The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-02-03
That ApproprIation-Why it Wont Come

Our readers will recollect that in the riv.l
and harbor bill passed at the last session OF
Congress, there was embodied a clause Civ
ing to the improvement of Elk River So. 500
The amount was originally ST., 800, hut in
committee of conference of the two Houses
it was reduced to the first named amount
inns latter sum, it was confidently expected,
| after the passage OF the BILL would be laid
ont upon our water way, improving the
character OF the same and at the same time
ahordlng employment for divers and sun
dry citizens of this place during the prose-
cution of the work. The appropriation was
MADE Tor The purpose-as expressed in the
blll-of widening the channel from sixty
feet, its present width, TO one hundred feet
"eesenlns il, the removal of bars, or other
opstructions, not being provided for Nor
was u possible to secure the outlay of any
portion Of the appropriation upon any part
OF the creek or river, save that mentioned
IN the bill, and that covered only such part
as had already been dug over In fact, the
grant seemed TO be wound about with
red tape that the money could not be put
where II would do the most good, and the
Secretary Of War has up to this time DELAY
ea action upon the matter. Conferences
win gentlemen familiar with the navig:-
ti"n OF the Elk disclosed the fact that a fur
thtr widening of tn. channel would be of
no benefit, but rather the contrary, as it is
well known fact that the wider such chan
helS are made the more readily they fill IN.
anu mat while the flow of the current will
Keep open a channel forty to sixty feet wide,
II extended t" "A hundred feet. the increase
OF area Will $" reduce the power OF the cur
rent mat 1t Will rapidly Till up with the s-d
''heht brought down from above by the
water. The outlay of the amount of money
appropriated, and perhaps more, is greatly
needed, hnt not in widening the channel, rs
IL ""nii h- better to expand it in deepeu- |
ing than III widening it. But there are |
"tner roih'> at which work is ecessary |
before the rhann-l can he termed navga-
n". Inc rt'nn-l AS dug out is good enough.
Just below Cedar Point there exists -, har
ana Vessels drawing six to seven feet of
wafer VIII stick there, while below and
above thu depth of water is ample The
government engineer seemed to entirely
overlook this obstruction. At or lust aboy.
fr-i"ht"wn Linding the Stone piers of an
old wharf stand right in the track of pass
ing Vessels, and h.ng beneath water at half
tue 'r~ all thu more dangerous. These
sh'"id he removed
Above the bridge there is a large dock
IKE -Spanse of the creek, which, if dug
mt To a depth of seven or eight feet, would
afort ample facilities for all the business
lR1ly I" come by thr way of the river. OF
%lrS-, before this latter work is considered
Congress. our county authorities will
m's 10 convert tho bridge across the creek
'% below this point into draw bridge
hell last, but by no means least, the
s .aiNnel of the Little Elk, from it, junction
WV Its twin sister ut Cedar Point to IA
pvS abov. the :wharves at Elk Landing,
, Sa'aa be- deepened and all bars removed.
hn Inv Lnding wharves are used by a num-
W., Nhe large mills above town for the
i pu.fs of unloading large quantities of
,'', md they are just As mach entitled TO
.'n'@Tation in the matter of the iii prove
wv. Nentioned as any other interest
w. ue that ere the money! is expended
p.ope. dstribution of it may be made ,
" .;., NE several works necessary, and
No., pNer economy the sum named-or
tnr al @! slight increase-wil be ample