The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-05-25
RIVERS AND HARB0RS.
Cash Allowed by Congress for the
Development Of jerseys
Water Ways.
Special to the Jersey oitv ve,us.


WASHINGTON. May "a. 1899. Chairman
FRYE of the Senate Committee on Com
merce in submitting the River and Har-
Dor bill to the Senate. also offered what
can Justly be said to be the best report
ever prepared In explanation of this I'M
~portant appropriation measure. 1t is not
the intention Of your correspondent, how
ever, to do more than present salient fea-
lures of the statements made with refer
ence to such improvements in New Jer-
sey. In regard to Pas5aic River it is
said:-
The Passaic is one of the most import
ant rivers of New Jersey. Since 1880 the
appropriations have been divided, one
part being applied to that part of the river
above Newark and the other to that part
of the river beio " Newark, but the COM
mittee Is of the opinion that one general
appropriation should be made for
the entire river, leaving its expenditure
to the discretion Of the engineers. A re-
cent survey Of that portion of the river be-
low Newark dredged by the appropriation
of 1888, shows that the depths have been
maintained unexpectedly we'll during the
past winter. The estimated amount re-
quirel for the completion of the project
for the lower river is STA, SIS. and for the
upper river $54 972. This project provides
for enlarging the channel width within
the popular districts of the CITY of New
ark to the full width of the stream, upon
the urgent desire Of the riparian own
ers."
IF it is the intention of Congress to
complete this improvement the balance
of the estimate, $11, 100. could be expended
profitab bly, as regards the efficient prosecu-
ton of the work. but an appropriation of
S., 200 is all the committee can recon-
mend. No appropriation was made from
1882 to 1890.
sHoAL HARBoR AND CoMPToN's CREEK.
40 complete the existing project there
Is required $50. 1870. and at least 10000
should be expended in the next fiscal
year, but the committee was unable to al
low more than 50, 900 There are 1902 YES
ing %schooners.
STATEN ISLAND CHANNEL,
1.-THE channel through the Kills forms
q most important waterway between
New York on one hand and the Raritan
River and the Amboys on the other. AL
Raritan Canal passes through it, besides
a large proportion Of the coal and other
trade of Perth Amooy and Elizabethport.
THE RARITAN.
"The Raritan is one of the largest
rivers in New Jersey. The improve
hlChIo olLCoty idoaS navy oSOh q sACob
help to navigation, permitting the large
lows in use GU the river to reach a point
four miles below New Brunswick at all
stages of the tide. For the completion of
the existing project 81. 522.4 l2 will be re-
CURED"
SHREWSBURY RIVER.
The report Continues:
1.-THE Snrewsbury.River is susceptible of
being made ia very valuable navigable
river at small expense. Its comm cree is
considerable, its shores are thickly settled
throughout it's length. the country Is
very rich, and during the season of navi-
cation the population served is very large.
Every improvement made by the govern
ment has been promptly put to use, and
u marked Increase in has been
the result. Only $50, 600 is required to
complete the existing project.
RlvER.
1.-THE dredging has resulted in consider
able improvement in the channel in re-
gard to width. which, because of the
sharp turu at the corner stake light,
should be as great as is consistent with
the maintaining power Of the current. 1t
res to complete the project SCI. 900.
ARTHUR KILL.
"As the funds in hand will not ROM
plete the improvement and as the favor
able results Tins fur attained seem to
warrant the ultimate completion Of the
project. the committee an
alkoN ahNO Va FO.OOO. oothg IL 10 OC-
lieved will almost complete the work.
KEYPORT HARBOR.
There has sbeen no appropriation for
this work since 1882. consequently the
dredged channel has shoaled in places
to sbout six feet, mean low water.
but the as yet shows
no falling off. II it is the intention
of Congress to complete this improvement
the balance of the estlmate tan be profit
ably expended during the next year.
Several manufacturing establishments
are located In the adjacent city. and ship
building and the oyster business con-
tributed materially TO its prosperity.
RARITAN BAY.
LAS the amount appropriated in any
one year has been much less than the esti-
mated cost of the improvement. aud as
the channel excavated under each appro-
p~riation has been impaired by ~shoaling in
a greater or less degree before work would
be resumed under the succeeding appro-
priatious, the original estimates for this
Improvement have little value, and cam
not be used for determining the amount
required for The completion of the pro-
ject. 1t is believed though that $175.3 1875
will finish IL.