The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-09-14
The Next River and la rbor Job.

We have already referred to the sugges-
lions for next winters River and Harbor
bill furnished by Major GILLESPIE, who has
charge OF Cheesequakes Creek. Sumpawanus
Inlet and similar national waterways. Other
officers OF the Engineer Corps have made
annual reports to Gen. NEWTON, and their
contributions to the same subject also merit
some attention.
Major MERCER asks for $l0, 900 to complete
the improvements OF Rondout harbor. This
Item will recall the good-humored speech
made by Congressman BEACH a few months
ago. In which he depicted the amazemcnt OF
the people dwelling about the creeks OF Ron
dout and Esopus at finding the mouths OF
these streams described as harbors. GOwan-
Va Bay receives q recommendation for the
expenditure OF no less than $4,000 In dretlg-
Ing IL, while Port Chester harbor does not
fall far behind In the proposed addition OF
$4,000 to tho *l6.325 already available for
dredging and the construction Of break
water. Major MERCER also includes Echo
and New Rochelle harbors in his list of ben
efactione The interests to be benefited by
the New Rochelle project are thus indicated
in an official report:
"The improvement indicated by the present survey
fers to that part OF New Rochelle harbor contiguous
Glen and Flat elands upon which buildings adapted to
the purpose of simmer resort have been erected.
number OF steamers convey cxcursionsts during the
warm weather these islands and it 10 understood that
the object OF the examinations Just made Of tho chan
nsls prepare safe and lines OF approach
and departure from III. Islands selected for the purposes
named. Commerce and trade with New Rochelle have
apparently little I" do with the proposed improvement
The very limited trade BY water with New Ro.
ehee 10 carried 10 Echo harbor. which embraces the
water front In Echo hxrbor has already been
the subject OF improvement through appropriations
granted by Congress"
Nevertheless, we now find an appropria-
tion Of $5.s25 asked for New Rochelle. In ad.
dltion to the 1924 available, while for Echo
harbor $1,000 is asked, In addition to the
"a, 500 now available.
Col. BLUNT asks for $4,000 to dredge
Moose-a-B Bee bar, in addition to q larger sum
still available for that purpose. Lubec has
already SCI, IFS on hand toward deepening It's
channel, but $4,000 more Is demanded
Rockand has $42,Go3 available for her de-
sires, yet $4,000 more Is asked. Tho sum Of
$4,000 Is asked by Col. BLrNT for ere
moving rocks" In Portsmouth, N. H.. har-
Dor, besides the $24,lSO already available;
and, considering the extraordinary propen
sity OF the United States Navy for running
upon rocks In that harbor. where Govern
mont navy yard exists, the outlay may be-
moro deiensible than some others.
The Ohio Is no doubt a distinctively ma
tional stream, and Col. MERRILL does not
mean that this fact shall be hidden like a
light under bushel. He asks for 81, 5ss, $40
to improve the river and the Louisville canal
ct the Falls, In addition to $0l9,OS2 available
-s2507 ,422 In all. This Is exclusive Of $50, 937
available for Cincinnati harbor OF refuge.
For tho Monongahela and Allegheny an ag-
gregate OF only $l9G,s76, available and asked
Tor, Is contemplated during the next fiscal
year. Tho Muskingum ice harbor, however,
which has over nifty thousand dollars avail
able, wishes to receive more than fifty thou
sand more.
Major MCFARLAND deals in large sums in
his recommendations. He asks $45OOOO for
canal around Enfield Rapids, and 100000
each for the Connecticut River below Hart
ford, for the Thames and for New Haven
harbor An item Of half million additional
Tor breakwater In the latter harbor brings
the special New Haven portion up to 5000 ,0OO
Already more than $4,000 is available for
the schemes enumerated. Among the re-
naming items one for dredging tho Housa-
tonic Is noticeable. because 1t has been Of
acially described by the War Department As
designed to benefit q picnic steamboat and
to aid In the shipment OF local produce. Yet
$4,000 additional is now Asked for these pur-
poses, although considerable sum Is still
available.
Major MACKENZIE recommends the appru.
priation OF couple OF millions for the Mssis-
sippi between ST, Paul and the Illinois, as
there Is only about half n million now avail
able for this purpose. About 100000 more
Ia specially called for at Des Molnes Rapids.
Major HARRIS has on hand over half mil
lion for work on the Potomac at Washing
ton, Georgetown, and elsewhere, but he asks,
Tor the next fiscal year, $4,000 more.
Altogether there need be no anxiety lest