Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-01
ALONG THE
RIVER FRONT

During the year Just closed the channels
OF the Potomac river in the vicinity Of
this city were dredged to depth Of TWEEN
ty-two feet. The material taken from
the river bottom was used in raising the
grade OF Potomac Park and in reclaim
ing a new area of the Eastern branch
fats. 1t is now possible for vessels
drawing twenty-five feet of water to
reach the piers at Georgetown on almost
any tide, and deep water is also in the
Eastern branch to the navy yard. The
dredging work was started in the early
spring and completed in about four
months. The tidal basin was also deep
ened to a depth of seven feet over the
greater part of its area.
Two accidents, involving loss of life,
occurred on the Potomac In 1903. May 4
while the steamer Trenton was lying at
Alexandria loading freight for a trip down
the river she suddenly filled and sank
alongside the wharf in eighteen feet of
water. All the passengers were rescued
except the infant child of Maury Posey
Of Brooklyn, \. Y. The Trenton was
raised, repaired and restored to service.
Her officers were acquitted of RESPONSE
bflity by the corOners jury and the steam
boat inspectors.
November the steamer Washington on
the way TO this city from Norfolk and
the ferry steamer LackaWanna were In
collision between this city and AIexan-
dria. The ferryboat was badly wrecked,
the greater portion of one side being
cut off by the bow OF the Washington.
Samuel BiIenken. clothing salesman OF
this city, was caught In the wreckage.
crushed and killed, and two women and
a child were injured. The accident DC
CURED In a thick fog and the coroner S
jury held no one responsible. They were
the first lives of passengers lost in ac-
cidents TO steamboats, on the Potomac
in many years.
The recommendation to Congress by
the Commissioners for modern system
of docks is the first step in a plan for
the moderniZing of the river front The
plan generally has the approval of the
wharf lessees
The ruling of the Court of Appeals that
the Potomac river to the iow-water mark
on the Virginia side of the river is the
property of the District of Columbia was
the important legal decision of the year.
1t Is held that citizen of Virginia, stand
ing on the Virginia shore and fishing with
a net in the waters of the Potomac is
violating the District law and is liable to
arrest and punishment. The Virginia fish
erman will carry the case to the Supreme
Court.
While there was no building of conse-
- nee along the river front during the
year the old diia pidated icehouses that
stood OF the 9th street and the 18th street
wharVes were torn down and removed.
On the site Of the 9th street icehouse a
one-Story frame storage building and WOf
shop for the American Ice company was
erected.
The opening OF the new bridge across
the Anacostia river an event of the
closing month of the year.
The Norfolk and Washington Steamboat
Company placed contract with the New
port News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock
Company for the construction of a modern
propeller steamer for service on the route
between this city, Old Point and Norfolk
An Improvement to the river front begun
last year is the building of a new wharf at
the foot of 9th street southwest for the
United States lighthouse service.
During the year 1905 the improvement
and beautifying of Potomac Park west
of the Railroad and Highway bridges and
about the tidal basin were continued y
number Of new drives were added and
work is now IN progress OH a bridge
across the inlet from the river to the
tidal basin that will connect the two por-
tons of the park now separated by the
water.
Increasing interest has been shown in
matters aquatic and the local boat and
yacht clubs have had prosperous year.
Many new power launches and pleasure
craft of various kind were added to the
local fleets.