Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-20

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States agent of this district, has sent in
his annual report to the Chief of Engi-
neers, U. s. A. 1t is embodied in the
report to the Secretary of War,
That part of General Smiths report
which refers to Wilmington is as fol-
lows;
At the beginning of the fiscal year the
contract for dredging and removal of
rock in this harbor entered into with the
Atlas Dredging Co., of Wilmington,
Del, was still in force and the work in
progress, the time for completion of the
contract having been extended under
authority from the Chief of Engineers
to October LIST, 1898. The work had ex-
perienced much delay from the begin
ming. First, by ice during the preceding
winter, and, later, by the hard material
encountered in dredging and by injunc-
tions served upon the contractors by the
State authorities of New Jersey, who
objected to the dumping of dredged ma
terial at certain points in the Delaware
river, and by the consequent difficulty
in finding proper dumping ground,
The time for completing the contract
was further extended, after the first ex.
tension had expired, from October 1stt
November LIST, following. On that date
the contractors, In view of the many dis
advantages under which they were
prosecuting the work, presented q re-
quest to have their contract terminated.
The request was not granted by the de-
partment; but q subsequent extension
of three months until February LIST, 1894,
asked for was allowed them for the
completion of the contract.
The removal of the ledge of rock
! below Third street bridge was COM
pleted during the latter part of Septem-
Der. The dredging operations in the
upper part of the river continued until
December 18th, 1893, when the contract
was finally closed. There were removed
during the fiscal year under this con
1 tract 217 cubic yards of rock and 50, All
cubic yards OF gravel, sand, mud and
clay, in about equal proportions, MAX
ing the total removed under the princi-
lpal and supplementary contracts 6S4
lcubic yards of rock and 15S,397 cubic
yards of gravel, &c, measured in place.
Of this quantity, IL, 1865 cubic yards of
sand and mud were dumped in the river
kand then redredged and put ashore over
Ethe dixie in front of the property of the
iLobdell Car Wheel Go. The remainder
Twas carried away in scows and dumped
lat the following places; s6,0S3 cubic
yards along the eastern edge of the
Cherry Island flats, Delaware river;
36,351 cubic yards in a cove of the west
shore of Delaware river below Edge
Moor, and 22,894 cubic yards along the
lower side of the dixie at Bulkhead
Shoal, Delaware river The rock re-
moved from both lodges at Third street
|, I,
up by blasting, was raised by small
grabble dredge and put in scows, and,
on the following high water, deposited
along the north side of the jetty at the
mouth of Christiana river.
The section of the channel improved
during the fiscal year to a'depth of Il
feet below mean low water extends
from point 70 feet east of Market
street bridge to the pulp works, dis
lance of 1870 feet measured along the
centre of the channel. OF this distance
the lower portion, for n length Of 2 $50
feet, has been dredged to the full ap
proved width of $50 feet, the following
$50 feet for width of 50 feet, and the
remaining $50 feet for width of iC
feet. This last cut reaches to the uppel
terminus Of the present river improve
complete them under the present proiec
is TO widen this and the preceding mar
row section to the full width of l5C
feet and to build the extension of tn
jetty. ......
The approved project OF improve
ment is for 15-foot low-wGter channe
$50 feet wide from the mouth OF til
Christiana river to the rolling mil
&c 1ybinh 10 A -Sn fn,.
outer end of the jetty; 100 feet wild
from this wharf to the Delaware 4
Western railroad bridge, and 20 fec
also for channel u feet deep and s
Delaware railroad bridge and for til
construction of a ietty i,74O feet lon
on the north side OF the mouth of tn
river. The board of engineers recon
mending these Improvements in IS.
estimated the total cost Of $1i5, 55l. Til
construction of the ietty and dredgin
operations were begun the followin
year. A revised estimate for the compl
ton of the project was submitted
1888. This estimate increased the cha,
mel width from the rolling mill wharf
the PUN works to $50 feet, and the fin
cost to $191, 3S4, exclusive OF the c.
pense Of the ietty, which was tbs
nearly completed, and for tho chGna
above the pulp works, which ~
stricken OH. 4 modification of the pla
of the jetty was made and approved
1884, providing for an additional hetg
of feet and an extension of 322 fe,
The former work was done the Iolloy
ing year.
Up to the year 1871 the gcner
government had at various times G
pended 1872, 1865 in the improvement
the Christiana river, now Wi,mingtC
harbor. Between the years 1871 al
1881 improvements were carried
under project for q l2.foot low wat
channel from 100 to 200 feet wide. r
project was completed in 1881 at toI
expense of SS3,5oO,
Under the project adopted in lsS
$2lJ,S40.21 had been expended ub
the close of the fiscal year ending III
30ih, 1893, There was then an improy
channel 10 feet deep at mean low wal
and 100 feet wide from the l5-fC
depth outside the bar at the mouth L
point rs feet east Of Market STR
bridge, except over the rock belt
Third street bridge, the removal
which to 10 feet was then in progre
The amount asked for, ii app
priatod, will be expended in the co
pletion of the project
General smith then continues in
resume OF the amounts appropriated
the harbor Of Wilmington from 1896
1S92-aboGt $350,00 The unexpepd
balance on July 1st OF this year Y
$3,l9325 The amount estimated
required for the cumpletiOn of