Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-02-01

What tho "American shipbuilder" Says
About Improving the Christiana.


About Improving the Christiana.
American shipbuilder editorial Thursday.
One of the largest shipbuilding plants
in this country is that of the Harlan d
Hollingsworth Company, Wilmington,
Del, and although having built numer-
Gus coast, sound and river steamers of
great, and some Of them unequalled,
speed, this company has been prevented
from competing in war vessel construc-
ton for the grave reason that there is
not sufficient depth of water in the
Christana river to float cruisers after
completion. This is truly q national
oversight, for the more shipyards we
have the greater the competition; besides
this the Harlan & Hollingsworth Com
pany could satisfactorily fill any govern
ment contract that might be awarded it.
Streams of far less import have had
frequent and liberal appropriations ex-
tended them year after year, but Con-
gross, by successive stages, has had the
channel of the Christiana deepened only
from eight to ten feet, then to twelve
feet, and is now having it dredged to
iifteen-a mere drop in the bucket.
On the 18th inst. the river and harbor
committee of the House of Representa-
| lives, in response to an invitation by
| the Wilmington Board of Trade, in
| spected the Christiana, and while he
conceded that the river, owing to the
| difficulties which meet those who have
business ON it, and the growth and
development Of Wilmington's trade by
water is increasing the demand for
greater depth, Chairman Blanchard said
| the condition of the national finances at
present prevented any positive promises
being made as to an appropriation
in excess of that which is granted
annually to keep the harbor open.
| However, there could be incorporated
in the River and Harbor bill of this
Congress a proposition or proviso for a
survey, by government engineers, OF
Wilmington harbor, and it should in
clude the whole scheme of what was
needed, upon basis of "a feet depth OF
water and a channel 200 feet wide
Then the next Congress, if it saw itf
way clear, could give out the contract
for the work, which the government
would be bound to continue, making
the annual appropriations to pay the
contractors. Mr.. Blanchard said:
1.-The idea of the present day was tc
get freight into markets at the lowest
possible cost for tolls, and deeper har
bers were absolutely necessary. The
government ought to give Wilmington
at least u second class harbor. We whC
have been in Congress long time
believe that body has pursued wis
policy in adopting what is known as thu
contract system for improving harbors
In France, Germany, Great Britain ant
other smaller countries, when a grea
piece of harbor improvement is neces
sary, it is gone at in wholesale wal
and the government does the work
When new harbor is wanted the engi
neers make the survey as to the need
aud the cost; it is submitted and tn
money provided. This can be done il
those countries, but in the United State
it is different. Each Representative il
Congress has some project on hand TO
harbor Improvements and he insists OF
having his pet measure put through, an
thus they are all hampered because Q
the multiplicity of demands, all c
which cannot be granted. In order :
get votes for any project much work j
! required, as members will often not vot
for measures because there is nothing i
1t for them or their constituents. Th
process which has been in operatio
, since 1900 is wrong in principle, but tn
new method has been founa to be SUI
cessful and practical. The men VIII
make up the River and Harbor bill muI
keep their finger on the public pulse
know what TO do"