Daily Republican., 1879-08-26
FIRST EDITION.
rHE HARBORs.

,,tsrssting Report for Cossres"
rne Delaware Break wafer -
,,,rroveynepas - Tho Ice Har.
bors.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25.-Col. J. N.
u.comb, Of the Corps Of Engineers, In
,.is forthooming report to be submitted
~ u,I conpress m in regard to this Delaware
R,sskvater Harbor, after lengthy re-.
;sw p of the work from its inception,
says: .,..;., =, a..
po,rd that $3.50, 900 be At onece appro-
n,isted to begin the work of closing the
p.n WAS not acted upon by Congress-,
suda ssna the existing evils still continue to
supmsnt, aggravated by the presence,
I in The western portion o. the harbor,
ot % sipht Of the ton wrecks that occurred
during fierce gale on the night Of
October 4th, 1877. The masts OF one
NJ these have fallen, and since January
tbrse vessels have struck upon IT.. The
still projecting spars Of the other seven
ssrve as day beacens, but nothing
marks their position in dark or stoImy
nights.
lis to be- hoped that the magnitude
oftbe interests at stake, and the mar
rov margin Of profit upon which our
commercial marine maintains itself,
vill constitute an effective appeal for
the development Of and msintenancs
in i,s highest state Of efficiency OF this
b.rbor. which offers the only point Of
safety in the whole stretch OF three
hnpdrsd miles Of trsacherous coast that
lie between Hampton Roads and New
York Bay.
lcg HARBoR AT NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE
It is proposed, with the existing bal
apce Of s757, together with the s5, 5Oe
appropriated by act Of March 3, 1879
making in all e6,257, to make slight
needed repairs and increase the facili'
ties for mooring, by putting up addition
al mooring posts, to protect the founda-
tons of the exterior pier from seoul
with riprap and to dredge the innel
mart of the harbor to Is feet at mean
low water.
During the year ending June 30th
1881, should funds be available, it Ii
proposed to do such additional dredging
a. NAV be necessary, and construct thu
additional pier, an" which will com
plete the harbor on the present design
New Castle Harbor, since that a
Reedy Island, 10 miles below, has be
come useless, Ia the first reached BY
vessels coming from the sea. 1t ii
therefore Of great Importance to tn
commerce Of the Delaware river, which
in 1878 aggregated nearly 3,ooo,oo'
tons.
CONSTRUCTION OF rIRR IN DELAWARE BA'
NEAR LEwEs DELAWARE.
It's proposed during the ensuing sea
son to complete the substructure BY re
driving and re-bracing the five piles o
the 57th row, AID applying the hori
zontal braces to the pier head; to con
suuct, landing slip on either side O
the pier for the use Of vessels, and pu
enough fender piles in position to ad
nit of their being used; to replace AM
complete the decking Of the pier 80 ia
as the material on hand can be applie'
TO this purpose.
During the year ending July LIST
1851, it is proposed, should the appro
priation asked for be made, to comrlet
the pier ready for service, lay trac'
from the outer end to the limit of tn
United States Reservation, place mool
ing buoys in position, and surrender
to its intended uses as shipping an
landing pier under such regulations a
the Secretary of War shall prescribe.
ICE HARBoR AT REEDY ISLAND.
During the fiscal year urgent repre-
sentations have been made by the shil
pers and vessel owners of the great an
increasing necessity of an ice harbor J
this vicinity, some urging its re-estat
lishmpnt ON the present site, other
suggesting other points in the vicinit
Is possessing greater advantages.
is proposed, during this summer,
make full and careful survey Of th'
locality, with a view OF submitting
special report on this subject rreviou
to the next session of Congress.
ICE HARBoR AT MARCUS HOOK, PA.
With the $4,000 available July
1873, considerable repairs have bee
made TO the two landing piers durin
the fiscal year. The present dimension
Of the harbor are inadequate to me-
the demands of navigation, and the a.
of March 3, 1879, provides for the e1
animation of this and the harbor
Chester, with the view of increasir
their usefulness to commerce. Th
examination will bs made as soon
the necessary funds are available.
dcR HARpoR AT CHESTER, PA.
During the fiscal year, and with u
balance Of 50, 400 on hand July l, 1877
considerable repairs were made, prime
paly to the lower line of piers. Rene,
ed attention having been called to IL
insuficiency Of the harbor to meet II
greatly increased river commerce, pr
vision was made in the river and ha
Dor bill, March 3, 1879, for the exam
nation of this harbor, in connectit
with that at Marcus Hook, for an Il
Crease of facilities. The examinatit
will be made Us soon as funds becor
available. m-
IMPROVEMENTS OF WILMINGTON HARBo
DELAWARE.
During the year just closed, with
appropriation Of 81, 1000, made June !
1878, 1000 cubic yards Of mud we
dredged from the north side Of cham
near the mouth, and small amou
from just above the mouth Of Brand
wine Creek. In addition 81 cubic var
Of rock were removed from the led
hal ln,, IL. Ill 10 rrnrnaAh