The daily gazette., 1879-12-13
n Soathsiae Improvement.
WHAT is BEING DONE BY THE NATION
AL DREDGING COMPANY.

D@sN" DONG bI ihh N IlON-
AL DREDGING COMPANY.
The National Dredging Company, of
Washington and New York, which has
the contract for dredging the new chan
mel In the Delaware river through the
Cherry Island flats, near EdgmOor, is
maklhg an improvement in South Will
mi, gtOn, in connection with this work.
The Company, after starting operations
in the Delaware, looked around for
suitable place on which TO deposit the
earth removed from the fats, s,and for this
purp 'se purchased about twenty acres of
land lying in South Wilmington, from
The Christlana River ImproveInt mt Com
pany. The land thus purchased embrac-
es river frontage of lilo feet extending
back to Christiana Avenue about third
of mile south of Third street bridge.
ln consideration of receiving this land,
he Dredging Company agrees to build
for the improvement Company, a good
wide bank along The river front of the
atter's property, extending northward
to the line of the Arctic Ice Company's
ice depot, and coal yard. Work on this
bank has already commenced and Is well
under way.
In order to facilitate the deposit of
earth on the 20-acre lot, the Dredging
Company has built a tres.lework run
Mtg into the river about 125 feet, and
railway extending back to Christiana
avenue. On this railway small dunn
my, named "Arrow," and several trucks,
are in use, and will convey the dirt from
the river bank and dump it upon the lot
1t will be spread around over The surface
of the ground, to depth of several feet,
md thus reclaim and utilize large tract
Of land that heretofore has been fire.
quenly flooded and only fit for occasional
pasturing. At present, lhA mud is beiug
brought from Cherry Island flats in large
scows, drawn by tugs, and dropped into
he Christiaua along side of the railway.
1t is there lifted by the d. edge and de-
posted on the bank being built along the
Improvement Company's property, or
pl .ce the cars to b. spread ac IS the
lot. Alongs de of the railway the bottom
Of the river has been dredged to allow a
sufficient depth of water for the dredging
machine TO work in.
In addition TO the railway, which, as
before stated, extends into the water
'hout 125 feet. the Dredging Company is
building wharf about five hundred feet
south of the railway. The piles for this
wharf have already eendriven, and the
top planks are now being laid. The
river has also been dredgtd here, so as
to furnish sufficient depth of water at
high tide for vessels to lay along side,
and to allow about IL feet az the end of
the wharf at low water. The " harf is
about 80 feet wide and 125 feet long, and
extends from the river bank, which at
t,is point, has been built uD to a height
IF some nine or ten feet.
The object of this wharf is at present a
profound secret, but it is rumored the
Dredging Company proposes to establish
depot at tins point and will use the
wharf for the accommodation of the
dredges, scows and tugs used IN dredging
operations The Iocationi is central, con-
venient to all places where such work is
necessary, and affords a good safe har-
bor during the entire year. 1t Is very
probable that this is the main reason for
The construction of the wharf. The
wharf is being built in asubstaDtial mau-
ner and temporary structure. IJ can be
of no use for ordinary bus ness purposes
on account of the inaccessibl character
Of the river front at this place, and it is
therefore reasonable TO suppose that the
company will establish depot here, and
thus still further improve the valuable
river property of South Wilmington.
The company has depot at New York,
and ons at Washington, from which
points dredges, scows and tugs are sent
to fulfill important contracts, and where
they lie when not engaged in active ser
vice. The presence of these implements
of river Improvement along the Chris
IiaDa would doubtless prove great in
centive to the important work of i'm
proving the river and henefittIng the
condition of the valuab property along
IFS hanks.
At present the co npany has about
'wenty i've men at work building the
ybarf and conducting the dredging op-
rations.