Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-05
IMPROVEMENT
! AT CAPITAL COMPLETE
Work on the Project Began in
1882 and Has Cost Total
of $3,418,500.

The project for the improvement of the
Potomac river at Washington is COM
pleted. and the project for the improve
ment Of the Anacostia river from its
mouth to the Anacostia bridge is i'm Il
fair state of progress, according to the
annual report of operations just sub
mitted to Gen. Bixby, chief of engineers,
by Col. Langfitt. the engineer officer in
charge Of the works.
Most of the operations in the Potomac
river at Washington during the past
year were directed to the completion
of the training dixie extending from the
east end of Analostan Island TO the
Highway bridge. The purpose of that
dixie is to divert the flow of the current
of the river so as to minimize the shoal-
ing of the Virginia channel to George
town. The dixie is of rip ap construc-
ton and has a length of 7.2O7 feet. The
accretions just below Analostan Island
were fenced in to establish the claim of
the government to the property.
Shoaled by Each Freshet.
Col. Langfitt says that the Virginia
channel is shoaled by each freshet. The
only estimate submitted i'm connection
with the Potomac river improvement.
about $4,000. is for use in maintaining
the channels, seawalls. inlet and outlet
gates of the tidal reservoir and other
work incidental to the maintenance of The
Improvement. The total app. opria tiOns
for the project since its Inauguration in
1882 We're $341S,5OO
Statistics of commerce OF Washington
given in the report show I1,565 vessels
OF all classes. having a totai net register
ed tonnage of 2,42S, ABB and carrying 774.-
$50 passengers. The freight traffic for
the year 1912 amounted to 619,946 short
tons of a valuation of $13, 14S 636 The
merchandise was principally coal. fish,
gasoline. lumber. oil, oysters and clans.
farm produce. sand and gravel and gen.
eral merchandise.
The total amount appropriated to date
for the improvement of the lower Ana
costa river is $S42, 500, and the estima te
for next year is about $4,000. intended
provements now under way. Col. Lang
Att says tnat the required dredging has
been completed from Giesboro point to
Poplar point, distance of S,1OO feet.
and from Poplar poinl a distance Of l, 400
feet in the direction of the outfall sewer.
Progress on Sea Wall.
wall between the outfall sewer and the
Anacostia bridge and the foundations
along the left bulkhead line are COM
DieCe0. LOW dTetS ucdt Tic STOunuS Oh
the Government Hospital for the Insane
were drained and the submerged condi-
ton OF much private land in that vicinity
was relieved. Section A of the reclaimed
area has been graded to a height of six
feet above mean low water.
During the year a contract was made
with John 8. Ward. after public compe-
tition. for the removal of all willows,
trees. weeds and other wild growth on
section Of the reclaimed elaine area area It was
iand and nav an annual rental of S6O1
for the privilege Of eultivating it and dis
posing Of the crops for his own benefit.
During the year 1912 the river was used
bv q. .381 vessels of all classes. having a
total tonnage of sd. BOB anu carrying 3d.
1S1 short tons of freight. valued at $17,-
708 a54. All but $6SS 463 worth of this
merchandise was represented by ord
nance and ordnance material owned by
tha Government and handled at the navy
yard The other merchandise dis ssaa was prin- 1
taa, iron and steel, oil and gasoline and
stone.