Evening journal., 1894-09-29

GIHXGEN
ant Lockwood's Celebrated Partner
About to BE Promoted-other Events Of
s3She Day.
Special Correspondence Evening journal.
NRw CASTLE. Sept 20-Tbere is
strong probability now that dredging
machines will dot the Delaware river ami
bay above and below this city for
several miles, before another year has
rolled around. Philadelphia enterprising
business roen are making astrong fight
for money to deepen the lower Delaware
and their efforts. if continued at ihe
present rate, are sure to bring about
good results.
It seems that six serious distractions
to onayigatIon have been found in the
lower Deleware--Mitilin bay, Schooner
Ledge. Cherry Island Flats, Bulkhesd
Bar, Baker Shoal and Duck Creek Flats,
OF these the last two--Dan Baker ShoRl.
over which the mean lower water stands
at only about 30 feet, and Duck Creek
Flats near Bombay Hook, where the
river Is not more than 10 feet deep-haye
never been disturbed from their original
state At the Cherry Island Flats, " hch lie
in midstream iuat above the mouth OF the
Christians river, the western channel
had been dredged to depth varying from
25 to ~ feet with 400 feet width, The
channel had been dredged to "a feet, how.
ever, previous to 1885 Only 800, 600
was spent upon this later Improvement
Shoaling has already been discovered In
the lower part OF this cut, the depth now
ranging only from 10 20 81 feet for
distance Of 600 feet.
Bulkhead Bar about three miles above
Fort Delaware, has been the most marked
obstruction to commerce geeking naviga.
tion to this port. In It's original unim-
proved condition the shoal carried only
from 90 TO 81 feet at mean low water
Despite repeated dredgings, the deepened
channel over the bar invariably returned
to its old level. An east dixie has since
been built from the upper end of Pea
Patch Island up the stream In q curved
line parallel to the Jersey shore Its
total length is 4 063 feet The channel
across the bar now possesses minimum
depth Of 81 feet with least width 0f
$50 feet, and even a depth of 26 feet,
with about 100 feet width. The channel
has shoaled however, opposite the shore
end OF the dixie 10 25 feet The shoals
have advanced up stream and towRrda the
channel, threatening It's permanenoy II
was here that the cruiser Columbia Is
thought to have met with her mishsp in
june last.
Commenting on the progress OF this
movement TO improve, the Philadelphia
Record aays II Is generally admitted,
however, that double appropriation Of
$500 900 for the two successive years OF
1895 and 1896 would wonderfully expo
dite the work Of Improvement on PhIa
delphia's oce5ln outlet, and would proba-
bly, stimulate Congress to break away
from the snaips pace With which progress
on the Delaware has 50 long been
marked.
Lockwoods Partner to Be Promoted.
Lieutonant Lockwood's famous asso-
ci0te ia his Arctic explorations, Lieu
tenant David Il Brainard, Is about 70 be
promoted to O commissary IN the United
States army. Lieutenant Brainard's re-
markable record as a subsistence officer Is
said to have attracted Secretary Lamont's
attention TO his peculiar adaptabliiiy
for the new vacancy It will be remem
bered that, when the expedition WIS
starving at Camp Sabine. Brainard. who
had charge OF the rations, consisting
Of seal skin and the other miserable sub
stitutes for food made primitive scales
carefully weighing out the ration Of each
man, and when all the others were too
weak to move. be prolonged the existence
Of the party 80 days, as shown BY the
official reports, BY catching shrlmps and
distributing them TO the survivors, ali
of whom have since testified their con-
fidence that be never took even his
rightiul share from their scanty store
Lieutenant Lockwood and the Esqu imau
attendant, who took the American Gag
on that memorable sledge journey with
Brainard, died before the relief party
arrived.