Evening journal., 1891-02-16
WILMINGTON HARB0R.
BUSINESS MEN DISCUSS NEEDED
IMPROVEMENTS.

Sammission OF Engineers Hold a Meet
ing In the Builders Exchange-Promi-
nent shipbuiIders State Their Griev-
ances and Propose Plans That WIN
SsriBE Much business Here.
The Commission of Engineers. consti-
tuted in compliance with the River and
Harbor act Of September 10. 1890, for
the improvement of Wilmington harbor,
held a public meeting in the Board
OF Trade rooms this afternoon. D. @.
Houston, colonel of engineers, United
States Army, presided. The other mem
bers Of the commission are Major Ray
mond, U. ). A., of Philadelphia, and l..
y. Skimmerhorn, citizen engineer, of
Philadelphia
Colonel Houston In calling the meeting
to order stated that it was their purpose,
at the suggestion of Senators Higgins and
Gray, to obtain the views OF the interested
manufacturers and shipbuilders along
the Christiana, on the subject of harbor
improvement.
e. Tatnall Warner presented and read
a communication from Professor Lewis
al. Hought, who had been employed a
few months ago to sound and inspect the
river and advise as to the best plan to
improve the harbor. The communication
fully outlined several methods for OBJ
tanning and preserving an excellent har-
Dor.
General James 81. Wilson said that he.
with party OF interested men, had made
soundings and an investigation of the
Christiana They found, TO their sur
prise, that the average depth of water be.
tween Market street bridge and the pulp
works was but Z feet inches. The
deepest part was 10 feet while IN the
most places it was but feet From
Market street bridge to the cutoff rail.
road bridge it was but 10 feet on an
average. He made q complete explana-
tion of his method for improving
and sustaining the harbor "Tns
river, he said, should be
dredged TO depth. of twenty-four
feet at low water. Nothing less than
that viii properly reach the 1growth of
this port. The earth tina. is taken frt m
the rivers beds could be placed
on the low lands, contigu-
GUS to the streams in such q manner
that they could be transformed into ex-
cellent manufacturing sites. AS harbor
cannot be made to maintain itself in a
movable soil like this, my plan for its
sustenance would be to rip rap the
sides, and remove the silk from the
rivers bed. The aggregate cost Of these
improvements, estimating the cost OF
dredging at ~ cents per yard would not
exceed $500, 000"
George G. Lobdell stated that the
biggest ships that nSvigated on the Della
ware could come up as far IS Whining
ton, but were rarely able to proceed
further without great difficulty. He
said that the present condition CT the
harbor is the result of years Of shosling
and accumulation OF clay from the upper
part Of the stream. 1t was not always
the case that these large vessels were
prevented from entering the harbor, for
in 1885 big whale ship came up to tbs
wharf now occupied by the Pusey and
Jones Company and loaded large cargo
there.
Franklin B. Cotton was called upon to
tell how the ChristianR's bed could be
dredged. He said that he had acquainted
himself thoroughly with the ChristianRs
bed. ''There is nothing 20 prevent its
being dredged to depth Of "a feet
from the mouth to Third street bridge
From this point Oh up there is ledge
which would prevent its being dredged
to greater depth than eighteen feet,
although this might be accomplished by
the employment of modern submarine
appliances. From Market street bridge to
the Harlan and Hollingsworth Company's
works, there is red clay, gravel and
small boulders Above this point is clay
and sand. All Of the a3ove could be
readily removed and handled" He con
cluded by reading & resolution adopted
by the citizons committee, that the steps
be taken to have the river dredged te 8
depth Of 20 to % fest and dyke at all
points where permanent wharves stand
j. Taylor Cause stated that the Har-
Ian and Hollinggworth Company had
every facility for building the
largest cruisers in use anywhere in
the world, but il it should
construct one, a path would
have to be dredged to allow the vessel to
get out to the river This would cost
almost as much as the vessel,
and the company was, in con-
sequence, compelled 90 refuse
contracts FOR the boats. In reply to 8
question, Mr.. Cause said that these
vessels could and would be built here as
chesply as anywhere in the world, bat
for this one hindrance
job H. JrcksOn said that although his
plant was situated further down
than any others, Yet his company suffered
greatly on account OF the streams pres.
ent condition. In loading materials on
large vessels IL is necessary TO transport
them TO the river, there to be loaded.
Enoch Moore said that vessels drawing
16 and 10 feet OF water had been loaded
with heavy eargoes for the West Indies,
at his wharf. Now be has but Z feet on
on the average
Sanarnr Hipp5ns snake If tba nlaery4ra
he would have in advancing anv or all
suggestions that might be made by the
meeting He said that this port was re-
mrrkably we'll situated for the establish
ment Of the largest shipyards. all neces-
sary material being accessible.
The Equitable Assurance Company.
NEW YoRK, Feb 12-Among the
directors nresent az the annual meetinp