Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-04-10

Net revenue. e......,............. S30o, O2o.to
"M Wilmington ia not only port of
entry, but has an internal revenue office,
and the Federal oourts, circuit and dis
triot, are held there. The population in
1880 was AZ, AIS, aud the city is growing
rapidly.
'iThe committee have no hesitation in
saving that this is one of the most meritori-
ous of the claims presented to them, and
therefore recommend the passage OF the
BILL"
The Secretary of the Treasury reports
the following as the cost OF the present
building in Wilmington: Cost of site,
$3 500 (; construction of building,
$50 ,569 "a ; total cost, $43 o69 "a.
Your correspondent mi. ht add in refer
ence to the statistics OF the committee on
public buildings that they seem to be il
error relative to the customs collection at
Wilmington. Thsy give the amount as
$26, 1922, but the Secretary OF the Trea-
eury 10 a report TO Congress says that the
gross receipts from this source We're
$33, o9S So, while the expeuees of ccllec-
tion were So 22S 13.
The secretary also reports the following
db tnt sulfutp iiOh tho iahOA "a
revenue receipts, in which the COMMITTEES
are more accurate, are divided From
distilled ppirita, $40, $50 II; manufactured
tobacco, 1858 1873 30; fermented liquors,
$15, ,429.73 all other collections, including
penalties, $4 462 "a; total, 1898 636 4S
The adjutsrt general of the army re-
ports to Copgress the following as tho
strength of this militia of Delaware
regimentsl fisld and stsff officers, 6 :
oonpsny officers, Is; commissioned
officers and privs.es, 234 This repre-
sents the organized militia in the State
The number OF men available for military
duty, but uuurganized, is $500.
The chief of engineers has made the fol-
lowing report on the Improvement of the
Brandywine river from it's mouth to the
Market street bridge, in Wilmington,
which is intended for the guidarce OF the
committee on rivers and harbors in
making appropriations
"The headw aters of the Brandywine
are found in the Welsh mountains,
Chester county, Pennsylvania, about DO
miles from Wilmington, and are known
as the east and west branches, which
unite at Chadd's Ford, 13 miles from
Wilmington. The stream is valuable only
for water power from near its source until
tide water is encountered. The portion
subject to tidal infuencs has been in
cluded in the survey, and for three and
half miles is within the boundaries OF
Wilmington.
"Less thau feet of water covers tbs
bar at the mouth of the river at low
water, and this of course, determines the
fact that only light drgught vessels can
enter. The mouth increases in width
rapidly being hell shaped and should be
contracted to maintain proper depth
aud st the came time direct the ehb cur
rent to meet that of the Christiana ss
closely as possible. The establishment o.
permanent wharf lines may cause thif
| correction to be made to the stream fol
the private benefit that would accrue.
"rhe piers and guards of the Eleventh
street bridge have been very badly placed
with reference to the currents, &c, offer
| ing materi'l impediments to their flow
and materially assisting in shoaling the
water aboye and below this structure.
"The expressed requirements of thoss
interested in the improvement OF the
river, varying considerable in dimen
/ S1ODS, L nave uhuc hh cebilhhho i"i
channel OF average size, namely, 100 feet
wide and feet deep at low water up t.
the Eleventh street bridge, and above
this IS feet wide and feet deep nearly
up to LEAFS mill, where have contracted
the width to so feet for the remainder o
the distance to the Market street bridge
''The total cost of this improvement
would bs $96,52 The total length o
cutting would be two and a half miles.
"If one half of the aid named be given
the improvement would only coat $50, 900
Much more freight would be carried by
water If larger vessels could navigate thu
stream. No Improvements have ever beer
made by the government in the Brandy
wine river.
"The city Of Wilmington being inter
sected by the Brandywine and Christian
rivers. and being connected thereby will
the great Delaware water highw y
ff,rds an opportunity for commercial
growth especially whom combined will
the enterprise of her citizens, that canno
be other than rapid, and il is prsdicte'
that her water ways will soon have to b
improved to the greatest possible exte n
that no impedements may exist to direc
trade to all portions of the world, whicl
is now indirectly established to al
quarters of the globe"