Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-24
IMPROVEMENTS
ON BOTH LOCAL RIVERS
Col. H. C. Newcomer Tells of Results
of Dredging in the Virginia
Channel.
Development of the Potomac River
Has Cost So, 4e6,475 Up to
This Time.

Operations for the improvement of
the Potomac river and the Anacostia
river at Washington are detailed in
the annual report of Col. H. c. New
conner. Corps of Engineers. submitted
to the War Department today. He says
that as result of dredging in the Fir-
sinia channel channel $3.50 feet long,
400 feet wide and about % feet deep
has been dredged from the Highway
bridge to the foot of 23d street, and
the marsh area on the Virginia shore
behind the training dixie, has been
raised by the deposit of dredged mate
rial from an elevation of about four
feet to an eleva ton of about seven
and half feet above mean low water.
That area, about fifty acres, belongs
to the United States, and Is to be used
by the Agricultural Department in con-
nection with its experimental farm sta
lions and the Arlington estate.
Other work accomplished during the
past year included the complete repair
of the inlet and outlet gates to the
tidal reservoir and the erection of
channel bridge for storing rowboats
and other small craft. A breakwater
also was constructed west of the out
let gates for their preservation against
seas caused by northwest winds. The
total expenditures during the past year
were s76.797. mainly applied to main
tenance. The project for the improve
ment of the Potomac river at Washing
ton, including the reclamation of the
old Potomac flats, has cost to date
about $3,496,475.
Commercial statistics included in the
report show that 11,16o vessels of all
classes. carrying 696.7O0 passengers
and 1,6S2.466 tons of merchandise. ar
rived at the port of Washington dur
ing the calendar year of 1914. The
freight traffic for that year was valued
at s11,321,910.
Col. Newcomer reports that the work
on the project for the improvement of
the Anacostia river from it's mouth to
the Anacostia bridge now is about 81
per cent completed. representing
total expenditure of sS64,00o.
During the past year 509.O33 cubic
yards of material were dredged from
the bed of the river and deposited
through discharge pipes upon section G
Of the Anacosta flats. That section of
the reclaimed area has been raised to
an average of about four feet above
mean low water. The construction of
masonry sea wall along the left bulk
head line of that section was completed
last October. The total length of ma
sorry sea wall constructed to date is
12.145 feet, and there are yet about
$50 linear feet to build, 1t is proposed
10 compete the sea wall during the
coming fiscal year
A barbwire fence strung on cedar
post, and 4.520 feet in length. has
been constructed along the original
high-water shoreline between Gies-
boro point and Elizabeth branch. That
branch and Stickfoot branch were
cleaned of decayed vegetation and
deepened during the year. These
branches are necessary to drain the
low areas and carry off rain water
falling on the main shore. The front
portion of section A has been leased
poses.
During the calendar year 1914 5,OS6
vessels of all classes of a net ton
mage of 54s.661 and carrying 23,919
passengers entered the Anacostia
river. The total commerce for the year
was valued at s20.702,1s4. nearly $1s,-
100000 of which represented naval
ordnance and supplies. including pow
der. delivered at the Washington
navy yard.