The daily gazette., 1883-01-13
CurRRY ISLAND FLATS.
rha River and HaFbor Improvement In
Dack Creek,


wAsrISGToy, Jan. 1O.--A further report
nc the Improvement of the Delaware river,
10 addition to that already printed from the
Chief Eniinecrs, 10 as follows;
uTbe construction of the ship channel
,brn,,0h Cherry Island Flats which was
sulIv begun in the spring of 1880, under the
proiect Of 1879, has since continued without
tntermisslon other than those due TO the
presence Of ice In the river.
"a comparison Of the surveys made In
the spriug and fall shows that the channel
Generally maintains its depth, notwith-
standIng the constant marginal disturbance
Jue 10 The dredging and the fact that the
traffic of the river continues to a consider
able extent to use the eastern channel.
HTbe shoals in the channel referred to as
having been removed last fall, have not re-
appeared.
were quite certainly due to an erosion OF
.he bottom by the current 70 the depths
considerably in excess Of the dredging
depths, viz "a feet below mean low water,
the latter components floating of and leav-
ng the sand 10 accumulate Ia wave.
With the greater width Of channel that has
now been attained, and the general use Of
the new channsiS BY all vessels, there seems
reason TO doubt that permanently In
creased depth viii be secured. The only
source OF uncertainty 10 this connection ls
involved in the consideration Of the necessity
for some DETECTING work from the Delaware
shore, near the upper end of the new chan
mel, TO guide the ebb tide more directly
through II. At present nat curve to the
west end Is described, of which the channel
IA the chord, and there La, in consequence, a
martial loss Of power. With increasing
width. however, still greater proportion of
the ebb will traverse the cut.
at seems desirable at this time to
refer TO the great assistance that might be
rendered the work by the masters and pilots
Of vessels with corresponding advantages to
themselves.
"Ryen In hard bottom, such as that of
Mlflin Bar and Bulkhead Shoals, the effect
Of the frequent passage of screw steamers,
both large and small, along the same Is very
marked In the gradual deepening of the
channel In such soft material as consti-
tutes the bed of the river at Cherry Island,
this effect Is many times multiplied, II the
vessel runs the range tho benefit TO the
channel under construction Is great. II
another course be taken the loss Is double,
by reason Of the advantage being given else
VIII re.
sit may, In fact, be asserted, that the
securing a d maintenance of the new chan
mel without the aid of permanent works, Ia
great mt asure depends upon Its invariable
use by all steamers.
"E Eirnest representations of these facts
have been made from this office to owners
aud masters, and II Is matter of serious
rtertt that full cooperation has not by this
time been SEQUEL. The obstacles to the
free use Of the channel are unimportant. 1t
Is clearly marked by ranges by day and by
oh axtti7I faaf
feet at low water, are ample and largely in
excess Of what are found elsewhere, yet the
indisposition of pilots and masters TO travel
out of their accustomed path and the inertia
Of their conservatism appear TO be such as
70 make 1t impossible 10 secure their CO.
operation In an important work undertaken
and prosecuted by the United States for
the benefit Of the very interests they fepre-
sent.
"Thc sum of 100000, as hitherto an-
nually appropriated, is the least with which
operations can be continuously sustained.
"lhe commerce TO be benefited by this
improvement Is nearly the whole maritime
business OF the Delaware river below Brides
burg.
"The Marcus Hook harbor is In process
Of enlargement, and, when completed, Will
furnish all needed facillsies as shelter for
shipping In this part of the Delaware during
the season OF running Ice,
"The estimated amount required for the
completion Of the Marcus Hook harbor is
$4,000.
THE entrance to this stream has been
under improvements for the last two years.
"lhe channel made had a length Of about
bO0 yards, width of 75 feet, and low water
depth Of eight feet. A future sum OF 81, 800
viii be required to complete the construc-
tion OF the channel to the full width of
hundred feet as originally projected.
I'm the great number OF cases the chan
mel through shoals obstructlng the entrance
TO stream will need for Its maintenance
the protection Of dyke or jetty to coneen-
lrate and direct the currents and prevent a
dredged channel from filling. The material
composing the shoals at the mouth of Duck
Creek is in part stiff clay, capable of re.
bisting the sction of a moderate current. II
seems advisable, therefore, before estimating
Ter permanent constructions to complete
The excavations for the channel through the
shoals, and observe the subsequent current
and tidal action. For this purpose au ap-
preparation Of "A 800 will be needed"
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