Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-01-28
improvement Of she laaFAer.

REronTs IN TnR boAaD OF TaADx on Tu1 sDAY-
COL Kuh1ze PLAN-oUTTTN0 TER AnAHDYWIHR
TNnouOn TO TEE cHal8TIANA.
In the Board Of Trade, Tuesday evening, The N
port Of special oommitter IN confsrrinK with |
Col D. Kurtx, U. y. Engineer, in reference to |
his plan for the Improvement Of Wilmington
Harbor. was presented
The report states that ina communication from
Col. kurtz. dated January 18th. he gave an out
ne Of the improvements which he proposed
making to the hArbor The main part OF his let
ter In - follows
1928 CHESTNUT 81, U, q. ENarxxeR OFFICE,
PHILADELPHIA jan IS, 1876
Il. T. Warner, Esq, Wilmington Board Of
Trade:
Door Scr: The plan Of improvement Of the
Wilmington hArbor, which I am carrying into
execution was adopted In 1870 II oontsmplateH
providing channel, 12O feet wide and II fees
deep at low water, FROM the Delaware to the
West eud Of the hArbor, also for widening the
cut ct tho lighthouse 70 800 fest In the case
Of rock, the depth il Is feet, one foot n,ore to
prevent injury TO vessels.
This Improvement Ia nearly completed. It
will require $40, 600 70 hnish it, Of which sum
f20, 900 is asked for, to be Appropriated by Con-
gress, the present session. -
In regard to this plan Of improvement, tire
Committee state:
From drawings placed before your commit.
tee by Col. Kurtz it is evident the plan Of i'm
provement decided upon by the U. 9. Engi-
neers, is the result OF much study soundings
| having been taken ut all points from the mouth
OF the creek to the Wilmington Western Rail
road bridge. with an accuracy and detail really
surprising. Your committee suggested 10 Col
| Kurtz that the cutting of Q canal through the
neck Of land between the Brandywine and
Christians, south east Of the railroad bridge,
thus Strengthening tile channel Of the Brandy
wine and increasing itA current, 10 that II would
in turn stimulate the current OF the ChristiAna,
would tend to deepen permanently the channel
Of the latter river.
" This suggestion met 30 hearty an approval
from the Colonel, that your Committee probably
exceeded its powers by authorizing the Colonel
to bore vt sundry places to ascertain II rock crop
ping would make the cutting Of the canal expen-
sive. 1t is thought that 1t will not, and your
Committee have further requested estimates to
be procured OF the cost Of the work. It 10 the
opinion Of Col Kurtx that this Improvement to.
gether with the purchase Of about 600 acres Of
marsh near the Western boundary Of the city
\ and opening Of the same to the ebb and fOv
OF the tide, thus causing = large body Of
water to pass to aud from the river with eAcl
tide would permanently increase the depth OF
water in the channel twelve to eighteen inche.
and save all expense of further dredging. tt
do this will require some legislation from thi,
State. Your committee WAS Of the opinion thi,
power might properly be delegated to the Boart
Of Trade, but after consulting with a
attorney it was deemed impolitc, o.
rather iDjudicious, to delegate such powers h
this Board, being IN measure beyond its pro
vince; it is therefore recommended that char
ter for canal company be secured during th,
present session OF the Legislature, granting
necessary rights and privileges. To secure tn,
completion OF the work, it is thought an ap
preparation from the Government can be OBJ
tanned that will be sufficient to defray til,
cost Thereof. Your committee recommends til,
appointment of special committee to procur,
the necessary legislation"
The report was signed by E. T. Warner, Ant
Francis Barry. On motion it was adopted, Ant
after some discussion, in which Mr.. Head pro
posed to postpone the subject two weeks, it wa
voted to appoint \ committee at once, to asl
from the State Legislature, such legislation q.
would permit the United States to make the do
sired improvements.
Messrs. Il. T. Warner, Head and Lea wer,
appointed the committee
Mr.. Warmers committee also presented tn,
copy OF letter which had been sent to H.
Pckels ESD, at his request,to be forwarded h
Mon. as II. Lofiahd, OF which the following il
tile substance
As to the number OF vessels entering this hsr
Dor, during the year 1874 we have to say Their
were:
q vessels repaired at our ship yards.
10 iron vessels built
10 wooden vessels built .,,...,,,, 10,
From New York steamers pei week 49,
From philsda' 3 :" =. !" day ,ao
~ ,...... ..lS2
Coal barges arrived. 46
new jersey steamer. ....... .........,,, 80