Evening journal., 1892-12-10
THE HARBORS IMPROVED
Major William F. Smith on
Delaware Waters.
CONGRESSMAN OAUsEYs WORK.

0ntAt sam Ao0ktU at Nnt HAtAApM Ah''7 |
and said, 'Your Name is Mud."-Ex-
tracts Taken From the Report OF Major
smith to the Chief of Engineers and the |
Secretary Of War.
Delaware has not had, for many years,
a representative in Congress who evinced |
such deep interest in its inland water
ways as Hon. John w. Causey. Since he
was elected he has been untiring in his |
efforts to get appropriations for the
rivers end harbors Of the little common
wealth which he represents. He has
been successful to an extraordinary de
gree, and has been ably seconded in his
efforts by Senator George Gray
The result has been a judicious i'm
provement in all the principal water
ways, with additional improvements.
under new appropriations, steadily pro
crossing.
Engineer. Charge William F. Smith,
United States agent, major of engineers,
U. S. Army retired, has made an exten
sive report upon the Peninsular improve
ments. From this report the following
extracts, relating TO Delaware streams,
are taken:
At the beginning of the fiscal year the
contract with the Atlas Dredging Com
pany, of Wilmington, Del, was still in
force operations having been begun
on February II, 1891. The contract was
completed on August II, 1891. The
amount of material removed during the
fiscal year was 81, 045 cubic yalds, which
increased the length of the channel previ-
ously dredged /. 600 feet. The total amount
removed under the contract was 1902, 9S5
cubic yards, resulting in an improved
channel, 10 feet deep at mean low water
and 80 feet wide at the bottom, from
the Shellpot railroad bridge to the Pusey
& Jones shipyard, a distance Of 6,2OO
feet. The dredged material was mud
and sand principally the former. and
was deposited in a cove of the Delaware
River below Edgemoor.
The approved project of improvement is
for a 15-foot low-water channel, 100
feet wide from the mouth of the Chris
, tiana river to the rolling mill wharf
a, $50 feet above the outer end of the
ietty), 100 feet wide from this wharf to
the Delaware and Western railrord
bridge, and 75 feet from this bridge to
the pulp works; also for channel, II
q feet deep and 90 feet wide from the pulp
works to the Delaware railroad bridge,
and for the construction of a jetty l, 44O
o feet long on the north side Of the mouth
/ of the river. The Board of Engineers,
/ which recommended these improvements
D in 1881 estimated the total cost at $40,
r sol. The construction of the jetty and
/. dredging operations were begun. the fol.
e lowing year. On page co., Annual lie
= port of Chief of Engineers for 1888, re
e vised estimate is given for the compile
l. tion of the above project This estimate
e increased the channel width Of the whole
e section from the rolling mill wharf t'
q the pulp works to $50 feet, and did nof
include the 12-foot channel previously
# estimated for from the pulp works to the
Q Delaware railroad bridge, the total cos
It being given at Sl01, 3S4, exclusive of th'
It expense of building the jetty, which wal
o then nearly completed. A modification
% of the plan of the jetty was made anC
h approved in 1884, providing for an ad
a ditional height of 4 feet and an exten.
a sion of 322 feet in length. The former
10 work was done the following year.
d Up to the year 1871 the general gov
Il ernment had at various times expended
h $s2. 356 in the improvement of Christian
sr river or Wilmington harbor. Betweel
a the years 1871 and 1881 improvement
o. were continued under a project for
)r twelve-foot low-water channel from 10
IL to 200 feet wide, and $50, $50 had bee
a. expended when the project was con
pleted in the latter year. Under tn
Of project adopted in 1881 $2Ol ,4O466 hav
E. been expended, making a grand total &
e, S317. 260. SO at the close of the fiscal yea
III ending June 80, 1892.
The commission on the improvement
er of this harbor appointed by the secr'
3r tary of war in accordance with a pre-
vision of the river and harbor act {
n September 10, 1890, have made their II
Id port and plan for a permanent improve
ed ment of Wilmington harbor. The repol
s. is printed on pages 1881, ,159, annul
on report of the chief of engineers for 1891
ln ln AppoquiniminlS River, Delaware.
m This stream is tidal tributary Of Del
nd ware Bay, flowing through New Cast
n County. It is navigable for vessels
light draft from the mouth to abo'
Odessa. A bar having only II feet
water over it at low tide obstructs Il
ill mouth of the river. The average ri
tv and fall Of the tide at the bar is 6 fee
~ at Odessa it is 32 feet.
The project for Improvement propose
~ ~ in a report on a survey Of the river MAJ
ne in 1899 and adopted under an appropri
,eu tion made by the river and harbor a
l1n approved September 10, 1890, provid
for dredging a channel s feet deep
mean low water with a width of 100 fe
from the mouth TO New Bridge, ne
re Townsend's Wharf, and thence so fe
nes wide to the county bridge at Odess
led the estimated cost of the improveme
,ad being $50 963 Up to the close of the
er. cal year ending June 30. 1891, the ST
of So, 563. 72 has been expended giving
greatly increased harbor space at
ner town of Odessa.
his Nothing was done during the past
- cal year. Amount available for fist
ssn year ending June 3d. 1s93 5,O362S.
smyrna River, Delaware.
This river, formerly called Du
Creek, had, before improvements beg
q of in 1879, a minimum depth of @ f
ARE within the river and about 4 feet on
'lub the bar at the mouth. Navigation v
to- possible only at high tide, and was C
at ried on by one steamer and seven sm
use schooners.
roll At the close of the fiscal year endi
'eak June 30. 1875 the sum of .$12, 536. 80