Evening journal., 1896-12-12
REEDY ISLAND DIXIE.
Report of the Engineer Board
on the Work Has Been Made.
WORK ON THE Dixie SUSPENDED

on the Work Has Been Made.
WORK ON THE Dixie SUSPENDED
AND IT WILL so STAND UNTIL A
BOARD or THREE ENGINEERS
SHALL REPORT ON THE PRO
JECT.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 12-The re-
port of the engineer board appointed
by the secretary OF war under the pro-
visions of the last River and Harbor
act, in connection with the improve
ment of the Delaware river has been
made to the secretary through the chief
of engineers, and will be sent to Con-
gress as soon as II can be copied The
paragraph apprOpriating $4,000 for
improving the Delaware river, from
Trenton TO It's mouth contained a pro-
viso which has been the instrument of
suspending work on the Reedy Island
dixie. This proviso expressly fOrbids
the expenditure OF any part of the APP
preparation made by the act and of any
uneXpended balance previously made
for the improvement at Reedy Island
until a board of three engineer Off
GERS shall be appointed by the secre-
tary of war, who shall consider and
report to the secretary Of war on the
first Monday I'm December. of the cur
rent year as TO the project of said
dixie. with reference to preserving and
improving the navigation of the Ap-
poquinimink river and Blackbrd
creek, and the riparian rights and ia
cilities OF the Delaware shore, as well
as to deepening the main channel OF
said river The board appointed in
accordance with this act consisted of
Colonel Henry NJ Robert Colonel Peter
G. Hdins and Major c. w, Raymond. II
met i'm October last and after taking
the testimony Of interested parties Wis
tied and inspected the work at Reedy
Island. A Photographic report OF the
testimony was taken and is submitted
with the report
I'm the preparation Of the report the
subject matter committed to the board
was divided and arranged under four
heads, namely.
First. The adopted project for the
Reedy Island and Liston's Point dixie
with reference to the deepening of the
channel of the Delaware river
Second. The project of the dixie
with reference to preserving and inn
proving the navigation of the AppO-
qunimink river and Blackbird creek,
and the riparian rights and facilities OF
the Delaware shore.
Third. The desirability of dredging
a channel through Dan Baker shoal,
either as a substitute for improving
by dixie construction or In conjunction
Herewith
Fourth The desirability of dredg-
ing the channels from the mouths Of
AppOquinimnk river and Blackbrd
creek to the channel of the Delaware
river through Reedy Island and Lis
tons Point dixie.
Each of these divisions is separately
and fully discussed with reference 20
the general improvement of the river.
the effect upon the Delaware shore and
the navigation of the tributary
streams between Reedy Island and Lis
tons Point. Among other things the
report says. During the twelve years
which have elapsed since the report of
the board OF 1885 was submitted. the
change of the Delaware river has been
closely watched and carefully mvesti-
gated, and much valuable information
has been obtained. The result of these
studies is TO confirm the wisdom of the
location of Reedy Island uike as es-
tablished by the board of 1885. But re-
cent investigations show that there is
at various localities i'm the channel con
siderable material of a compact char
acter which cannot be removed by the
action of the currents alone. however
concentrated and must. therefore, De
removed 10y dredging
The board further says that "if the
shore is TO be rectfed by establishing
q dixie the board is of opinion the con
struction of the dixie should be ear
ried we'll towards completion before
any dredging is executed 80
The Dan Baker shoal dixie and the
proposed dixie at Bombay Hook shoals
in the opinion of the board should b,
treated as a single Improvement. and
should be built to a little above higl
water to be effective
The report closes with the following
recommendations. which have the ap
prOval of General Craighill. chief o
engineers:
The board recommends that no fur
ther expenditure be made i'm the con
struction of dikes for the improvement
of the Delaware river below Reedl
Island; that a channel with a leas
depth of 20 feet at mean low water ant
at a least width of GOO feet be formed
by dredging from deep water at th
head of the bay to deep water abOv
Dan Baker shOal. that the dredged ma
terial be placed between Stony Poin
shoal and the New Jersey shore below
the mouth of Alloway creek. or depos
tied in such other places as may b.
approved by the engineer officer in 10
cal charge: that the work of dredging
be done with the funds now available
and that no money be expended il
dredging channels from the mouths o
APPOINTMENTS river and Blackbr
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