EXAMINATIONS MADE IN COMPLIANCE WITH RIVER AND HARBOR ACT APPROVED JULY 13, 1892. The preliminary examinations of South Branch of Patapsco River, from Craighill Channel to Light Street Bridge, and of Middle Branch of Patapsco River, from Light Street Bridge to foot of Eutaw street, Baltimore, Md, required by the act, were made by the local engineer, Col. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers, and report thereon was submitted under date of October 7, 1892. It is the opinion of Col. Craighill, concurred in by this office, that these localities are worthy of improvement. No further survey is needed for preparation of project and estimate of cost of improvement. The report was transmitted to Congress and printed as House Ex. Doc. No. 84, Fifty-second Congress, second session. (See also Appendix I 5.) IMPROVEMENT OF POTOMAC RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES, AND OF CERTAIN RIVERS IN MARYLAND AND VIRGINIA ON WESTERN SHORE OF CHESAPEAKE BAY. This district was in the charge of Maj. Charles E. L. B. Davis, Corps of Engineers, with Lieut. George A. Zinn, Corps of Engineers, under his immediate orders; Division Engineer, Col. William P. Craighill, Corps of Engineers. 1. Potomac River and Anacostia River at Washington, D. C.-Before the commencement of this improvement the channel to Georgetown, D. C., was narrow and crooked, and had not sufficient depth to meet the needs of commerce. Vessels drawing 16 feet frequently grounded at high tide above Long Bridge, and frequent dredging was necessary to maintain even this depth. The channel was of insufficient width, as the appropriations for dredging were too small to provide for more than a narrow cut through the bar. The Washington Channel was narrow and shoal and inadequate to the wants of commerce. Extensive mud flats existed along the city front from Observatory Hill to a point opposite the arsenal. Below Long Bridge these flats were separated from the city front by the Washington Channel. The greater portion of these flats was exposed at low tide and covered at high tide with water polluted by the sewage of the city. At the foot of Seventeenth street NW. a large sewer discharged directly upon the flats. These conditions rendered a portion of the city almost uninhabitable. By act passed August 2, 1882, Congress adopted a project which has for its object the improvement of the navigation of the river by widening and deepening its channels, the reclamation or filling of the marshes on the city front by depositing on them the material dredged from the channels, and the establishment of harbor lines beyond which no wharves or obstructions should be built. The project provides in detail for such depth of channels as will accommodate the largest vessels that can reach Arsenal Point, with such depth at the wharves as will allow vessels to receive full cargoes without grounding at low water; for fillthe flats above Long Bridge to a height of 3 feet above the flood line of 1877, and the middle part of the flats below Long Bridge to the same height, but sloping each way to a height of 6 feet above low tide at the margin of the fill; that in order to purify the water in the Washington Channel, which will be cut off at its upper end from the Virginia or main channel, a tidal reservoir or basin be established above Long Bridge, to be filled with water from the Virginia Channel on the flood tide and discharged into the Washington Channel on the ebb. The plan also contemplates the rebuilding of Long Bridge with longer spans and fewer piers during the progress of the work, and the interception of all sewage now discharged into Washington Channel and its conveyance to James Creek, but neither the reconstruction of the bridge nor the building of the intercepting sewer were included in the estimate of the cost of the improvement. The estimated cost of the improvement is $2,716,365. Up to the close of the fiscal year 1892 the expenditures aggregated $1,780,318.33, and the following work had been accomplished: The Virginia Channel above Long Bridge had been deepened to 20 feet at low tide for a width of from 400 to 550 feet, a part of which has since filled up and been redredged to a width of 250 feet. The bar in the same channel below Long Bridge had been dredged to a depth of 20 feet and a width of about 350 feet. This part of the Virginia Channel has maintained itself to the full depth originally dredged or has deepened. The Washington Channel has been dredged to a depth of 20 feet for a width of 350 feet throughout its entire length and to a depth of 12 feet from the 20-foot channel nearly to the easterly margin of the fill, except a small area near the Seventh Street Wharf. This channel for the most part maintained itself until the freshet of June, 1889, when considerable filling took place. The junction of the Virginia and Washington channels had been dredged to depths of 20 feet, 15 feet, and 12 feet. The greater part of the tidal reservoir had been dredged to a depth of 8 feet. All the material dredged from the river had been deposited on the flats, and of the 12,000,000 cubic yards estimated to be required about 9,303,600 had been deposited. The entire area of the flats, about 621 acres, had been outlined, and practically the entire area to be reclaimed had been raised above overflow at ordinary high tide. The riprap foundation for the sea wall had been put in place around the entire river front of the reclaimed area and the margin of the tidal reservoir. The construction of the sea wall, for the protection of the margin of the fill from erosion by the waves and the action of the tidal currents, had been commenced and about 13,840 linear feet of wall constructed. The construction of a dike on the westerly side of the Virginia Channel above Long Bridge, with a view to reducing the deposit at that locality, was in progress. The outlet gates at the tidal reservoir at the head of the Washington Channel had been completed, with the exception of the railing. On the Anacostia River two bars in the channel have been dredged so as to secure 20 feet at low tide from the mouth to the navy-yard. Harbor lines have been established in accordance with the project. The construction of the sea wall was resumed and 4,450 linear feet completed, making a total of 18,290 linear feet. The channel through the bar (caused by the freshet of 1889) in the Virginia Channel above Long Bridge has been widened from 200 feet to 250 feet, the depth being 20 feet. This work has given timely and material relief to the coal trade of Georgetown. Work on the training dike on the west side of this channel has been continued. Dredging has been commenced in the Washington Channel and the embankments for the deposit of the dredged material on Section III have been formed. On the Anacostia River the Navy Department has dredged a basin 22 feet deep and from 100 to 200 feet wide in continuation of the dredg ing done under the direction of this Department in 1891-'92. No funds have been available for further work on this part of the improvement during the past year. Long Bridge.-On June 30, 1892, the northerly end of the Long Bridge across the Washington Channel had been nearly reconstructed by the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Company on plans approved by the Secretary of War, the work being incomplete owing to the settlement and movement of the abutments. The south abutment has been rebuilt during the past year. Reference is made in the report of the officer in local charge to the necessity of rebuilding Long Bridge. In the event of a freshet occurring when the Potomac River is full of ice great damage is to be expected. The piers of the bridge are of such faulty construction that an ice gorge would be probable, which would cause the water to back up and overflow portions of the city front and through the sewers above the bridge such portions of the lower parts of the city as may be drained by them. Great damage was done by the freshet of June, 1889, but greater damage may occur from a freshet of lesser magnitude if accompanied by an ice gorge. July 1, 1893, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. $4,478.00 122, 319.00 126, 797.00 66, 915. 21 July 1, 1893, balance available Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix J 1.) 681, 365. 00 681, 365. 00 2. Occoquan Creek, Virginia.-Occoquan Creek is a tributary of the Potomac River, which it enters about 25 miles below Washington, D. C. Navigation was obstructed by four bars, which were improvod between 1873 and 1880 by the expenditure of four appropriations, aggregating $25,000, giving a navigable depth of about 6 feet to Occoquan, the head of navigation, 4 miles above the mouth. When the original survey was made, November, 1872, the ruling depths over the several bars were as follows: Lower Mud, 2.7 feet; Sand Bar, 4.0 feet. Occoquan Bar does not appear to have been in existence. A narrow channel had been dredged by the citizens at the Upper Mud, having a depth of 6 feet. In compliance with the provisions of the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, a new surve was made in 1889, and the condition of the several bars found as follows: Lower Mud, about 3.5 miles below Occoquan. This bar is about 4,000 feet long and had a ruling depth of about 3 feet. The former dredged channel had filled in. Upper Mud, about 2.25 miles below Occoquan. The channel dredged in 1874-75 was found to have maintained its original dimensions, being about 50 feet wide and from 5 to 6 feet deep. Sand Bar, about one-half mile below Occoquan. The former dredged channel had filled in, the least depth being 4.2 feet. Occoquan Bar, a short bar opposite Occoquan. The channel dredged here had filled in, and the least depth was 4 feet. The project for the new improvement comprises the dredging of channels 6 feet deep and from 100 to 150 feet wide through the bars, with the construction of such dikes as may be required to maintain the depth secured by dredging. The first appropriation for the new work was made September 19, 1890. At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, $9,801.99 had been expended. At that date a channel 6 feet deep and from 100 to 150 feet wide had been dredged through the Lower Mud and a channel 8 feet deep and from 70 to 100 feet wide had been dredged through Occoquan Bar. At the last-named bar the depth was made 8 feet to anticipate probable shoaling from freshets. The depth of the sand bar had been gen erally increased by the sand dredges working there, while the channel at the Upper Mud remained substantially as reported from the survey of 1889. The amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, has resulted in the completion of the channel through Occoquan Bar to the depth of 8 feet and the full width of 100 feet; in such dredging as was needed to complete a channel 6 feet deep and 100 feet wide through the sand bar; and in widening a considerable part of the channel at the Upper Mud to a width of 100 feet, the depth being 6 feet. In addition to the dredging above mentioned, the greater part of a riprap dike has been built at Occoquan Bar. The contractor for this work was interrupted by an injunction from a State court or the work would have been completed. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1895 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix J 2.) 30,000.00 30, 000. 00 3. Aquia Creek, Virginia.-Aquia Creek is a tributary of the Potomac River, which it enters about 41 miles below Washington, D. C. The stream is about 7 miles long, and in 1872 its navigation was chiefly obstructed by shoals between the mouth and the "Narrows," 4.5 miles above. Here the creek takes the character of a wide bay, from 1,000 to 6,000 feet wide, while the depth of water ranged from 2 to 4 feet over an almost continuous shoal of soft mud. Above the "Narrows" the creek is from 60 to 200 feet wide, with a depth of from 2 to 17 feet, the shoaler portions being near the head of navigation. The stream is crossed by a bridge of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad about 3 miles above the mouth, the draw of the bridge being but 28 feet wide. From 1872 to 1878 appropriations amounting to $10,000 were made by Congress, and the navigation improved by dredging a channel from 40 to 50 feet wide and from 4 to 5 feet deep through the shoaler parts of the creek, chiefly above the railroad bridge. A new survey of the creek was provided for in the river and harbor act of August 11, 1888, and was made in 1889. The channel dredged from 1872 to 1878 was found to have maintained its dimensions between the railroad bridge and the "Narrows," but at other places it had filled in. The general depth of water in the creek remained substantially as in 1872. Estimates for improving the navigation were submitted January 18, 1890, and an appropriation of $10,000 made by the river and harbor act of September 19, 1890. The project for the improvement, approved December 4, 1890, proposes a channel 80 feet wide and 6 feet deep, dredged through the shoals where less than 6 feet is found between the mouth of the creek and the "Narrows." At the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1892, $9,504.05 had been expended. A channel 80 feet wide and 6 feet deep had then been dredged from Thorny Point, at the lower end of the shoal, up to the railroad bridge, a distance of 12,280 feet. The amount expended during the fiscal year was $625.20. Proposals for the dredging were invited and a contract entered into for the same, operations to commence July 15, 1893. July 1, 1892, balance unexpended Amount appropriated by act approved July 13, 1892 June 30, 1893, amount expended during fiscal year.. July 1, 1893, balance unexpended July 1, 1893, amount covered by uncompleted contracts.. July 1, 1893, balance available... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30, 1835 Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867 and of sundry civil act of March 3, 1893. (See Appendix J 3.) $610.95 5,000.00 5,610.95 625.20 4,985.75 3,300.00 1,685.75 25,000.00 15, 000. 00 4. Lower Machodoc Creek, Virginia.-Lower Machodoc Creek is a tributary of the Potomac River, which it enters on the right about 85 miles below Washington, D. C. It has a navigable length of about 4 miles, and the lower part of the stream affords a good harbor for vessels drawing 12 feet or less. In 1892 navigation was obstructed by a bar at the "Narrows" 2 miles above the mouth, over which but 4 feet could be carried at low tide. After passing the bar depths of from 10 to 14 feet are found, gradually diminishing, however, to about 6 feet at Drum Bay, the head of navigation. The project for the improvement, based on survey of 1892, made subsequent to the appropriation of July 13, provides for dredging a channel 9 feet deep and 150 feet wide through the bar at the "Narrows" at an estimated cost of $15,000. The first appropriation for the improvement was made July 13, 1892, the amount being $3,000. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893, $227.65 has been expended. A survey of the bar has been made and dredging commenced. |
