Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-10-23
FIRST EDITION.
River improvements.

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO TEE DELAWARE BY THE
aovERNMENT DURING THE PAST YEAR.
General Humphreys Chief Of Engineers OF the
Army, has presented his animal report to the
Secretary of War. From that portion relating
to the improvements of the harbors on the Del
aware, we take the following extract. This por-
tion Of the report was prepared by Lieut.. Col.
Kurlz, who has charge of the improvements of
rivers aud harbors in Pennsylvania and Della
ware.
HARBoR AT MARCUS HOOK.
At the completion of these works two years
ago, an iron ladder was attached to each OF the
four ice piers. These we're found insufficient to
Withstand the force Of the ice, and during the
fiscal year they have been replaced by heavier
ladders in recesses cnt into piers. This harbor
was the resort. during the winters CT 1912 for
the largest vessels entering the Delaware river.
and the Philadelphia City Iceboats used the
harbor as a depot for Their coal during the sea-
aon of running ice There is still a balance OF
$40. 472 IL on hand for this work.
IMPROVEMENT OF DELAWARE RIVER AT FORT
MIFFLIN BAR.
1t is proposed by the Improvement to connect
the channel on the Pennsylvania side with the
channel ON the New Jersey side, at the bar, by a
cut about fifteen hundred feet in length, nine
hundred feet in width aud about feet in depth.
This will afford twenty feet depth Of water
across the bar at ordinary low watsr, The esti-
mate for this work for the fiscal year ending
June Goth, 1875, is 100000.
WILMINGTON HARBoR, DELAWARE.
The appropriation of $10,0 900 made June 10th,
1872, has been applied to dredging in the chan
mel to obtain the required depth of twelve feet
and width of one hundred and twenty feet at or
binary, low water, below Brandywlne Creek.
Next year. it is red to continue the improve
ment of this harbOr by the removal Of a fast
rock from the border OF the channel below Third
street. aud by dredging at several points from
the mouth of the river up to the west end OF the
harbor. The estimate for this work for the next
tiscal year is $4,000.
CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR OF ICE HARBoR PIERS
AT NEW CASTLE. DELAWARE.
The stone superstructure au old crib pier, hai
been completed. the unfinished pier in the mid
die OF the harbor has been removed and a Grill
foundation for new pier commenced. This las
will be completed during the present year, ant
the wood work of the old pier protected witt
sheathing and iron plates. Next year it is pro
posed to construct another pier The amoun
available for this work on July l. 1873. was S32.
6l9.90 The amount required for the fiscal yea
ending June 30, 1875, is 100000.
THE PIER NEAR LEwEs, DELAWARE.
During the year ending June 30. 1873, th
| aubstructure of the pier was advanced to a tota
| length of eleven hundred and ifty-tive fee
nine hundred and twenty-four feet having beel
| built in that period The iron material neces
| sary to construct the pier to total length o
| one thousand four hundred and seven feet ha
| been delivered, and ia mostly stored on the pie
| grounds, and, in addition, the caps and screw
| for fifteen piles corresponding to siyty-thre
| feet of the per in length One hundred an
| ninety Thousand dsllars il estimated as til
amount necessary to complete the work