Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-07-02
,nncK. cR EEK pIK e.
Major Raymond Says 1t WillNot be Built
II There is Any Objection.
<t,.a -. i


n II There is Any objection.
Philadslphia Record. vi
Having succeeded in delaying for d
year all work on the Reedy Island dixie
In the Delaware river, thus seriously
blocking the improvement OF the stream
in the interest of commerce. the people
of the Diamond State are now agitating
another obstruction which may prove
effective in injuring Philadelphia's
shipping trade. The following dis
patch from Smyrna, Dell, shows the
local feeling on the subject:
Residents of this vicinity are very
much excited over report to the
effect that since work On the Liston
Point dixie has been stopped Major
Raymond of the United States Engi-
neering Corps has another dixie scheme
upon which he proposes to begin opera
tions. which will result in closing the
navigation of the Smyrna river. He
will operate, II is eaid. under an old
law which authorizes him to construct
dixie 10 or IL miles long in the Della
ware river, for the purpose Of i'm
proving the navigation Of the stream,
and which he will locate SO as TO close
the entrance to Smyrna river.
"Nothing definite can be learned OF
the reported project. Alvan X. Nor
rison, president of the Delaware Con-
struction Co., which has the contract
for the Liston Point dixie, says he
knows nothing about 1t, and Senator
Gray, who was questioned, says he
does not believe the report is true. In
addition to closing the mouth of
Smyrna river, the proposed dixie would
also shut off the pleasure resorts Of
Collins Beach and Woodland Beach
from steamboat co nmunication.
Major Raymond yesterday gave an
explanation of the proposed work.
"The dike," he said, twas planned
in 1885 by the corps Of government
engineers who laid out tho work OF
Delaware harbor improvement. 1t is
to be about five miles long. and will
be for the purpose Of deepening the
channel through the Duck Greek
Flats, opposite, the mouth of the
Smyrna river. 1t is part of the work
in the general plan for the improve.
ment Of the river and harbor. s'
Instead Of iniuring the Smyrna
river and closing its channel it would
he great improyeme ent TO the stream.
A few years ago the government
dredged the Smyrna river channel,
DuG tub WOEh Iudub uO pbTWdubDt iUl
proyement,, and the building of thi,
dixie would be of great benefit to tht
stream.
However, there is one thing Ger
tain, will not recommend the ex
penditure of single penny on tn,
dixie if there is the slightest objection
from the people Of the vicinity to it
construction. Major Raymond VIA
| very emphatic on this point. ~ havl
had one experience of the kind wit.
the Reedy Island dixie, which ha
boen hung up, so to speak, and vii
not4encounter another. But IL tn
Smyrna people know what is a goot
thing for them they will petition 70
: the dixie instead of opposing it.
1T has not been definitely decided
; to build the dixie at present. In fact
! only incidental work has been done Of
y the matter SO far. The dixie woul
cost about S420. 600, consuming th
bulk of the $500, 600 appropriation
2 which Congress made The expendi
ture of that amount of money woul
3 of itself be a, great advantage to tha
? section Of the country, as most of
' would be put out in labor. Bu
Q there are several other points in th
: river where the money can be sper
! just as advantageously, and IL any OF
y jeution against the Duck Creek Flat
8 dixie materialize it will certainly nc
9 be built until after the other work
completed"