Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-12-14
FIRST EDITION.
WILMINGTON Harbor.

THE IMPROVEMENTS ALREADY MADE AND oonTEM-
PLArED-THE ROCK BLASTING AND CHANNEL
WIDENING PRESENT CONDITION OF THE WORK.
]. d. Kurtz, Lieutenant-Oo Colonel of Engineers,
in his annual report, makes this reference to
the improvement of Wilmington Harbor, which
will be read with interest.
Under the act of March Sd, 1873, proposals
were invited under date Of June 81, 1873, and
contract was subsequently awarded to the Amer
ican Dredging Go. for the removal OF about 100
cubic yards Of rock from the channel Of the riv-
or Just below Third street bridge. Owing to
unavoidable delays and unforeseen difficulties
at other works, the contractors were unable to
commence operations at this locality, until June
18th, 1874. Since that time good progress has
been made in drilling and blasting, aud por-
ton of the rock has been removed. contract
was executed by the same company under the
the date of September 18th, 1872, for the re-
moval OF thirty-fve cubic yards Of rock on the
South side of the channel, about 900 feet above
Third-street bridge This work has been COM
peted during the fiscal year.
Several local surveys have been made of the
Chrstiana river, at different points between its
mouth and Third-street bridge, and the informa-
ton derived therefrom has been added to the
chart of the river and harbor that is now nearly
complete.
In view of the small amount appropriated for
the improvement of the harbor for the fiscal
year ending June 30th, 1875, II is proposed to
apply the same for the removal of additional
rock from the south side of the channel just be-
low Third street bridge to the amount Of about
1856 cubic yards. This improvement (Which will
be permanent will give Increased width TO- the
channel, a better approach to the South draw
passage Of the bridge, and afford thirteen feet
depth Of water at ordinary low tide over the
| rock
| 1t is proposed to continue the improvement Of
this river during the next fiscal year by dredg-
ing, so as to afford 70 feet depth of water at or.
dinary low tide, and increasing the width to l2O
feet at the localities along the river and in the
harbor enumerated as follows viz Ia the
channel just above the.buoy-depot Of the Light
| House Establishment opposite and below the
month of Brandywine creek up stream from
| the north draw-passage of Third-street bridge
| and ad accent to Market street bridge above and
below. This will require in the aggregate abou
| 5000 cubic yards OF excavation 6,000 cubic
| yards of this amount will be loose gravel ant
| sand the remainder soft mud. This work will
| require an appropriation Of 800, 600.
| The original estimate for the performance o.
the work was 983, 900. Congress had appropri
ated to June 30th last S97, 900. Of which amoun
$25, ,843. 40 have been expended. S46, 200 will b.
required to complete the work.
The amount paid the American Dredging Co
for the removal of rock is $37 so per cubic yard
But two bids were received-tbe other belnl
| from Robert W. Warren, OF New York. at "a
per cubic yard.
OTHER HARBoR IMPROVEMENTS.
| mf. hurtZ bbht6b blb0Wuolo III LIE iopoib ehn
during the year the superstructure Of the Gov
ernment pier at Lewes has been extende
1O5 feet, and all the piles have been inserted
1881 feet from the abutment in 1876 feet OF wa
ter. 1t is proposed, during the present year, q
place in position the thirty piles now on han'
and finish the corresponding bracing and super
structure if 1t can be done, and perhaps drive !.
few fender piles to make the pier available 70
vessels. The amount required to complete tn
work is $176,500.
The remains of the old pier in the middle G
the harbor, at New Castle, and qnantity 0
stone accidentally dropped from vessels en-
ployed il building piers, have been removed
the wood work of an old pier has been sheathe
and protected with iron plates, and new pl'
has been built up to low-water level. III
amount required to complete the work is SAC
500.
In the Broadkiln channel Of feet depth Z
low water, minimum width of 35 feet. has bee
made through the shoals from Milton to Oyst'
Rock Shoals, near the mouth OF the river. III
, appropriation having been exhausted, the wol
! has been suspended. The amount required
, finish the work is S70,500.