Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-01-18


upon was depth of Is feet from the
harbor's mouth to the pulp works with
depth of 10 feet and width of 100
feet. This included also, on the engi-
neers' recommendation, the jetty at the
lower side of the Christiana's mouth,
and high wall dyke at the junction of
the Brandywine with the Christiana.
THE TWO INSTRUCTIONS.
1t was recognized that there are in
existence two very troublesome shoaling
distractions. These are the accumula-
tion of silt at the harbor's mouth and
another where the Brandywine pours
into the Christiana. II is claimed to be
a well-understood principle that where
one stream joins another at right angles
there is bound to be an accumulation of
slit, or what is known as bar. This
exists at the harbor's mouth and also at
the other point referred to where the
Christiana and the Brandywine meet.
The latter flows in at right angles, and
the two currents, battling in mid.stream,
cause a deposit of detritus. The same
occurs at the mouth of the Christiana,
where the volume of water belonging
to that stream meets the current of the
Delaware. This is the cause of the bar
ut the harbor's mouth.
THE SCIENTIFIC IDEA.
The scientific idea to mend trouble of
this nature is comprised in a certain
well established plan. Assuming what
seems natural enough, namely, that the
cause of the sand bar is the meeting of
two currents at right angles, iti equally
plain that If the two currents could be
made to meet at less abrupt angle or,
still better, to come together by grad
ual curve, the difficulty would be obvi-
ated, for then there would be no antag-
onism and consequently no deposit of
sand. Then there would be no sand bar.
1t is upon this principle the work of the
engineers in the Christiana improve.
ments is based. The additional ietty re-
ferred to, running parallel with the one
already erected would carry the Chris
tiana current, at southern curve, con-
terminous with that of the Delaware
river at the point where the junction is
made. The same idea is applied to the
current of the Brandywine. The pro-
posed high wall dyke would divert the
Brandywine current into line with the
Christiana's current. BY this it is ex-
PNStNN ehhb bhO bul bitub 10
forming at that point will not recur.
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
In speaking with Chief Justice Lore
in regard to the course that should be
adopted by the friends of Wilmington
harbor improvement, that gentleman,
whose experience in the House consti-
tutes him an authority on the modus
operandi, said: "What is necessary is
to get board of survey and a permanent
appropriation for the improvements we
need. Wilmington should be put on
the contract list, when the Chrlstiana
improvements will be recognized as a
work to be continued until completion.
Then we wont have to go begging for
an uncertain sum of money. 1t takes
the Christiana improvement out of the
category of that class of applications
liable to get nothing or anything, just
as the conditions of the treasury may
stand"
THE TIDAL BASIN IDEA.
Another gentlemen said-You know,
of course, that any river depends for its
permanent depth on the volume of
water regularly passing in and out with
the ebb and flow of the tide. OF course
you understand that l am speaking of
tidal rivers in which commerce is carried
on, such as the Chustiana. This scour
then is what keeps the river deep. 1t is
plain if the volume of water passing
daily back and forth be lessened the
depth of the river is likely to be lessened.
From whatever cause this lessening of
the scour arises the river shadows all
the same.
PLAYED HAVOC WITH THE RIVER.
Now every resident of Wilmington is
well aware of the history OF the Chris
tiana. Half century ago there were
immense tracts of land many square
miles in area along the river which at
each tide were covered with water to
various depths. The greater share of
this low-lying river land has been
reclaimed for farm and pasture
purposes within recent years. Well, it |
was all very well for the farmers, but
II played havoc with the Christiana.
Those reclamations meant the loss of |
and millions of gallons of water
passing up and down twice daily in the |
channel of the Christiana. With the
loss of this water the river Swallowed |
until at the present moment possibly 80 |
per cent OF the natural scour is lost No |
wonder that youths of the pesent genera
ton open their eyes in doubt at the
assertion of "a feet of water at the Pusey |
e. Jones wharves in olden times, and of |
big whaling ships coming to anchor
above the present location of Market
street bridge.
The fact remains that a very large
share OF the volume of the Christiana
tidal spread has been lost through land
The present problem is
10 re-establish matters to an equivalent
IN water volume of what they were.
What is necessary is to have a volume
of water passing up and down the
Christiana equalin quantity to that that
the river in years gone by. The
is to build tidal basin at
she upper reaches of the river which
will gather the inflow and lock it up by
.he basin gates, then to set it free again
when the tide is flowing out. This
would add a certain definite quantity to
he Christiana's outflow and would aid
N securing the river to the degree of
,he dimensions of the volume of water
yet free. With the Christiana deepened
% "a feet and width OF 200 feet, and
he dyke at the Brandywine's mouth,
by the jetties at the har-
oor's mouth, it is believed that full op-
will be afforded for thor
,ugh development Of the commerce of
Wilmington.
TIDAL BASIN A CONTINGENT.
1t was heard from another direction
hat the present idea, under its new
orm, is the increased depth and width,
With the Brandywine dyke wall, and
he long jetties running out to the Della
ware meet the current of the Delaware.
rhe hope is that this will sufficiently