Evening star., 1913-12-08
Work on the Anacostia.

Work on the Anacostia.
Exclusive of an available balance, s15,
600 can be proftably expended next year.
says Gen. Bixby. in continuing the work
OF improving the Anacostia river from
its mouth to the Anacostia bridge. The
project fer that Improvement was adopt
ed in June. 1892, and an estimate made
OF S1,21S,I2, for its completion. Already
about StiSu9t4 has been expended on the
work and the project is now about 90 per
cent completed.
Gen. Bixby, has been Of great benefit to
navigation. and has resulted in the di-
version of considerable traffic from the
Washington channel, where conditions
Were rapidly becoming congeSted. Health
conditions in the portion of the city bor
dering on the Anacostia river are greatly
Improved The maximum draft that could
be carried June 30. 1913 over the shoal
est part Of the locality under improve
ment was twenty-one feet. Anacostia
river is navigab = for large vessels to the
Navy Yard bridge. for tugs and small
vessels 10 PENNSYLVANIA Avenue bridge,
and for small scows and lighters u Bla-
GensourS. Nd, respectively, two. two and
fhree-qUarters and eight and three-quar-
ters miles above it's mouth.
Progress on the reclamation and de-
velopment OF the Anacostia river from
Anacostia bridge to the District line, Gen.
Bixby says, has been delayed by the diff
Guilty of acquiring title to necessary lands
on both sides of the river The approved
project, estimated to cost $2,o46. 100 in
wolves building an earthen dam across
the river on the line of Massachusetts
avenue and building sea walls along both
shores The work of the past year con-
sisted in placing sea-wall foundations and
negotiations far requirement of necessary
lands for highway and park purposes.
The expenditure for the fiscal year was
si.ai2 and the total expenditure to june
~. 1918. was ;. ;,t....>. The project is now
about cnc-half per cent completed
Estimate for Water Supply.
Estimates N the usual amounts are
submitted for the operation. repair and
maintenance Of the District water supply
system, including the liberation plants.
These estimates include $4,000 for re-
pairs 10 the Conduit road. s., 900 for
emergencies. $500 for improvements at
Mcmillan Park, $1,000 for lining sections
OF the Washington aqueduct, SIS, ,4Jo for
water meters and $1,000 for a dwelling
for the assistant overseer at Great Falls.
Cen Bixby says he believes that the
installation of meters will assist in the
prevention OF leakage and In a material
dininuton OF waste. The filtration pant
has ben III continuous operation
throughout the year and the entire water
supply c5 tie city has been filtered. Gen.
II xby says that the bacteria have been
reduced from al average OF ij6 per cubic
centineter il the Mcmillan Park res
crvcir 10 az average OF SLY in the Ill
tered water reservoir. The average tur-
bidity has been similarly reduced from
j. 10 % parts per million. The actual
number of bacteria in the city water va
ried from 81 to l per cubic centimeter
while the number in the river water ran
from - 600 to -. The actual average
reduction by months varied between 99.S
and 95.S per cent The water furnished
the city, Gen. BIXby says, may be con
sidered TO nave been most excellent
throughout the year, since the average
bacterial content was only 6 per cubie
ceuttmeteT-
Maintenance of PuoIic Buildings.
Estimates aSgregatinS SJ13, iip are sub
ritted for the maintenance and improve
ment Of pub.ic buildings and grounds
These include appropriations for the de
velopment Of Potomac Park. especial,
the newly opened eastern section: ais,
$4,000 for new roadways TO the Highwa,
bridge and $4,000 for beginning the i'm
provement Of Meridian Hill Park
zen. Blxpy saws II IS apparent that th
Aqueduct bridge over the Potomac a
Georgetown is wholly inadequate TO tn
present and prospective traffic and tha
the time has arrived when 4 new an,
substantial bridge should be constructe g,
which Will provide for this traffic an,
ans future increase.
lie recommends that an appronriatiol
of $4,000 be made. with view To inyes
tigation and presentation OF plans and es
Inmates for q bridge which viii f,r ado
auate to the demands which may b
brought upon il. This appropriation i
considered urgent. IN view of the con
tinual deterioration OF the old piers. Gen
Btxby says that the balance at presen
available Should not he enCrOached unar