Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-12

In the Washington city reservoir to In
the hltered-water reservoir: and the aver.
age number of bacteria per cubic Gentle
meter from $40 to 80.
Daily determinations for alkalinity and
hardness were made which showed con-
clusively that the quality Of the water In
these respects had not been changed by tho
process OF filtration.
During the summer months, when warm
weather prevailed. the lengths of runs or
periods OF operation between cleaning OF
the filter beds were between thirty nine and
nfty-eight days. while In the winter ana
spring months the runs varied between 100
and 1876 days.
As a consequence OF these long runs and
the efhcfent sand-handlinG apparatus, tho
cost OF operation was remarkably low. be.
ing s214 per 100000 gallons Of water fl
While the main pumps have been in
operation since August, they have not yet
been accepted by the United States, be-
anteed by the contractor in the official duty
trials. Changes are now being made by
the contractor which. II is hoped. will bring
the pumps up to the required efficiency.
experience has shown the necessity,
which has moreover. been recognized from
the beginning. OF applying some form OF
preliminary treatment to the Potomac wa
ter before 1t reaches the filters. II Is ex-
pected to conduct a series OF experiments
curing the coming year to determine the
most efficient and practical system of such
treatment"
Potomac River improvements.
Gen. Mackenzie gives an account OF the
work accomplished on the projects for the
Improvement Of the Potomac river at and
below Washington. He shows that since
March. 1889, the sum OF 81. 4s6, 447 has been
expended on the river at Washington. and
estimates that 1t will require sos. 500 to
complete the existing project. OF which
he
1908 20" ''s 'ONe '''
The benefits to navigation" says Gen.
Mackenzie, from the improvements made
have been marked Vessels of much deeper
dralt than those formerly used are now
engaged In this trade. and II is understood
that freight rates have been materially re-
duced 1t Is proposed to apply the avail
able balance to redredging the Washington
channel, and to apply the additional appro-
priatlon recommended to dredging in the
struction of the inlet gates to the repair OF
the sea wall and to the maintenance Of the
outlet gates. The additional work pro-
posed is Tor the purpose of extension OF
benefits and for the maintenance of the inn
provement In serviceable condition"
Expended on Projects.
The report shows that the sum of s1s4..
I19 has been expended on the project for
improving the Potomac river below
Washington and securing a free water.
way "a feet deep and 200 feet wide to
deep water. Gen. Mackenzie saws that
the work provided for under the present
project has been completed. and no fur
channel only 200 feet wide is. however.
regarded as too contracted for a river
OF the width and importance Of the Poe
tomac. especially in view of the location
Of the Washington navy yard upon its
shores. He says the channel width should
: be not less than 400 feet.
Gen. Mackenzie estimates that Ii will
take $1.067.062 to complete the present
project for the Improvement of the Ana
costa river. and says that 100000 can
ing the next fiscal year. He says that the
present project for this stream was adopt
ed June -, 1902; and provides for the
river below the Navy Yard bridge by
dredging channel twenty feet deep for a
width OF 400 feet. gradually decreasing
the depth Of six feet at the bulkhead lines,
and by depositing the dredged material
on the adjacent flats to an average eleya.
cai OF seven feet al above low tide the re-
earthen embankmnt to height of four
teen feet above low tide. protected by a
able drainage through the embankment, all
at an estimated cost of $1,218,525.
Total Of Expenditures.
The amount expended on the existing
project to June 80. 1905. was $751; ,463O6,
none of which was applied to maintenance.
AS a result of this expenditure. channel
% feet deep at mean low tide and at least
900 feet wide Except at Buzzard Point,
where the width is about 24O feeD has been
secured for distance OF 9130 feet up
stream from the mouth of the Anacostia,
l. e., up to the center of the navy yard.
Incidental to the Improvement of the cham
mel about no acres of flats have been filed
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.
The maximum draft that could be carried
on June 80 1906, over the shoalest part OF
the locality under Improvement was 10 feet.
The mean range of tides is about feet.
Anacostia river is navigable for large ves-
sells to the Navy Yard bridge, for tugs and
small vessels to Pennsylvania Avenue
bridge, and for small scows and lighters to
Bladensburg. Md. respectively, 2, ~ and
81 miles above it's mouth.
1.-The improvement already made" says
Gen. Mackenzie, has been of benefit to
navigation and has resulted in the diversion
OF considerable traffic from the Washing
ton channel, where conditions were rapidly
becoming congested 1t Is not known that
any reduction in freight rates has resulted
from the work done. 1t Is proposed to ap-
ply the additional appropriation recon-
mended to dredging in the channel and to
the protection of the deposited material.
The widening and rectification of the cham
mel at BuzZard Point. involving the removal
of hard gravel bar projecting into the
channel and the excavation of the channel
to it's full width opposite the navy yard, SO
as to render 1t available as turning basin.
are especially desirable at present. The
additional work proposed Is for the exten-
sion Of benefits"
Coast Survey Service Steamers.