Mr. WADE. I intended to make a brief explanation of the bill. I proposed to do it after these amendments had, been made; but if gentlemen are opposed to the bill they will be Opposed to the amendments. The amendments really restrict the power of the company. There have been before the ComDistCol various propositions for obating this most terrible nuisance, which for many years this canal has been in the warm, dry weather. A portion of that committee the other day traversed that canal from near the arsenal grounds up to Georgetown, and no one can look upon it without seeing that it is full of all kin s of filth of the most disgusting, abominable, and, in my judgment, dangerous character to the health of this city. How that could be abated has been a question of a very great deal of difficulty before the committee, and there have been agreat many propositions to do it. None of them, however, seemed to be very satisfactory. None of them proposed to do it with any greatfucility. Not one of them proposed to do it so as to remedy the evil at this season that I know of except the company that appeared and made the proposition substantially contained in this bill. ere was a great company that was organized for the purpose of running a canal from Annapolis to the Potomac river and up this canal, so as to make a navigable canal between these 2 poim, running along this canal to Georgetown and coming down here to the navy yard. The points are designated in the bill. But that was the general scope of the bill. This canal has been of no use to anybody that I know of for a great many years, certainly not since I have had any knowledge of the cit, and I do not know how much longer. I believe it is used for no useful purpose whatever. This company for the purpose of carrying out their lans came before the committee and offered, if they could have this canal to make it ten feet dee below low water mar, and of a given width believe about 70 feet, an that they would keep it so that the sewerage of the city could be emptied into it, and a brisk current of water from the upper Potomac passed through it to clear it of all the dangerous de posit thnt is made there over year. It seemed to us to be the best mctho that could be de vised; for when that is done and the banks of that canal are filled with a healthy, brisk current of fresh water that will wash all the sewer age out into the river and carry it out with the tide, it. certainly will divest it of all its danger Ous characteristics.