Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-25
SUGGESTS GREATER DEPTH
Mentions Amount Needed to Com.
plete Existing Project.
NEED FOR BETTER FAC1L1T1E.
Dredging in Eastern Branch-Refer.
ence to Government Bridges.
Repairing Timber Tenders.


tanned in the annual report of Maj Spen-
Ger Cosby. the engineer officer in charge,
submitted today to the chief of engineers.
The adopted project for dredging in the
Virginia channel does not specify the
depth to be obtained. Maj Cosby says,
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 ruling depth in the
Potomac below Washington was twenty
feet. and all estimates for the improve.
ment at Washington were based on that
depth. On June 60 1908. the least depth
in the Washington channel was twenty
one feet and in the undredged portion of
the Virginia channel was 1875 feet.
The least depth of channel in the
lower Potomac has now been in
creased by dredging to twenty four
that the present projected depth for the
improvement. at Washington. Mai. Cosby
says that the present estimates do not
make provision for this increase. and
that no work with that depth In view
will be undertaken until it is authorized
by Congress.
The desirability of extending the ad-
vantages of increased depth. in the lower
Potomac river at an early date" Mai.
Cosby remarks, so that deep-draft YES
sells may. reach the navy yard and
estimated additional cost of this i'm
portant modification of the project.
which, 1t is hoped, will soon be au-
thorized by Congress. was stated in the
annual report of the chief of engineers
for 1905
Completion Of Dredging.
Reference is made in the report to
the plans for building the combined gates
and bridge at the river inlet to the
tidal reservoir. to the removal Of the old
Long bridge. and to the operations on
Potomac Park. Maj. Cosby says that on
the completion Of the dredging under
existing contract all the area of Potomac
Park above the railroad bridge will
have been filled in to the projected eleva-
ton OF hfteen feet above mean low
water. and will be available for park
development
The amount estimated as requiret. to
complete the existing project is $54452O.
The amount that can be profitably ex-,
pended in the fiscal year ending June 80.
1910. In addition to the balance on i1ard,
Is stated at $125.OOO. Of which $4,000 Is
for works of Improvement and $5O,OUO
for maintenance.
1T is strongly recommended" Mai
Cosby says. ''in response to the popular
demand for better navigation facilities
and for additional park space. that the
appropriations for that work be made on
scale which will insure the completion
Of the entiee project dncluding the liz
creased channel depth recommended)
Maj. Cosby says 1t is estimated that it
will take $94OO62 to complete the projec.
for the improvement of the Anacostia
river at Washington. and that the sum
Af l.
the work during the next fiscal year, in
addition to the unexpended balance of
$97 .959 1t is anticipated that the dredg-
ing operations In the Anacostia river, UNI
der the existing contract. will be COM
pleted during the fiscal year 1909. ard
the general government and the city IF
Washington
Navy Yard Accessible.
''At the ashinston navy yard" Major
Cosby explains. there has been estab-
Hshed one of the finest gun-shops in the
world. and large sums have been expend-
ed in charging and increasing the facil-
tiles of the establishment. The improve
ment of the channel has rendered this
yard more readily accessible to a num-
Der of vessels of the navy. The trade
and commerce of Washington are increas-
ing. while the wharf facilities along the
Potomac front are inadequate for the
present traffic and afford little room for
costa flats will give the needed addition
al wharfage room. and will afford abun-
dant anchorage facilities. which do not
now exist in this vicinity. The least
depth in the channel on June 30 last
was 1875 feet at mean low water Be-
fore the work under the existing project
can be completed 1t will be necessary
for the government to acquire a small
parcel of land at Buzzard's Point Qst
and v streets southwest. This land lies,
channelwards of the right bulkhead line,
and must be excavated to that line. It
is believed to be of but small value at
the present time. and its early purchase
is considered advisable.
1.-The greater part of the area of the
Anacostia river now consists of wide
and extensive flats, which in summer and
fall are covered with a dense growth of
eel-grass and wild rice. The sewage
flowing into this stream is covered over
the flats and widely disseminated at high
remains lodged In the aquatic grasses.
where it ferments in the intense heat of
the summer and autumn.
Reducing Amount Of Sewage.
The projected works Of the city, which
will turn into other channels most of the
sewage now flowing into the Anacostia
river, arc HSdIiu6 SOAupictioH, anu TIC
quantity Of sewage discharge into the
Anacostia will in the near future be ma
terially reduced. The sludge and other
Objectionable matter which has been ac-
cumulating on the fats for many years
past will. however, continue. If natural
processes alone are depended upon. to be
for several years an unpleasant feature.
The result Of this insanitary condition is
the prevalence of malarial diseases in the
portions of the city and District of Co
lumbia which border the Anacostia. The
reclamation of the Potomac flats, al
though as yet not entirely completed, has
largely corrected the insanitary conditions
along that front and gives promise of
Although merely incidental to the work
of channel improvement. as affording the
most convenient and economical means OF
disposfng of the excavated material this
reclamation Of the fats Of the Anacostia
below the Navy Yard bridge Will also
render available for park or other pur-
poses about 400 acres of desirable land
Preparations for retaining that area
by depositing thereon materials to be
dredged from the channel, under existing
and prospective contracts, were continued
in the Anacostia river will be delayed
until large amount of dredging in the
tidal basin and in the Virginia channel of
the Potomac has been completed For the
successful and economical prosecution
of the improvement Of the Anacostia river
large and continuous appropriations
should be made. as was stated in present
ing the original estimates for the work.
Upon that assumption was based the es-
timated unit price for dredging, which Is
considerably lower, than the prices which
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