The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-02-23
Congress Preparing to Law
ISL Appropriations Upon
Them.
RARITAN IMPR0FEM ENTS.
The Passaic, Elizabeth, Railway
and Shrewsbury to Come
In for a Share.

HOUSE Is now III NOfR upon HIS h4tli
for the present Congress. The various
items in this bill are agreed upon, as
is we'll known, from the reports, sur
veys and recommendations of the
government engineers and the Secre-
tary OF War and the representations
OF delegations or other parties inter
ested in the improvement of nayiga-
ton. The report Of the Secretary OF
War is however, the main guide in
the formation Of the bill. The water
courses of New Jersey will come in for
their pro portionate share, as their re-
quirements demand.
The channel OF Raritan Bay under
going improvement lies to the south
east of Sequine's Point. on the south
shore OF Staten Island At the time
of the original survey. 1880 the least
depth on the shoal lying between the
21.foot curve at Sequine's Point and
the 21-foot curve at the head of the
bay was 143 feet, mean low water.
The project of improvement, based
upon the survey, provided for chan
mel across the shoal 800 feet wide and
81 feet deep mean low water at an
estimated cost of 1926, 600. In 1888
this estimate was increased to $40 900
and the project modified, extending
the Improvement by providing for
a channel of equal width and
depth over the shoals in the vicin-
ity of Wards Point, Staten Island,
where the original depth was 10 feet.
mean low water, SO as to give a nayi-
gable channel 81 feet mean low water.
up to Perth Amboy, and one 800 feet
wide and Is feet deep, mean low
water, from Neat Beds Light to South
Amboy, where the original depth was
12 1-2 feet, mean low water. The
amount appropriated to date is 1882. :
500. The amount expended up to the
close of the fiscal year 1888 was $153,
557.15. At that date the channel was
300 feet wide and 81 feet deep be-
tween the points named, and Bio feet
wide and q feet deep across the crest
of the shoal in the channel leading
from the bend toward Sequine's
Point, but the funds were not suffi-
cient TO complete the work.
DEPTH OF THE CHANNEL.
The channel eastward OF Seuuine's
Point had depth not exceeding
eighteen feet, mean low water. The
channel leading to South Amboy has
not been begun. The amount ex-
pended during the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1889. was 500. A contract Is
in force for the dredging
Of 10000 cubic yards from
the two channels leading to
Perth Amboy and South Amboy. The
engineer in charge says the channel
L.. L. 4 &
Raritan Bay past Sequine's Point to
Perth Amboy exceeds i've miles in
length, is crooked and subject to CON
slant shoalings.
The previous estimates. ne saws,
have but little value, owing to the
small appropriations made and the
constant shoalings. The estimated
cost for completing the project, if all
the required money could be made
available at this time, is $175, 875. The
channel leading to Perth Amboy
should be deepened as early as practi-
cable, the report says. to twenty-one
feet, and that to South Amboy to fif-
teen feet. An appropriation of $50, 600
is recommended for continuing the
work under the revised estimate,
For the Improvement of the chan
mel between Staten Island and New
Jersey by means of dredging and a
system of training bikes, and chan
mel north of Shooters Island $500
feet long, $50 feet wide and 16 feet
deep, mean low water, $4,000 is rec
ommended No work has been done
the past fiscal year.
WORK ON THE PAssAIC.
Captain George MEG. Derby, engi-
neer in charge Of the improvement of
the Passaic River. reports that there
has been no work done on the upper
river during the fiscal year, the neces-
sary dredging plant for doing the
work proposed in accordance with the
approved project for the expenditure
OF the allotment OF 81, 800, made In the
act of 1888, not having been delivered
until May. 1889
The condition of the river remains
unchanged The expenditures dur
ing the fiscal year, amounting to So
70S. 92 have been for part purchase of
dredging plant and office expenses.
The amount which it is recommended
can be profitably expended in the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1891, is
$4,000, For the river below Newark
there had been expended to June 80,
1888, $168, 507S5, exclusive of outstand-
ing liabilities
The dixie at the mouth had been ex-
tended about 1900 feet, making a
length of 6,205 feet. The channel
through the shoal in the bay had been
dredged to the required dimensions,
as also the channel of the river as far
as the Newark and New York Rail
road bridge. The remainder OF the
distance to the Centre street bridge
had only been dredged from 1870 to 100
feet in width. These results have been
OF very great benefit to the large
commerce of the river There has
been no work done on the lower river
during the fiscal year owing to the
non-delivery Of the dredging plant.
The report says the condition of the
river remains unchanged, the channel
is maintaining itself and no complaints
have been received during the year.
The expenditures during the year,
amounting to $12, 49, 80, have been for
the part purchase OF dredging plant
and administration. The amount
(estimated) required for the compile
tion of the work is $154 $40, and the
amount that can be probably ex-
pended in the year ending June 80,
1891. is 100000 The engineer in
charge Of the work, however. says that
100000 could be better employed in
widening the channel as projected and
the construction of the river bikes.
ELIZABETH AND RAILWAY RIVERS.
a. L<.x..