Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-11-15

Discussing the improvements of rivers
and harbors in Southern New Jersey,
Delaware river and bay and waters
tributary thereto in the States of New
Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware,
the annual report of the chief OF en-
gineers of the United States army goes
into historical details of interest. A
board of engineers, he says, convened
by the Secretary of War to consider
the permanent improvement of Della
ware river and bay, recommended the
formation of ship channel from a
point opposite Philadelphia to deep
water in Delaware bay, having least
width OF 800 feet and minimum depth
of 20 feet. This report was made on
January Esd, 1885. The estimated cost Of
obtaining a channel of these dimensions
I was about So, 425, 600, which covers the
estimated cost of the permanent i'm
provement of the Delaware river be-
I tween the upper part of Philadelphia
4 and deep water, but does not include
the improvement Of Philadelphia har-
Dor, which is a separate project. The
entire amount expended on the i'm
provement of the Delaware river up to
the expiration of the last fiscal year
was $2,163,000, of which $1lS,5O0 has
been expended between Trenton and
the upper part of Philadelphia.
CHANNELS MADE.
In its original condition this part of
the river was INSTRUCTED by shoals be-
tween Bordentown and Trenton, 1T
Kinkera bar and at Five Mile bar. Be-
low Philadelphia the river, in its original
condition, presented distractions at Milf
fin bar, at Schooner Ledge and Cherry
Island Flats, and at Bulkhead and Dan
Baker shoals. AS result of the i'm
provements carried on under the plan
of 1885 there is now depth of seven
and half feet at low water through the
bars between Bridesbrrg and Borden
town; channel across Kinkora bar of
like depth; channel across Five Mile
bar 200 feet wide and from 12 to 10 feet
deep; channel from 200 to 400 feet
wide and from 90 to 26 feet deep through
the shoal areas at Port Richmond; "a
channel across Miffiin bar $50 feet wide
and over "a feet deep; channel through
Schooner Ledge $50 feet wide and "a feet
deep, except over a small area recently
discovered; channel through Cherry
Island Flats 200 feet wide and 26 feet
deep, and channel across Bulkhead
bar from 100 to $40 feet wide, and from
"a to 26 feet deep. The amount neces.
sary for the completion of the project is
$1,305,000 the appropriation recon-
mended for next year is $500,000; the
amount available from the remainder of
this year is $4,000. The channel be.
tween Philadelphia and Camden across
Smith Island bar has been improved by
dredged cut, protected by revetment,
so as to give o channel 100 feet wide
with minimum depth of 6 feet.
SMITHS AND WINDMILL ISLANDS.
At the time of the adoption of the
present project the islands in the Della
ware river between Philadelphia and
Camden compelled the flood and ebb
currents to pursue different paths, mar
rowed the channels and prevented the
extension of wharves necessary for pur-
poses of commerce. The original plan
of improvement contemplated the re
moval of Smiths and Windmill Islands
and part Of Petty's Island, at a total cost
exclusive Of the purchase of the islands,
of $3,500,000. This plan was modified
in 1891 by authorizing change in the
line, by limiting the excavation on
Petty's Island, and by requiring that
all material removed should be deposited
on League Island. During the past fiscal
year nearly $1,000 linear feet of piling
and revetment have been removed from
Smiths, Windmill and Petty's Islands,
nearly 100000 cubic yards Of material
have been dredged from the islands and
the adjacent shoals, and 1921 goo cubic
yards of earth have been deposited on
League Island. During the present fiscal
year it is expected that all the remain.
ing revetment will be removed, that al
least 2, 100000 cubic yards will be ex.
cavated, and at least 7O00O0cubic yard.
deposited and spread on League Island
The amount estimated to be necessary
for the completion of the project j.
$2,0O9,000; the appropriation recon
mended for the next year is $1,00O,00O
scHuYLKILL RIVER.
Referring to the Schuylkill river, the
report says when the Improvement
were commenced, in 1870, there wa
only depth OF 10 feet at low water a
the entrance of the river. The amour
depended ON the improvement up t,
1898 was $685. of total estimated
cost of $529, 900, and a channel $50 fee
wide and from Is to 81 feet inchc
deep mad been formed at the mouth.
Duringsthe past fiscal year S24,00
had been expended in repairs and il
completing the work of dredging, an
the depth of the channel over the ba
had been increased two feet. 1t is Pre-
posed to apply available funds to dix
construction and to dredging, If foun
necessary. There is $27, avatlabl
for this year.
THE ICE HARBoR.
The ice harbor at Marcus Hook, Pa
which, on its present plan, was con
menced in 1868, with view Of provid
ing harbor in the Delaware river I
protect vessels against moving ice, ha
cost, up to the end of the fiscal yea
1893, $21o,635. During the past yea
two landing piers were repaired and Oh
group of mooring piles replaced Their
is an available balance uneXpenied {
nearly $4,000
During the past year no expenditure
have been incurred on the ice hurbor {
tine head of Delaware bay, il being III
opinion of the army engineers thar tn
appropriations can be applied wit
better results to the Improvement {
the channel, until the main ship cham,
shall have been placed in proper COT
dition. There is an available appr,
priation OF over $4,000 uncXpended fl
Delaware ice harDOr.
DELAWARE BREAkwATER.
Legislation for the regulation Of ii
use OF the iron pier in Delaware ba
near Lewes, and the ncighborins al
chorage under the shelter OF Dcl4#ai
Breakwater during tine seasons at il
and storm, is recommended. In regA1
TO Delaware Breakwaier the engines
say the increase in the dimensions ,
vessels since u" present harppr was d