Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-18
WORK ON WATERWAYS
Chief of Engineers Tells of
Improvement.
SUBMITS ANNUAL REPORT
Cost of Projects Affecting Potomac
and Anacostia.
RETIREMENT OF NAVIGATION
Dredging Washington Channel to
Width of Four Hundred Feet.
Riprap Wall Built.
BETTERMENT OF NAVIGATION

An account of the progress of the pro-
jects for the Improvement of the Poto-
mac and Anacostia revers is given by Gen
Marshall. chief of engineers. in his an
nual report just submitted to the Secre-
tary Of War.
The existing project for the improve
ment Of the Potomac at Washington was
adopted August ., 1882, and has for its OBJ
ject the Improvement of the navigation of
the river by widening and deepening it's
channels. the reclamation of the flats by
depositins on them the material dredged
from the channels, the freeing of the
Washington channel of sewage and the
establishment of harbor lines.
The amount expended on the work to
June 30, 1908, was g.. $50, 1854. of which
$3.50, 500. "A has been applied to mainten-
ance since March 3. 1899.
Dredging Channel.
The expenditure resulted in the dredg-
ing of a channel 20 feet deep and 500 feet
wide through the bar above Long bridge.
in increa sing the width of the natural
channel just below Long bridge by 30 to
800 feet, and in deepening it TO 20 feet;
in dredging a channel $50 feet wide and
20 feet deep through the bar in the Vir-
einia channel near Gfesboro Point: in
dredging the Washington channel to a
width of 400 feet and depth of 20 feet;
in dredging between this navigation chan
mel and the wall of the adjacent reclaimed
area of a depth of II feet; in dredging at
the inctiOn of the Washington and Vir-
ginia channels: in dredging the tidal res
ervOir Oil acres) to a depth of about y
feet, and restoring this depth to IS per
cent of its area; in several times re-
dredging cuts 20 feet deep through bars
which had reformed by freshet action in
the Virginia and Washington channels;
in the completion of and repairs to the
reservoir outlet; in the construction of
about IL ger cent of the combined inlet
gates and bridge for the tidal reservoir;
in the construction of 1929 linear feet
of sea wall. of which 7.1O6 linear feet has
been taken down and relaid; and in the
building of 1866 linear feet of training
dixie, containing about 21,21S cubic yards
of stone.
The area of land reclaimed by these
operations is 62S acres Tor, including res
ervoir: I39 acres). which, by act of March
8, 1891. was declared to be public park
under the name of Potomac Park
The total amount of material deposited
on Potomac Park is about IA 064. 616 cubic
yards. of which 13.464.61 cubic yards
was dredged by the government in prose-
cutting the improvements. and about Co.,
600 cubic yards was placed by private
parties working under permits The en-
tire project is now about three-fourths
completed
The maximum draft that could be car
ried June 30. 1908. at mean low water
over the shoalest part of the Washington
channel was twenty-one feet: for the Vir-
ginia channel it was sixteen and a half
feet. The mean range of tide is about
three feet.
Benefits to Navigation.
Gen. Marshall says the benefits to nayi-
cation from the improvements made have
been marked. Vessels of much deeper
draft than those formerly used are now
engaged in this trade, and it is under
stood that freight rates have been ma
terially reduced
1t is estimated that it will require S544,-
go to complete the existing project. and
Gen. Marshall says that the sum of $125,-
oO can be >profitably expended on the
works during the next fiscal year. 1t is
proposed to apply the funds on hand
and the additional appropriation recon-
mended toward construction of the tidal
gates. construction Of additional sea wall,
reconstruction of about 10000 linear feet
OF damaged sea WALL dredging i'm the
Washington channel and prosecution of
the project. 1t is stated that the auui-
tional work proposed is for the purpose
of extension of benefits and for the main
tenance of the improvement in a service
able condition.
Gen. Marshall says that the Potomac
river below Washington is generally q
wide and deep body of water, having the
characteristics of :: tidal estuary rather
than of a f1uvial stream. Up to June 20
last the sum of $1S5,0OO had been expend-
ed on the Improvement of that section of
the river. AS a result of this expenditure.
channels twenty-four feet deep and at
least 200 feet wide have been dredged
through all the shoals, and l. 4S4 1862 cubic
yards of material has been eXcavated.
Work During the Year.
The work during the year consisted in
a preliminary examination and survey.
with view to obtaining "a width of
channel of 400 feet, made in compliance
with the requirements of the river and
harbor act of March =. 1907.
The maximum draft that could be car
over the shoalest part of the locality un-
der improvement was twenty-four feet.
The principal articles of commerce are
sand and gravel, coal. lumber. ice, oils
naval ordnance and supplies, cord wood
brick clay, stone, fertilizer, oysters
bricks, phosphate rock, coke. paving
blocks, railroad ties. asphalt, potash salt
and general merchandise. The receipts
and shipments during 1907 amounted to
about l, 442,NO tons, and were estimated
to be worth about $21 .O93.SOO.
AS far as known the work done has had
no material effect upon freight rates
ed for under the present project has been
completed and no further appropriation
is required therefor.