Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-27
DREDGING THE RIVER
Virginia Has Now a Depth OF
TWenty-0ne Feet.
REPORT OF MAJ. MORROW
Progress Toward Reclamation Of
Anacostia Flats.
WHARVES ONEASTERN BRANCH
Room There for the Commercial De-
veIopment Of the City-Acquisi-
ton Of Riparian Rights.

reservoir and Virginia channel was COM
pleted during the past year. The exca-
waited material from both locations was
pumped through discharge pipe upon
Potomac Park. The combined results of
the dredging done during the past two
years were that PA .62S cubic yards were
deposited on Potomac Park. that the
entire area Of the reservoir OIL acres)
was redredged to a. least depth OF eight
feet, that the entire length Of the Virginia
channel G,OOO feeD was redredged TO
least width Of 400 feet and least depth of
p feet at mean low water, that the por-
ton of Potomac Park lying westward
was raised to the required grade, and
eleven wrecks and twenty-five snags,
logs, etc, were removed from the reser
voir.
Depth Below City "a Feet.
Maj. Morrow says that 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
improvement at Washington were based
upon that depth. On June so 1908, the
least depth in the Washington channel
was twenty-one feet and in the un-
dredged portion Of the Virginia channel
was eighteen feet. The least depth OF
channel In the lower Potomac has now
Dcel increased DIV OTeQS.HS 10 twenty
four feet at low tide, which accordingly
makes that the present projected depth
for the Improvement al Washington. For
this increase the present estimates. how
ever, do not make provision. and Maj.
Morrow says no work with that depth in
view will be undertaken until il is author
lied by Congress. The desirab1lity of ex-
tending the advantages of increased depth
in the lower Potomac river at an early
date, says Maj. Morrow. so that deep
draft vessels may reach the navy yard
and wharves at Washington, is Obvious.
Work on Potomac Park.
Potomac Park. embracing 6os acres of
land and Ill acres OF inclosed water
area, Maj. Morrow says. is capable of
being transformed into one Of the finest
parks in the country. AS a result Of
dredging operations all the area of the
park lying westward of the railroad en-
bankment, including the 18th street
sewer canal and the small reservoir or
bathing pool, has been filled into the
established grade. That portion of the
park is now in process Of development
Good progress is reported in the work
of repairing the sea walls, and the old
sea wall on the Washington channel
boundary in the vicinity of the railroad
bridge has been entirely rebuilt. The re-
pairs to the sea. walls lying westward Of
the railroad embankment have been COM
pleted except to those adjacent to the
new inlet bridge.
1t is estimated that $4,000 can be
profitably expended in improving and
maintaining the Potomac river project.
It Is strongly recommended. in response
to the popular demand for better naviga-
tion facilities and for additional park
space, that the appropriations for that
WORK be made on a scale which will in
sure the completion of the entire project,
2nclIding the increased channel depth
recommended, within few years. Maj
Morrow says that an annual expenditure
tenance and for the removal, of freshet
deposits alone
Dredging the Anacostia.
In special chapter in regard TO the
improvement to the Anacostia river
Maj Morrow says that dredging opera
tons have resulted in Strengthening the
channel and providing minimum width
Of $50 feet from the mouth to the upper
limits OF the navy yard; in the excava-
ton of 1856 cubic yards of hard and
49, 10 cubic yards Of soft material. and
in the reclamation Of $50 acres of the
fiat area to height of about two feet
above mean high tide. Maj. Morrow
says that this dredging has been of great
benefit both TO the general government
and to the city of Washington The i'm
provement of the channel, he saws. has
rendered the Washington navy ward
more readily accessible to vessels of the
navy.
THE trade and commerce or Washing
ton are increasing says Mai. Morrow
while the wharf facilities along the Po-
tomac. front ire inadequate and afford
little room for expansion. The improve
ment or the Anacostfa river will give the
needed additional wharfage room and will
afford abundant anchorage facilities,
which do not now exist in this vicinity
Before the work under the existing
project can be completed it will be neces-
sary for the gorernmnt to acquire a
small parcel of land at Buzzards Point
LIST and v streets southwest. This land
lies channewards OF the right bulkhead
line and must be excavated to that line
1t is believed to be Of but small value
at the present time, and its early pur-
chase is considered advisable.
The 1nsanitary Flats.
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. While most OF the
sewage formerly flowing into the stream
has been turned by the new works OF the
city into other channels. the sludge and
other Objectionable matter which have
been accommodating In the aquatic grasses
for many years past will. however. con-
tinue. II natural processes alone are de-
pended upon, to be for some time an I'M
pleasant feature.
THE result Of this insanitary condition
is the prevalence OF malarial diseases in
the portions Of the city and District Of
Columbia which border the Anacostia
The reclamation OF the Potomac flats, al
though not as yet entirely completed.
has largely corrected the tnsanitary con-
dition along that front and gives promise
of what may be expected on the Anacos-
tia. Although merely incidental to the
work OF the channel improvements, as
affording the most convenient and eco
nomicaI means OF disposing OF the exca-
waited material, this reclamation OF the
fats of the Anacosti:t below the Navy
Yard bridge will also render available
for park OF other purposes about 400
acres of desirable land.
Many Acres Reclaimed.
About 40 acres have now been re-
claimed by depositing thereon ! sol 500
cubic yards or material that has been
dredged to date from the channel. The
shore bordering this area is owned either
by the general government uhe United