Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-26
DELAY IN DREDGING
Apprehension of Steamboatmen
Regarding Local Channel.
CAPTAIN COSBY'S REPORT
Contractors Notified That They Must
Not Interrupt Navigation.
EXTENSION OF TIME REQUIRED
Expense of Inspection and Superin-
tendence Borne by Atlantic, Gulf
and Pacific Company

Gen. Mackenzie, chief of engineers of the
army, in charge of all river and harbor
works In The United States, saw an article
in recent issue of The Evening Star to
the effect that the steamboat owners and
rivermen generally were apprehensive that
the proposed dredging operations in the
harbor of this city this summer would seri-
ously interfere with the movements of
steamboats, and other craft during the busy
excursion season. As the approved project
for the Improvement of the river was main
ly designed to facilitate navigation rather
than to interfere with it, especially during
the busiest season of the year. Gen Mac
kenzie referred the article to Capt Spencer
Cosby, the engineer officer In direct charge
of the work, with request for information
on the subject. Capt. Cosby replied to Gen
Mackenzie as follows:
"A contract for dredging in the Washing
ton channel was entered into with the At
lantic, Gulf and Pacific Company Novem-
Der 81. 1905. 1t called for work TO be com
menced within thirty days after notice Of
approval December 81 and required the
work to be completed by June 20, 1906. 1t
provided, however, that dredging might be
suspended at the option Of the contractors
during the months of December, January
written by this office to the contractors
calling their attention to these conditions.
They replied that they would arrange for
the construction of the retaining embank-
ment, but that the dredge that they were
to use was then working at Norfolk, Va,
and they expected to finish there during the
month of March. They added that while
they might be little late in starting they
did not believe that they would exceed the
contract time for completion.
They began the construction of the re-
tanning embankment on February l and
have completed it. On March "a this office
anticipated beginning work. They replied
that they expected their dredging plant to
arrive at Washington about May Is and
might require two months extension of
time for the completion of their work. On
May o this office again wrote to inquire
when this plant might be expected to ar
rive. The contractors replied that owing
to unexpected delays In their work at Nor
folk they would not be through there until
the middle of June and that they would i'm
mediately bring their plant to Washington.
inclose copy of my reply to them of May
%.
1--WE have done everything we could to
hasten this work. AS only a single dredge
is TO be used, it is hoped that it will not
interfere greatly with navigation
In his letter to the contractors OF May
IS, referred to, Capt. Cosby acknowledges
the receipt of their letter OF May IS and
says he is greatly surprised to learn that
tHey 90 not expect 10 DeSln the WOTB OF
dredging the Potomac river near Washing
ton under their contract of November "a,
1905 until after the middle of June
The time limit" says Capt. Cosby to the
contractors for completion Of work under
your contract is June 20, 1906 and it is
therefore necessary for you to obtain at
once an extension of this time. The orig
inal time limit can be waived only with the
prior sanction of the chief of engineers, and
all expenses for inspection, superintendent
and all other actual losses and damage to
the United States due to the delay will
have to be paid by you. You are, more
over, notified that the extension will be
recommended by this Office only upon the
express understanding that you will SO con-
duct your operations as not to interfere
with the navigation OF the river and the
free movement of excursion steamers. The
excursion business is very heavy during the
summer months, and il was particularly
desired by this office to finish the dredging
before the beginning of the summer sea-
son"