Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-01-10
eryERAI yMrrws rrponE
For tho DeeponIns oT tho Chrlstiana as
Far as NsyTpD.s.


Following is the full test Of the re-
port sent 10 Washington 10y Genera!
William +. Smith, Enlte6 States ongi-
necr, Of this city, Recommending the
deepening Of the Cht.s,!anE from :hc
pulp works TO Newport.
Ii may be added that the rfcjec. i6
warmly endorsed by CN9nai William
=. Craighili, corps Of engineers, ka'ti-
more, Md, who said of!a;a!!y:
"F'or the facts and reasons Set forth Ia
tho report Of the assistant enginrer, as
we'll as from perguEGl SpaHiedgs
Of tho locality, and having in .Tiow tho
present and prospective inmsnds VI
commerce, l am OF the opinion that
Chsiat!ana river above Whtpingtca, to
Newport, Del, Is worthy Of lmn.eys-
mont by the United States."
UNITED STATES EEGrsEaR oprtcE. VIII
IiNGToN, DEL, Nov. IA, lS9l-Sr! ! have
the honor to submit the following tepot,
uron the preliminary examination ei
christina river above Wilmington to
Newport, Del:
The lower Chris.iana river, including
Wilmington harbur, for u distance Of
nearly lour iuil5s above the mouth, has
hecn under improvement by the general
government since 1896. Taxing the upper
limit of tho improvements at the pulp
works. which is also the last upper manu-
featuring establishment locRted ell the
baaks OF the river in The harooT, az y
starting point. the length Of :no river to
he eXamincd above Wilmington is ahout
100 feet to the county bridge AZ Newport,
lnclnding the latter bridge, four bridgea
cross the river within this section, OF which
three are railroad bridges, all being pro-
| vided with draws.
| The physical appearance Of this part of
the river is very much ike the lower one,
| the adjoining luN!andS being defended
| against overflow BY ourthen cmbankmsnts
on both sides following closely the course
| of the river, which gives the areas of the
| cross sections between thom compare
| lively regular form the Dimensions de-
creaSing gradually rs tho upper limit is
| approached. The width between high
water marks is about 30 feet ut the lower
aud 50 feet ut tho upper end. The depth
| in the channel varies between Ia and
| leet ~ average low tide. the shoalest por-
| tons being short cross bars Of hard ma
terial, caused, il is assumed, by freshG;s or
breaks in the dikeS. The course is II sinii-
| ous one the bends, however, have large
| ralii and offer no impsdmen.s 70 free
navigation. The average riSG Of the tide
| at Newport is nearly the same as at Viii
nington, where it is 5.S feet. indicating no
considerable tidal loss between the points
named.
The commerce by water to and from
Newport is at present very limited; the
principal cause is, as have been told. the
| prevailing low local freight Rates offered
by the Philadelphia. Wilmington n Lalu.
more Railroad Co., whose main line passes
through the town and close by the river.
Directly on the river are located Il bone
mill or phosphate works, a rolling mill
and lumber and coal yard; and Of these
| ouly the first and last named receive or
ship freight at their wharyes, and that
only to u very small extent. The total
freight landed by water at the bone mill
amounts annually To about 6,00U tons, con
ssting of phosphate rock, acid plaster
and bone, which is mainly brought from
Philadelphia upon canal boats and barges
4 in cargoes of about go tons. The phos-
plate rock is originally shipped to Phila.
delphia upon large schooners from Nova
Scotia and South Carolina. and then re-
loaded upon the oarges. These schooners
draw from IL to ii feet of water, loaded,
and would go directly to Newport, to save
the expense of literage. If the Instructions
in the channel above Wilmington were re.
moved.
At the wharf of the coal and lumber
yard about once year u small sailing
vessel stops to unload cord wood; all Other
shipments TO and from the town. includ
ing the general trade of all other business
concerns, are made by rail.
A survey OF the whole Christiana river
ordered by Congress Ill the same bill
which ordered this preliminary examina
ton, is now IN progress. When the result,
of the survey are plotted, an estimate cai
readily be made for the removal to any
desired depth of the distractions in thu
channel between Wilmington and New
port. Very respectfully. your obedien
servant. A SrIERLE, Assistant Engineer.
GEN. WM. +. SMITH, United States Agent
This work, 1t is understood, will nov
be incorporated in the general proiec
of the greater deepening OF the Chris
tiana from the harbor's mouth at tn,
Delaware river, which has recently beer
favorably reported to the House Of Rep
resentatlves by the Secretary OF War.