Evening star., 1925-12-07
100000 NEEDED
FOR WORK ON RIVER
Gen. Taylor Reports That
ShoaIing Has Occurred in
Lower Potomac Reaches,

Maj. Gen. Harry Taylor, chief of
Army Engineers, reported to Con
SresS today that $500. 900 can be eX-
pended protitahly during the fiscal
year 1927 in improving the navigation
OF the Potomac in the lower reaches
Where Shoaling has occurred in recent
Years. and that $26 900 can be expend-
ed prohtably in continuing the dredg-
ing of the Virginia Channel of the
river opposite this city.
AS a result of operations to date,
lie says that deeper draft ocean and
'oaStwlse commercial and naval YES
SelS can now reach Washington and
Alexandria, thereby increasing com
merce and reducing transportation
costs. Commerce for the calendar
Year 1924 was reported as 2,702 ,535
snort tons, valued at S51,235 .445. the
principal items being sand and gravel,
petroleum products, forest products
ana general merchandise. Recent sur
FeyS of the lower river disclosed Seri-
Gus Shoaling in the channel at Kettle
Bottom, Maryland Point, Smith Point.
Mattawoman, Marshall Hall and
Naval Magazine. No maintenance
work has been done on those shoals
since the completion of the original
project in 1905, with the result that
the controlling depth is now but 81
ieet instead of the 24-foot project
depth required by vessels navigating
the river, the report says.
Dredging of Channel
Operations at Washington during
the past fiscal year, Gen. Taylor re-
ports, We're confined to dredging the
Virginia Channel and repairing the
1eveeS around Columbia Island. The
existing project calls for a depth of 20
feet in the Virginia Channel and also
in the Washington Channel, but that
depth has been slightly reduced in the
Virginia Channel, at points, by shoal-
ing. Commerce of Washington for
the year 1924 is reported as l. .442, $50
short tons. valued at SIS, ,263 $50. con-
sisting mainly of sand and gravel
gasmaking oil and general merchan-
disc.
Gen. Taylor says the terminal and
transfer facilities at Washington are
considered inadequate, and the wharves
in the Washington Channel. as a rule,
are in very poor condition. except
those operated by the Municipal and
Federal Governments.
Facilities at Alexandria.
Navigation facilities at Alexandria
are reported satisfactory. as a result
of extensive improvements. With the
expenditure of an available balance
of about $25, 900 during the current
year, the river channel at that city
will have full project dimensions. Gen.
Taylor adds that no more money IS
required for that work at present and
that the probabilities are that the
channel will not require redredging
for or 10 years.
Work on the country's rivers, har-
bors and waterways during the year
will require sos, $50, ,065, it was stated.
Expenditures for the last fiscal year
amounted to $50 1852 OPS and for the
current year Congress made a lump
appropriation of 0,000, 900, of which
S35.070,0S5 has been allotted.
The report shows that harbors
under Improvement during the last
fiscal year numbered 1873, rivers being
improved numbered 2S4. and canals
and waterways. So. The commerce re-
ported amounted in the aggregate to
453,700,0 tons. valued at So, ,l15 ,000,-
600. and the transportation of 322 500, :
SI9 passengers.
For general river and harbor work
for the coming fiscal year, which
begins July l, 1926, the chief of engi-
neers says S55, ,062 ,065 can be profit
ably expended. The remaining S10,-
$4,000 asked for is to go for flood con-
troll, surveys and other specific pur-
poses.
The Mississippi River is recommend
ed for the largest share. Including
the work of the Mississippi River
Commission, a total of $685. 500 is
asked.