Daily Republican., 1886-08-03
EDITION.
Enginssr xmith's Report.

Enginssr Smith's Report.
The report of United States Engineer
w. II. Smith, OF the district Of DeIa- |
ware and Maryland, of the amount OF
work done In his district during the
past year was submitted to the
department at Washington last
Saturday. The engineer complains
that operations have been retarded By
inadequate appropriations, but notwith-
standing this, considerable has been &C
complished.
The cid sunksn crib off Lobdell's
canal was removed, and also the twol
lighthouse wharves near the entrance
of the harbor were pulled down and the
material put on the embankment, n
agreed with the lighthouse establish
ment. A channel Was dredged through
the draw at Market street bridge to al
depth Of Is feet ut mean low water and
o width of 80 feet. The amount of ma
terial removed from this locality lei
$3.50 cubic yards, measured In place,
and 1t consisted of gravel. sand and
blue clay, twelve boulders varying in
size from to ~ cubic yards, and
thirty'two piles.
The raising of the jetty seems to have
done away with the shoaling from q
point about midway of the jetty out to
the Delaware river, and the depth OF
channel dredged in 1884 connecting the
fifteen foot curve in the Delaware with
the fifteen foot curve inside the harbor
had been maintained at the last exami-
nation. The present angle Of collision
OF the currents of the Delaware and
Ohristiana will, however, always pro
duce bar at the mouth, and this can
only be obviated by the carrying out of
the appended project for the extension
OF the jetty. For the current year end
ing June 80, 1888, $4,000 is asked,
which will enable the jetty to be ex-
tended and the Christians dredged
fifteen feet deep as far up AZ the pulp
works.
Wilmington is q port of entry and in
the collection district Of Delaware. The
amount expended on harbor improve
ments during the year ending July LIST
last was So, y2732. The amount avail
able ut present is $3.1l5 81, The esti-
mated amount required for the compile
ton Of the existing project Is $166, 1874.
The total amount expended by the
government on Wilmington harbor
since 1886 is $240, 1856.
Nothing has been done on the i'm
provemsnt of New Castle harbor during
the fiscal year, for lack Of funds The
piers are much in need of repair and
the area of the harbor should be in
creased by dredging. This harbor ia of
great Importance to the general COM
merce on the Delaware, and its benefit
to the city itself only Indirect. Vessels
seek refuge there during the season of
running ice and it thus becomes Of il
tereet to several States. The estimated
amount required for completion of ex-
listing Improvements here, which can
be probably expended during the COM
Ing fiscal year, Is $40 600.
In the Broadkiln river the dredging
was completed and the funds exhausted
last December. The total distance
dredged was "a ,225 feet, and the total
amount Of material removed was 92, 737
cubic yards. A channel was made from
the jupctio Of Lewes creek to Milton
feet in depth at mean low water, with a
width ut no place less than 40 feet. Six
bends In the river were widened to 60
and 70 feet. Vessels are now able to 60
from Milton to the mouth of the river
ut any stage of the tide, taking not
more than half day to make the trip,
while before the Improvement ii TOOK
two to three days. The amount expend
ed during the year ending July /, 1886,
was $l3, 425.08 The estimated amount
required for the completion of the exist.
ing project Is $3l, 800 Since 1873 the
amount expended on the Broadkin Is
S2255, 600,
The work contracted for in St. Jones
river in 1884 has been completed, and a
six feet low water channel forty feet
wide has been dredged at the follow
ing shoals: Warren's Landing shea,
S25 feet in length; Jacks Point shoal,
$40 feet; Logan's Landing. 600 feet;
Havern's Landing, $50 feet; Red
GraIary, l 800 feet; White Store Land
ing, 1900 feet Phosphate factory.
1855 feet James Island, 1000 feet
Babbitt's Fishery, 765 feet; Wharton s
$50 feet; Lebanon, $50 feet; Lebanon
Reach and Mud Hole Point, 2, 270 feet.
No work mas been done on Mispilliou
creek du.tng the year for lack offunds.
1t is estimated 81 500 will complete this
Improvement by removing the remair-
der of the shoals between Milford and
the mouth Of the creek, which will give
o-foot low water navigation for the On.
tire distance.
At Duck creek nothing has been done
during the fiscal year ended June 30
1886, and it is not possible to state thu
condition of the wo k. 1t is proposed
to expend the appropriation In the worl
OF removing the shoals in the bed OF tht
stream from the mouth of the river tc
Smyrna.
The Improvement of Broad creek hal
also b9en suspended for lack of funds
The appropriation asked for would b,
expended IN making 6-feet low waite
navigation TO the town of Laurel, will
width Of 50 feet and protecting it will
bikes.
Nothing has been done on the improve
ment OF Indian river during the mas
fiscal year for want of money, and tn
condition of the work atthat date is nc
known for the same reason.
The report also shows the improve
ments made and amount of money 81
pended on the susquehanna river an
other streams on the Eastern shore {
Maryland.
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