Evening star., 1932-10-30
BY JOHN CLACETT PROCTOR.


Washington City Canal recently un-
covered at the southwest corner Of
Fourteenth street and Constitution
avenue, formerly B street, conveys
only the slightest sort of an idea of
the magnitude of this project. 1t was begun
at time when Washington was woods and
meadows, creeks and branches, and when the
Federal Government was still selling off lots
donated by the original proprietors and put
ting the money in the Treasury to its own
credit meanwhile collecting taxes on the pro-
prietors' unsold lots and paying nothing on its
own But that's another story.
Undoubtedly as long there IS City Of
Washington, remains of this old canal will be
coming to light, for it extended from Seven
teenth street and Constitution avenue where
1t joined the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal almost
directly eastward until it reached the Botanic
Garden where it lgzagged southeastwardly
until it emptied into the river Immediately to
the west of Greenleaf Point, also known to the
old timer as the arsenal ground, but now the
site of the Army War College.
All along its course there were basins bridges
wharveS and other structures necessary to the
conduct of big market business, which it en-
joyed at least for awhile Naturally the canal
was walled on both sides for its entire length
as were the basins where the canal boats and
other vessels were moored The wharves were
built upon piles, many of which were dug up
when the excavating was going on for the In
ternal Revenue Building. Likewise abutments
Of masonry were built, and altogether it was an
extensive, solid piece of work.
The canal was many years in the building
Indeed as early 1874, six years before the
District of Columbia came into being, the State
of Maryland Ito which this part of the District
then beonged) had passed several acts author
izng the formation of companies for the more
complete navigation of the Potomac River and
its tributaries, and for extending its usefulness
This was to be effected by means of canals,
oyod &c Ohob hat 1Iyoia lott
the company which commenced the construc-
ton of what afterward became known as "the
Washington Canal was organized.
THE LEnfant map of 1871 includes this pro-
posed canal, which was four years later, on
December a. 1875, authorized by the General
Assembly of Maryland, in language which shows
that start had really been made before this
date. The act began: Whereas the opening
and completing the canal already begun in the
City Of Washington, in the Territory of Co.
Mmba, and making the same navigable, is a
measure of great public utility"
AS matter of fact it is recorded that not
only had work on the canal started before this
time but that on the James Creek section 27,-
600 cubic yards of earth had already been re-
moved at a cost of S5170 before work was
stopped by the Commissioners, due to the
citys straitened state of finances, and that, for
the same reason, the proposed bridge across
the Tfber at Four-and-a-half street was, for
the time being, not erected.
Apparently the United States Congress first
1egislated on the canal project in 1902 when
it specifically refers to that part from the
Potomac River at the Eastern Branch, and
in the same act brought into existence the
Washington Canal Co., which seems to have
died natural death, for on February 16, 1909,
another company incorporated by Congress
for the same purpose.
The latter one of these, at least, started off
well, for We find in the National Intellgencer
of May 10, 1910, an account of the turning of
the first sod by President Madison, near the
junction of New Jersey avenue and street
southeast, where the company's Office was
established, probably in marquee or large field
tent. L. H. Latrobe was the engineer of the
work. and the president of the company was