Evening star., 1914-08-11
Anacostia River Work.

For the Improvement of the Anacostia
river from its month to the Anacostia
bridge the appropriations to date ag-
ing the past fiscal year amounting tc
350.364. Considerable dredging was
done during the year just closed. and
the material was deposited on section 3
Of the flats. Embankments were re-
paired and total length of 1O1S5
feet of seawall were constructed leav-
ing 2.934 linear feet of seawall TO be
built.
Other work performed included the
drainage of the low areas near the
northwest corner of the grounds of
the United States Hospital for the In
sane and the opening of Elizabeth
branch for the drainage of the conti-
guous submerged area. A contract has
been made for dredging from the navy
yard to the Anacostia bridge
MAI kutz says the funds now avail
able, with the $4,000 requested for CON
tinuing the Improvement during 1918,
are suf1cient to complete the project,
so far as the channel depths are con-
cerned. but that additional funds will
De required to carry out the original
project.
II is stated nearly 100000 cubic
yards of additional dredged material
VIII be required to complete the recla-
nation of the flats and their develop
ment into public park, as was done
In the similar case of the Potomac
river improvement.
II the additional work is authorized
says Maj. Kutz. 'it is proposed to OBJ
tam the material by dredging the chan
mel 10 such greater depth as may be
creased depths doubtless will ultimate
ly be required for purposes of naviga-
ton"
The commerce of the lower Anacostia
river was carried by 1881 vessels, of a
total tonnage of 3S5,373 They carried
14,o7l passengers, and general freight.
aggregatfng 326.6S3 short tons and
valued at s6S1.0S3. Most of this com
merce was with the navy yard in gov
eminent boats
Reclamation of Anacostia Flats.
During the past year s1O7. 40 were ex-
pended on the project for the reclama-
ton and development OF the Anacostia
river and fats from the Anacostia bridge
to the District line near Bladensburs.
Of that amount s31 ,OI2 were paid for the
purchase of land necessary for the i'm
provement in the section between the
Anacostia bridge and the line of East
Capitol street Considerable work was
done In the construction of seawall foun-
dauons and in trenches and embankment
walls along the right bulkhead line be-
Teen Anacostia and Pennsylvania Ave
nue. bridges Many old piles surround
ing the Washington Gas Light Companv's
wharf were removed, as was also the old
coal trestle along the right bank extend
ing down stream from the PENNSYLVANIA
avenue bridge.
rhe latter work involved pulling up go
piles Other work included raising the
grade of certain tracts of land to an av-
erase elevation OF ten and one-half feet
above mean low water Six storm water
sewers were constructed in the reclaimed
area by the District of Columbia and a
proportion of the cost was paid out of the
appropriation for the river Improvement,
As the pennsylvania Avenue bridge re-
stricts navigation to ten-foot height
MAJ. kutz says il was impossible TO take
any dredging plant above that bridge
congress has been asked to authorize the
placing OF draw in the bridge in order
that IT may not be necessary TO construct
a special dredging plant for the necessary
work to be done above that point