Evening journal., 1896-10-27
WANT IMMEDIATE RELIEF
A PETITION REGARDING CHERRY
ISLAND FLATS.

PREPARED BY The PHlLADEL-
PHIA MARITIME EXCHANGE TO
BE SUBMITTED TO THE ENGI-
NEERING DEPARTMENT AT
WASHINGTON.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct 27.-At a
meeting yesterday of the board of di-
rectors Of the Maritime Exchange a pc
tiion asking that the shallowest places
in Cherry Island flats be dredged this
Fan was prepared and sent to Major
Raymond, the engineer IN charge of
the improvement of the Delaware river.
The exchange states that the flats
have for some time back been an OBJ
stacle to free navigation of the Della
ware river" and that they will "es-
pecially be so during the fall and Win
ter months, when ice makes naviga-
ton more difficult This step is
taken by the exchange that commerce
may have immediate relief"
Major Raymond was seen on Satur-
day by the exchange officials in regard
to the matter of having some work
done on Cherry Island flats right away,
as Secretary Sherwood had just then
returned from New York after having
the Morris & Cummings Company 60
agree to the desire of the exchange to
do some dredging this Fan, though It's
contract to dredge the fats to a depth
of twenty-five feet does not call for
work to be begun before next April.
Major Raymond expressed his willing
ness to do all in his power to have the
channel cleared, and desired that the
board of directors of the exchange take
official action in the matter, and he
would forward to the chief engineer at
Washington any communication that
the board would draw up. The direc-
tors of the exchange will send Secre-
tary Sherwood to WG-hileton to argue
the matter, If such a step is necessary.
which, it is thought, will probably be
the case.
President George Frazier. OF the Nor
ris 4 Cummings Dredging Company,
called on Secretary Sherwood yester-
day, at the exchange, while on his way
from New York to Baltimore. He could
stop for but a few minutes, as he had
to catch a train. The mud-digger Pa
ciiic and a number of scows belonging
to this company are now at this port.
II seems to be the general opinion that
the Engineering Department at Wash
ingtOn will approve of some working
being done at once.
1t having been brought TO the atten-
tion of the board that "the bar between
the east and west deep water channels
of the river opposite Kaighn's Point
| has been entirely removed to a depth
Of twenty-six feet at low water from q
point on the prolongation of Fedora
| Qt 10 .F
street, Philadelphia, or from opposit,
| pier No. 81 to opposite pier No SO
| south wharves," it was decided to con
| suit the engineer in charge of the i'm
provement of the Delaware and tn
lighthouse inspector of this district
with a view to having official pub
licity given to this work. and the Gu
buoyed If deemed necessary. This pas
sage gives access from the wester
deep channel opposite the city to tn
eastern channel just above Greenwich
and the use OF it will obviate the ex
isting difficulties in passing tn
wharves at Greenwich Point, and wi
also give a wider and better cham,
by this locality until the contemplate
removal of Greenwich Point shoal ha
been accomplished by the CITY,"
The directors did not take up til
question of the North Atlantic load
line, which, it is stated is operatin
heavily against exports from Philade
phia. The matter is in the hands {
] the executive committee of the el
change the members of which thougl
it advisable not TO touch upon II
question again until James & Alexai
der Allan, of Glasgow, who are pet
o tioning the British Board of Trade
I have the line changed, are heard fror
u w CTRNEY