Timing of Sedimentation

One of the documents that I examined at the College of Southern Maryland last week was a published report of the Chief of the US Army Corps of Engineers dated December 12, 1882. The corps had conducted an initial survey to determine how waterways might be improved in the Potomac River drainage. After visual inspection, examination of the 1862 coastal map, and interviewing local residents, the Corps recommended dredging only near the mouth of Port Tobacco Creek. The reasons were twofold:

1. The completion of the nearby railroad had drawn most of the commercial traffic off of the river, diminishing the need for steamboat access, and
2. the dredged channel likely would continue filling with sediment.

I'll provide an extended quotation tomorrow.

Jim