Daily Republican., 1888-04-03
An Importan. Roport.


others interested in the navigation Of
the Christiane was held yesterday b
hear tho report OF Professor Lewis NJ.
Hnnpt, OF the Uoiversity OF Pennsylyn
mia, CONCERNING the recent shoaling OF
the herbor aud HIS opinion IS to the
best remedy. After giving q lensthp
description OF the obstruotions to nayi.
CATION In the ChristIana and their
causes, he said:
Each OF these defects constitutes n
problem In itself, but L will endsavor 10
outline q remedy for thcse that NAV
come within my jurisdiotlon and will
ooneider them britiJ iu the order
given.
/. The remedy for the apparent
movement Of the fore shore should bs n
structure OF suoh extent ns TO include,
II possible. tho belt within which she
travelling takes place, and 1t should be
OF suoh form ~ 10 arrest the silt, yet
IL should not interfere with the free
dom OF iDgress OF the flood. Il should
reach abnve high water aud be stropo
enough TO Withstand ioe. These ne.
quiremonts wculd exclud the usual
form OF jetty projecting from the shore.
+. This reaction dyke would
doubtless render navigation more diff.
cult thnn at present, but less SO than
the plans proposed by the wharf lines
IS adopted, which would prove TO be q
very serious obstruction TO the fiood
tide and should not be built. No con.
tttuonon, however. should be under.
taken bore until It be determines be
yond doubt that the ebb IL unable to
maintain sufficient channel, even
with tho assistance OF an annual outlay
OF dredging.
2. The new bridge being yet incom
plete, its effects are not now apparent,
but 1t would have Deon better IL . dit
ferent span had been used 10 avoid ut
least pile approaches. The clear spa
IL only about 100 feot on each side.
3 The effect OF the angle of conyerg
ence OF the Brandy wine and Christiana
ID TO check the velocity Of both the Il cd |
and ebb currents of both streams, and |
90 10 increase the bar. In tidal waters |
the currents should be made 10 flow as |
nearly ns possible over tho same paths,
and Cot d huent stresms should approach |
AS nearly as may be in parallel lines.
4. The variations OF velocity caused |
by pockets, slip1, etc., can only be cor.
rected by oSnaliElng the river by bull.
ding tho wharvos out to the lines 10
rapidly ms possible, and It would be
oetter also II the slips, instead Of being
at right angles TO the stream, were
placed at an oblique angle up stream,
30 as to Discharge more readily ia the
direction OF the ebb. This would give
o longer berth for o given width OF
wharfage, and would enable vessela TO
be dooEed moio readily when entering
from below.
8. The pier Of the bridge at Third
street ia nslther parallel to the shore nor
TO the current. 1t should be swung
around 80 that In Its entire length its
upper end would be At least Is feet fur
ther TO the south. This obllquity Of
the pier makes an additiola! Resistance
OF ABOUT 300 square feet and produces o
shoal Immediately below.
.. The serious evils resulting from
inefficient provision for seweraSe and
nrAinEge can only be met by suitable
and legal action, whereby
large "sumpS" be provided to receive
deposits with flltsrs and screens TO arrest ,
refuse and solids, and sewers to carry ,
Dh animal refuse ard kitchen waste be
built IL should BIS made Q penal Of. :
Isnse TO dump or deposit any kind OF
material into the bed OF the stream or ,
any OF It's tributaries, or TO permit ,
waste products from ANY mAnufactory
10 be discharged into q sewer or stream |
eadine to tho river.
Tho most notable instance Of pro
ecsiDg piers 10 Pssohall's wharf, which =
nothing short OF removal can rem dy. Z
.. In addition to the suggestions made
's to the wharf lines at the mouth of
he ChristlanA and Brand " wine, anoth or
,oint requiring modification is At the !
Ingles around the bend between Pine i
md Front streets.
1t 10 not to be expected that dykes
will be removed In the interest of nnvl
Ietion, yet It is desirable that the vol.
lime OF the tidal prism passing the
Ebarves OF the city belo " the Delaware :
abroad bridge should be increased.
rhis can manifeStly only be secured by ]
educing the resistance to the infiowine I
ide at some point above the bridge, or, y
n other words, providing oapAclous
tidal reservoir into and from which the
yAter may flow and ebb freely. Such
! basin may readily be made OF great
'Riue to the commercial Interests or the p
ity." IN