Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-21
OPPOSES CHANNEL WORK
AT COLONIAL BEACH, VA.
Col. Langfitt in Report Says
Benefits Would Not justify
Expense.

NO IuOHcy Will Uc spent ny the gov
eminent on improving the Potomac's
channel at Colonial Beach and in pro-
viding a more convenient boat landing
there If Congress follows the report
of Lieut.. Col. w. c. Langfitt, Corps of
Engineers. U. S. A, which has been
turned over to the House committee on
rivers and harbors. Col. Langfitt sums
up his adverse report by saying that
the cost Of the work is too great for
the benefits that might be received
Steamboat men and others had been
DESTROYS Of having a new channel
dredged twenty feet deep by zoo feet
wide leaving the main channel at some
distance above the wharves. and enter
lance below the wharves. A turning
basin in front Of the wharves also is
one of the desirable changes, in the
opinion Of the interested business men
and ship owners. The purpose of the
steamers plying from Washington to
Norfolk and Baltimore to land at
Colonial Beach, and to afford an as
sembling point for local freights.
Conditions Are Reviewed.
The report Of the engineer pays con-
siderable attention to the present condi
ton of the channel and river at Colonial
Beach That the situation presents the
most serious problem along the Potomac
river is conceded
The river bed is studded with oyster
rock mounds of conical shape, rising to
heights of from five to twelve feet above
the natural river bottom. Ships have
grounded on these rocks or Jumps, and
in some cases have received serious in
juries,'' says the report. In view of these
rocks the ships and steamers steer clear
of Colonial Beach by about two miles.
and landing at Colonial Beach is a sort
Of privilege accorded only to specially
built boats with comparatively light
draft.
Colonial Beach has an annual commerce
amounting to $4O4,O7O on the average.
says the report. with a tonnage Of 1,546
every year A big increase in freight
and other business at the Beach is ex-
pected II the proposed new channel Is
ever dredged. The only cost figures men,
Ger is $2O.SOO, which, however, is for an
other kind of channel. Col. Langfitt
states that the desires Of Colonial Beach
would cost great deal more than that
sum.
The report further says:
mo cooperation, either from the
town authorities or the local steamboat
lines, is offered, notwithstanding the fact
that the Colonial Beach Company last
summer proposed to do the necessary
trance to their wharf A permit for the
said dredging was granted by the de-
partment June -, 1910, and expired six
months later by limitation, without any
work having been done.
Terminal Facilities Cited.
"The terminal facilities at present
available consist of one wharf under
municipal control. the wharfage
revenue therefrom going to the town
Of Colonial Beach. and another wharf,
about six or seven hundred yards above
the municipal wharf, owned and con-
trolled by the Colonial Beach Company.
used exclusively for the landing Of pas
sengers and for excursion purposes.
small coal wharf also exists in front of
the electric power plant, and about one
mile above the excursion pier there is
a short wharf belonging to the Classic
Shore addition to Colonial Beach. The
present depths at the municipal wharf
are about nine feet, and at the Colonial
Beach Companys wharf about eleven
feet. The range Of tide is about IT
feet.
There are no mechanical facilities for
handling freight. In regard to the future
betterment of the present terminal facil-
tiles. assurance is given that proper
wharves warehouse and other facilities
will be provided if the channel is dug to
accommodate the through steamers. Any
WOIh uUlc ny Lie general SOteIUIl6Hl
should be conditional on extension of
wharf facilities to all on equal terms. and
that the municipal wharf shall be main
tained in good repair and of sufficient
size to accommodate all business offered.
THE ACCESSIBILITY of locating the assem-
bling point at Colonial Beach, adjacent
to a reach of river filled with dangerous
distractions, may be doubted. Some other
landing above or below Kettle Bottom
shoals. easier Of access. can no doubt be
found. and will be the most logical assem-
bling point. The only disadvantage that
can be seen in placing an assembling
point away from Colonial Beach is that
the inhabitants thereof would not reap
the benefits directly of the through boats
landing at their door. Passenger traffic to
and from Colonial Beach by the through
boats would not be so conveniently ac-
cOmmodated,. and possibly the develop
ment OF the resort somewhat retarded.
This objection, in a measure, could be
overcome by using an inexpensive ferry
service to the assembling point selected