Evening journal., 1896-07-23

Bar. Port Richmond, MmIn Bar.
Schooner Ledge, Cherry leland. Rsedy |
Island. PennsvllIe Shoals and Bulkhead
Bar.
The report of Major O M. Raymond
referred to several days ago In the
EVENING JOURNAL In reference 10 i'm
provements In the Delaware river and It's
tributaries says;
"A high-water dixie 500 feet In
length has been constructed at Fishers
Point; dixie 2, 945 feet In length, raised
above high water over q length OF 3 257
feet and to low water over the remain
ing distance, hss been constructed at
Miffiln bar; high water dixie 063 feet
in length has been constructed at Bulk
head bar, and q dixie to be 26, 600 feet In
length has been constructed to the level
Of low water for a distance of about
6, 800 feet at Reedy Island and is now
under contract for extension. These
dikes have been repaired when NECESSARY.
The total length of dikes constructed
under the project is 5,208 feet, or about
Al miles. The channel has been i'm
proved or maintained by dredging atFlve
Mile bar, Port Richmond, M film bar.
Schooner Ledge, Cherry Island fats and
Bulk head bar, and by rock removal at
Otis street wharf. Philadelphia and
Schooner Ledge.
"The Improvements have been execu
ted in the order considered OF most inn
med late benefit to navigation, 80 far as
the physical conditions of the river
permitted
There Is now no place In the Della
ware river between Bridesburg and deep
water in the bsy where there Is a less
depth in the channel than there was
before the commencement of the i'm
provemeDt, unless. possibly. In some
holes where the depth Is excessive and
/ which have not been recently examined (;
and the most recent. examinations show
that there is a greater depth over dis
| tance of about ten miles, or about one
half of the whole obstructed part Of the
/ channell"
AT Five. Mile bar, below Fisher s
Point, there was before improvement q
depth less than 10 feet At mean low
water over a length of 200 feet, and a
minimum depth of feet. The project
provides for a depth Of 10 feet. There is
now least depth of % 3 feet over the
whole length
"At Schooner Ledge, including bar be-
tween 1t and Marcus Hook, there vas bs
fore Improvement r depth less than q
feet at mean low water over a length oi
s 600 feet and a minimum depth of Il
feet There is now depth of less thar
26 feet at mean low water over lengtl
OF 1850 feet aud the minimum depth IL
2l feet.
"At Cherry Island fats there was be
fore Improvement depth Of less than 2
feet at mean low water over length Q
he 500 feet and a minimum depth OF
feet. There Is now q depth OF less tina
20 feet at mean low water over q lengtl
OF 300 feet and q minimum depth 0
IS feet
At Penpsville Shoals there was befor
improvement a depth less than 26 feet q
| mean low water over a length OF abou
500 feet and minimum depth OF 2
feet. There Is now q depth Of more thR
20 feet at mean low water over tbs who'll
length. due TO the sction of the rive
, under improved conditions.
"At Bulkhead Bar there was before
Improvement a depth / IS than 26 feet a
mean low water over a length of 20 feet
There Is now depth of at least 81 1 fee
at mean low water oyer the Who'll
i length.
. cat Reedy Island the dixie has not ye
! been sufficiently extended to produc
beneficial results"
Msjor Raymond speaking Of the $780,
600 appropriation In the last River an
Harbor bill for improving the harboi
, takes up the provisions which preven
/ the appropriation from becoming await
J able for building a dixie between Reed
Island and Liston's Point until boar
I Of three engineer officers. TO be sppointe
by the Secretary OF War, shall oonsioe
: aud report 20 the Secretary on the frs
l Monday In December of tbs ourren
: year as to the project OF said dixie Will
r reference to preserving aud improving
! the navigation Of the Appoquiniminl
: river and BRckbird creek, and tn
: riparian rights aud facilities OF th
? Delaware shore. Senator Gray ecure
( this amendment TO the bill IN confe
:; ence Msjor Raymond says that betol
b. the passage OF this bill q board {
engineers officers appointed Apr
: 10, 1896. Investigated thia same subj ec
IL met Ia Phlladelphis on April is fh
}, board submitted it's report on April q
. and declared that ''Ghe completion OF tn
Z portion OF the work now under cOntra'
5, cannot iDjurlously affect the tidal 10
between the dixie aud the DelawaI
shore" Under the Gray provision Of til
bill, however, work on the dixie at Lie
: toms Point was stopped by telegraph q
II June 1896, aud no further work ct To
, locality can be done during the preseI
" working season.