Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-02-12
OUR RIVERS AND HARBORS
Annual Report of Engineer
w. F. Smith.
THE HARBOR AT WILMINGTON
Work on the Chinooteague
and Delaware Bay Canal.
What Has Been Done Toward the Inn
prOvement of Our Rivers--New Ice Pier
Recommended for New Castle = The
Peninsula Streams.

s. A., (retired) engineer in charge Of
rivers and harbors, for this district, has
just been issued and gives much infor-
nation relative to local waterways,
streams and harbors.
Wilmington harbor has had the sum
of 1857 ,2S0.0f expended in its improve
ment in the total aggregate.
A contract was entered into in Au-
gust, 1889, for dredging, at 1879 cents
per cubic yard, the channel in the Chris
tiana river to width of 15O feet and
10 feet deep at low water, beginning at
the corresponding depth in the Della
ware river and as far up as the avail
able funds would permit. Work under
this contract was commenced on Au-
gust 26th, and ceased December 9th,
1899, 165,214 cubic yards of material
having been removed. The channel
dredged extended from the Delaware
river to the Shellpot bridge, total dis
tance of 1900 feet; q smaller cut, 80 feet
wide and about 900 feet long, was also
dredged through and beyond the north
draw of the bridge until it intersected
the main channel above The jetty was
repaired during the month of October,
1889, under contract with Ira Lunt, at
. an expense Of 81 ,463.67.
The amount expended during the
fiscal year ending June Both, 1890, is
$27, 1921, leaving a balanceof $2,835.56
available.
The ice harbor at New Castle is re-
ferred to as the oldest on the Delaware
river, and since the beginning OF the
present century has cost 1928, 1894.
1t is proposed to rebuild one OF the piers
at a cost of Sl5,600
Duck Creek has been dredged so that
- I n n
its channel now is 40 feet wide and 6@
feet deep-at low water-from Smyrna
landing to Buck Store wharf vessels can
now navigate two miles above the
former highest landing place.
On st. Jones river during the fiscal
year ending June Both, 1890 the sum Of
$14,09764 has been expended. The re-
water across the bar at the mouth and
nearly 100 feet wide, flanked on each
side by banks of hard material removed
from the cut; a new cut off, 900 feet
long and 40 feet wide at bend in the
river two miles below Lebanon; and the
removing of two small shoals at Lea's
Landing and Broad Reach, respectively.
There now exists clear and unob-
structed 6-foot low-water channel, 40
feet wide within the river and nearly
100 feet wide over the bar at the mouth,
from Dover to deep water in Delaware
bay The improvements, which up to
the close of the fiscal year ending June
30th, 1890, have cost $39 509.S4, may be
reported as completed in accordance
with the various projects, ard no further
appropriation is recommended.
Mispilion river has now and unob-
structed channel six feet deep and 40 feet
wide from Milford to Flat Reach shoal 12
miles has an entrance depth of only
II feet at low water. Work is now
stopped for want of funds, So 900 more
are required to finish the work.
Mispillion river has absorbed $685.
40ST9 and during the year Il contract
was let, dredging the unimproved part
of the stream from Green Island to the
mouth. A channel 1850 feet had been
made to June 30th last. 1t is recom-
mended that further work be postponed.
Concerning The canal from Chinco-
league bay to Delaware bay at or near
Lewes the report saws:
The project contemplates a "dead
leyel' tidal canal. g feet dpnn heInvv
mean low water in the Delaware BrealS.
water harbor, and 70 feet wide at the
bottom, beginning at the head Of
Chincoteapne bay, followinp dozen water
in SinepuXent, Isle Of Whit. and Assn.
woman bays, then dredged across the
high land near Ocean View. Delaware
10 Indian River bay. thence across this
bay and Reboboth bay and the birh
land intervening between the head If
Rehoboth bay and the shore of Delaware
bay at or near Lewes, Delaware. into
the harbor of the Delaware Brenlwa
The estimated cost Is $3.50
Two appropriations prior 10 net of
September 18th. 1890. have been made
for this work: one Of s1e.750. by act If
August 5th 1885 and one Of S5O 0oO
bv act of AUGUST 11th 1898 Nv direc,
lion of Congress both were to IL ~
pended mon the section of Inc ronta
which lies between CLincotearue bav
and Indian River hav In Sccordancye
with this nrnyisn h, nr9iect for i. c,it from
kssawompn hay n r Irdian River it,i nav
about 4 miles n longtb and . faat ~
dsnth wifi ~ ,,,;dth a'tu nt ~ ~ i,ona -
~ ~ ~ "t' nf on ~. miu.n az NV paso
nroyed Tbe Janth MI ras mas n,auu l,I,ao, ana III
increosed 10 fndt bo,n,S n o,, ia,,ai
iSae~seu hssa. ~ ba iseV pei9M mean ieVel o.
n MI 49, oT NJ iS5ei Goilllacl Miln
hoya ] haen il - rTross roSm ioih, I'm. 9pgfMsiomS
1890 o,;n r. oSess s,noe reoiu"iy,
uS ie VIE ilStaeI ~ Aiaiiy uneAlls,ctea ~ ue- .,
oontrontor 10y .na e tho qooun.eieu rot, ~ .lie
rnrl, tha +;nia fnr t,a ptossouiio - .le ne
contr,ct has bean oytonnd thron 49, i, .lio