The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-02-17
THE RAPPAHANNOCK
The Work Of improvements In Sat-
isfactory Condition.
CONGRESSMAN JONES STATEMENT

The following letter will explain it.
sell. The improvement 20 the Kappa
hammock river by the United States
Government is subject Of great in
terest not only TO the citizens Of Fred
ericksburg, but to people all along the
river. IL will be seen by the statement
from Congressman Jones that a large
amount OF money has been spent with
IN recent years, Mr.. Jones having been
successful in getting substantial appro-
priauons from each Congress when
RIVER and Harbor bill was passed. and
conditions are in most satisfactory
shape.
House of Representatives, u. S.
Washington, ID. c., Feb. 18th, 1910.
A. Z. Rowe, Esq, fredericksburg, Va.
Dear Mr.. Rowe:
have your letter, asking me to give
you the present status of the work on
the Rappahannock River undertaken
by the United States Government.
i can only give you this information
as of June 30, 1909, the end of the last
fiscal year. Up to that date the total
amount expended by the government
IN the improvement of the Rappahan-
mock River, including the amounts ap-
Piled TO maintenance of channels, was
Sao4, loo. q. The revised project under
which the Rappahannock River is being
improved contemplated giving a ruling
depth OF at least II feet at mean low
water throughout the river, and at the
end of the last fiscal year it was re-
ported to be about 90 per cent com
pleted. There was expended during
the last lscal year for works of inn
provement and maintenance, sos, O20. 81,
which left an unexpended balance as of
July /, 1903, in the hands of the en-
gineers, of S77, lS2. 70; but at that date
there were uncompleted contracts
covering $5S, 403. 81 of that amount. II
was estimated at that time that in ad-
dltion to the amount covered by uncom-
pleted contracts 81, 1872 81 would be re-
CURED TO complete the existing project.
From this you will see that a suffi-
Gent amount of money has already been
appropriated to give the Rappahannock
river, between Fredericksburg and Port
Royal, channel 100 feet wide and IL
feet deep.
OF course, appropriations will have
70 be made from time TO time to main
tam this depth, and the chief of engi-
neers says IN his report that $50. 900 can
be proftably expended for maintenance
and Improvement in the fiscal year end
ing June 30. 1911. Just how much of
TINS so. 900 will be appropriated at this
session of Congress / cannot say. but |
nope TO secure one-half of the amount
IL Is understood that it will be the
pohcy Of Congress hereafter to apron
rate annually for the Improvement and
maintenance Of the rivers and harbors
Oh the country, instead of once in every
TWO years, as has been the practice
heretofore IL is. therefore. believed
that there will be another River and
harbor bill at the next session of this
Congress, when, in all probability. there
VIII be a further appropriation for
maintenance work on the Rappahannock
river
from what | have written, you will
understand that nothing more is recon-
mended by the chief of engineers 10 he
expended in the Improvement of the
navigation of the Rappahannock. ex-
cept IN the way of maintaining the
depth already secured. II the time
snail ever come when it may seem de-
slraole TO increase the depth of the
channel beyond u feet, il will be neces-
sary TO ask Congress 10 authorize a
survey of the river to be made, with a
view to securing the depth desired as
well as an estimate OF the cost thereof.
Until that time shall come, il il ever
does, we can only ask Congress TO give
US such amounts as the chief of engi-
neers may recommend as necessary to
maintain the depth which has now been
secured, or which will be secured. when
work covered by the existing contracts
has been completed. | am not inform
ed as TO whether there are any uncom-
pleted contracts at this time. You
doubtless know about this; but if not.
l can easily secure that information
for you.
Very truly yours,
wv Lana