The herald., 1895-12-19

Stevenson presented to the senate the fol-
lowing letter. from the secretary of war
transmitting the report of the chief of EN-
gineers on the improvement of Whining
ton harbor, CAL. called for by the resolu-
ton of the senate of December 3, 1895:
WAR DEPARTMENT.,
WASHINGTON. ID. c., Dec. 9, 1881
SIR:-I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of senate resolution of Deem
Der 3, S95, directing the secretary of war
ITO inform the senate, at his earliest con-
venience, whether in his opinion the project
for further improvement of the harbor at
Wilmington, CAL, proposed by w. H. H.
Benyaurd, aforementioned, corps of en-
gineers, U. S. A., on June 8, 1894, and
fully set forth i'll Senate EX. Doc. No. CT :,
Fifty-third Congress, third session, can be
successfully carried out within the estim-
ates submitted in said report, and to make
such recommendation as he may deem adj
visable with reference therein" and in
reply to transmit herewith the report of
the chief of engineers, U. S. A., dated De-
cember 6, 1895, in response to said reso-
luton, in which concur.
Very respectfully,
DANIEL S. LAMONT,
Secretary of War.
The President of the United States Senate.
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,
UNITED STATES ARMY,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec. 6, 1895.
SIR: / have the honor TO ackuowled &c
the reference to this office of senate reso-
luton of December 3, 1895, directing the
secretary of war 40 inform the senate, at
his earliest convenience, whether in his
opinion the project for further improve
ment of the harbor at Wilmington, CAL,
proposed by w. H. H. Benyaurd, lieuten-
ant-colonel. corps of engineers, U. S. A,
on June 8, 1894, and fully set forth in
Senate Elk. Doc. No. 81, Fifty-third con-
gress, third session, can be successfully
carried out within the estimates submitted
in said report. and to make such recon-.
mendation as he may deem advisable with
reference thereto" and to submit the fol-
lowing report thereon:
Senate Ex Doc. No. 81, Fifty-third con-
gress, third session, is a report by Lieu
provement of the inner harbor of
Wilmington, Cal. This report is also
found in the annual report of
Unconditional Benyaurd for 1895,
which forms a part of the report of the
chief of engineers for the fiscal year ended
June 80, 1895. In such report Lieutenant
Colonel Benyaurd states tnat 1.-The above
estimate ($392,725) is presented with the
that the improvement of
the harbor be continued as Indicated"
The work proposed is principally dredging
between the jetties and increasing the
depths in the inner harbor to accommodate
the class of vessels capable of passing the
entrance and permitting them to reach
and make use of the docks.
The estimated cost of the work is given
as 1892, 725, which estimate is based on
the prices actually paid for similar work,
and appears ample for successfully carry
ing out the improvement recommended in
the report.
The work already accomplished for the
improvement of the inner harbor of Will
mington has given most excellent results.
the entrance having been deepened from
2 feet at mean low water TO over IA feet at
the same stage. The new project contem-
plates an increase of such depth to IL feet
at the mean low water, which will give
from % to "a feet at high tide; and that
full advantage may he taken of such in
creased depths, it is desirable that the full
channel depth be carried to the wharves.
The commercial interests which depend
upon Wilmington as harbor are very
large, and the further improvement of the
inner harbor as proposed in Lieutenant
Colonel Benyaurd's report appears to be Of
great importance to such interests.
The resolution of the senate is herewith
returned.
Very respectfully. your obedient servant,
W. p. CRAIGHILL,
Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers.
Hon. d. S. LAMONT,
Secretary of War.