Evening journal., 1896-12-11
WoRns NO ME MANOR.

WORDS TO THE MAJOR.
The Trades League of Philadelphia,
has at last reached the conclusion that
Major Raymond's policy Of digging
holes and building shoals in the Della
ware river is not the most effective
method for the permanent improve
ment of the navigation of that impor-
tant waterway. For a number of years
Delawareans have been protesting that
the only proper method to dispose of
the material dredged from the Della
ware is TO place it above high-water
mark, but Major Raymond, in his hole
and shoal wisdom, has gone on dredg-
ing mud from one part OF the river
and dumping 1t in some other part.
Yesterday the Board of Managers Of
the Trades League, OF Philadelphia,
met and finally took action on the
modified report OF its Committee on
Harbor and Navigation upon the pol
icy pursued by the United States en-
gineers in dumping the material
dredged In the improvement of the
Delaware river into the river again,
and adopted the following resolutions:
Whereas, The requirements of the
commerce OF this port are such as ur-
gently 20 demand greater depths than
those now existing in the Delaware
river;
Whereas, We heartily commend the
efforts which have been made during
the past decade by the govrnment to
secure permanent improvements in the
channel: and
Whereas, The engineer officer Of the
United States Government, in charge
OF the improvement of the Delaware
has stated that the method of placing
material dredged from the river on
shore would be generally desirable, If
Il were practicable at reasonable cost;
and
Whereas, The advantages of placing
spoil" taken from the river on shore
must far more than compensate for
the additional expenditure required.
Resolved, That the Trades League
OF Philadelphia, believes 1t to be both
expedient and economical to place the
earthly material dredged from the
river on shore or behind dikes.
Resolved, That the secretary OF the
Trades League be authorized and re
quested to send a copy of the above
resolution to the department in charge
OF the improvements
The original resolutions were muct
more emphatic, but the league though
that If il expressed it's real sentiments
in a formal manner its action nigh
hurt Major Raymond's feelings, hence
the modification to escape the major
resentment.
A letter from L. Y. Schermerhori
showed that "in 1885 a board of engi
neers considered the permanent i'm
provement OF the river and bay, an
in It's report there is not q single allu
sion to the advisability of placin
dredged material on shore. but on tn
contrary, reference is made to its depc
sition at localities within the tida
limits OF the river, and it is reasonabl
to suppose that in the light of the ex
perience of six years, and with adde
information, they reached conclusion
different from the board of 1873. A
material dredged under the project {
the board of 1885 has been place
within the tidal limits of the river. an
the propriety of these methods ha
never been officially questioned.
1883 another board of engineers n
ported upon the improvements
Philadelphia harbor, and made no a
lusions towards prohibiting the mi
terial from being placed within Il
limits OF the river"
1t is to be hoped that Major Ra,
mond and his colleagues will spa
themselves future criticism by actir
favorably upon the suggestions of q
Trades League.