Daily Republican., 1881-07-29
FOURTH EDITION.
THERIYER AND CREEk.
Improving the Nav1gatiOn-rhe .
Bids for Doing the Work.


Proposals for the dredging Of Cherry
Island Flats, and for the removal OF
rock from the Delaware river, at
Schooner Ledge, a little below Marcus
Hook were opened at the office Of the
United States Engineer, Philadelphia,
yesterday. The bills were opened BY
j. n. Macomb, Colonel OF Engineers
who will transmit them to Washing
ton.
For the dredging of Cherry Island
Flats, the two following oids were re-
ceived:
American Dredging Company o1
Philadelphia, % cents per cubic yard
National Dredging Company OF
Washington, u cents per cubic yard.
There was only one bid for the re
moval of rock from Schooner Ledge, viz,
American Dredging Company, So4 pei
cubic yard.
The iifteen-fe-t low water navigation
in the Christiana for which Congress
has made first appropriation of $50,
600, can he secured and maintained
Colonel Macomb thinks, if the proper
precautions are taken.
The only point presenting difficulties
is the entrance to the creek, But til,
construction of a DETECTING .iet.y would,
in all probability, suffice to maintain All
'entrance depth Of not less han twelve
feet, by protecting the ebb current OF
the Christiana against interference trn,n
that in the Delaware before attaining
its proper direction, and by tending l,
gather the food current without thu
creation of cross currents. As this
.jetty will have to sustain Il considerable
pressure Of ice at certain seasons, ii
must be made OF sufficient strength
and the outer end should be made
especial y solid t" iusur" its ability tC
carry a beacon to mark the entrance.
Should the pup WORKS be made the
limit for the tii,.en-tOut channel, the
depth is twelve feet there and thence I,
the upper railroad bridge, would prob
ably meet AL requirements. The rAe-
cntlon of the WORK is recommended IN
the following order:
The extension of the Twelve foot
channel upward to the pulp works,
=. the construction OF the jetty al the
mouth.
3. the dredging Of the niteenfou cham
mel from tine nloath upwari.
4. the removal ut the rock abVv,
Third street
The entire pro.ec vii. cost $1,000
and it will take about four years for It's
completion. The engineer says "Ihe
drainage and sewerage system of the
city OF Wilmington are OF the most
primitive character. The city lies on :.
suping site, the streets are i,upC rtteiIy
paved, and the uashings of all ,rts find
their way into the ChrStian1 river.
without any provision whatever tJr IN.
tercepting their solid conyents and pre-
venting them ilom hlIing The river bed. y
The following recommendations for
the further improvement OF the DeIi
ware river and bay We're adopted at a
meeting OF the Maritime EAcEange, in
Pnlla !eIphia, yesterday;
L. Tia; the work AZ Port klChInond
be continued of widening and deepening :
the channel ways i'll the vicinity OF
petfys Island, and the removal of such
shoals as may opStruct the tee ingress
and egress OF Ut tsseiS, tine desire being to
afford to Steamships and vessels of the
largest class sufficient depth of water
for loading and dlscharglIg.
2 The removal OF the sand spit Al the
upper end OF Smith island.
). 70 malutaln the required depth OF
water at Mit,l,4 bar
4. To continue WhrK at SO oonei
Ledge and Cherry island flats, under
the special appropriation.
>. TO remove ! wreck lying ut the
upper end OF Bulkh"lu bar.
i. Tuteeprn ana wlden the channel at
BuIkhead and Dan Baker shoals.
J. The removal ot wrecks aI he Del
aware eakwatcr.
The recommendations have been for
warded tu the United States engineers.