above all possibility
or injury by the highest known freshets.
The benefits to navigation from the i'm
proyements made have been marked Yes
sells Of much deeper draft than those for
merry used are now engaged in this trade
and IL Is understood that freight rates have
been materially reduced. 1t is proposed
10 apply the available balance to redredging
the Washington channel and to apply the
additional appropriation recommended to
dredging In tia channels and tidal reservoir,
TO the construction of the inlet gates, to
the repair of the seawall and to the mainte-
nance of the outlet gates
Future Projects.
Capt. Cosby states that the amount ex-
pended for the maintenance of the improve
ment during the past year was ss,943, and
that the amount covered by uncompleted
contracts July l last was $4Ol5O He esti-
mates that It will require sos. 6s7 to COM
plete the existing project, and says that
100000 can be properly expended on the
project during the coming fiscal year
special chapter of the report is devoted
10 the project for the Improvement of the
Anacostia river. The present project for
that stream was adopted June 10. 1902. and
provides for the Improvement of the por-
ton OF the river below the Navy Yard
bridge by dredging the channel twenty feet
deep for width of 100 feet, depositing the
dredged material on the adjacent fats and
surrounding the reclaimed area by an
earthen embankment protected by a ma
sonry sea wall. all at an estimated cost of
A,2ls.52o. The amount expended on this
project to June 30 last was sf5l aga none
of which was applied to maintenance AS
result OF that expenditure a channel
twenty feet deep and at least 800 feet wide
has been secured from the mouth of the
AnacoStia river to the center of the navy
yard, and about no Of aatu Hay
Deem hIed by the deposit of excavated ma
terial. The entire work Is now about one
eighth completed.
VIII Benefit Washington.
Is anticipated" says Capt Cosby
that this Improvement will be of great
benefit to the general government and to
the city OF Washington. At the Washing
ton navy yard there has been established
one OF the finest gunshops In the world.
and large sums have been expended in en-
larging and Increasing the facilities OF the
establishment The Improvement of the
channel will render that navy yard accesst-
BILE TO a large number of vessels of the
navy. The trade and commerce of Wash
iugton are Increasing, while the wharf
facilities along the Potomac front are in
adequate for the present traffic and afford
no room for expansion. The improvement
OF the Anacostia will give the needed add
tiOnal wharfage facilities and viii afford
now exist in this vicinity.
The greater part OF the area of the Ana
costa river now consists OF wide and extern
sve fats. which in summer and fail are
covered with a dense growth OF eel grass
and wild rice. The large volume of sewage
flowing into this stream is carried over the
flats and widely disseminated at high tide.
and the tide falls much OF II remains
lodged In the aquatic grasses. where IL fer
ments In the intense heat OF the summer
and autumn. The result OF this insanitary
condition Is the prevalence of malarial dis
eases III the portion OF the city and District
of Columbia which border the river.
The reclama ton OF Potomac fats. al
though not as yet entirely completed has
very largely corrected the insanitary con-
dition along that front. and gives promise
OF similar results on the Anacostia.
Needs Over 81 1000, 900.
Although merely Incidental to the work
OF channel improvements. as afrording the
most convenient and economical means of
disposing OF the excavated material. this
reclamation OF the fats OF the Anaeostia
below the Navy Yard bridge viii also rem
der available for park or other purposes
about 4e0 acres OF desirable land small
amount OF land. which Is located channel
ward from the established harbor lines is
required for the improvement. and should
be acquired at an early day. This land IL