Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-05-07
DELAWARE RIVER PROJECT
Turning Kent COlnty'S Shore Into Mud
Flats Threatened.
THIS STATES RIPARIAN RIGHTS
Senator Gray's Opposition to a
Dixie.

delegation In Congress, aided by am
bilious leaders al home, is largely re.
sponsible for the reduction of tho an.
preparation, holding up the Improve
ment of the Delaware river to curry
favor with those interested in tho
trifling traffic of two shallow creeks
which empty into tho Delaware short
distance below Reedy Island. These
are Appoquinimink and Blackbird
creeks, and they extend but few
miles inland.
The improvement of the Delaware
river has generally received cordial
support from Delawareans because of
the belief that whatever would benefit
Philadelphia would benefit the Dia-
mond State, and the shiphuilding and
shipping interests of Wilmington in
particular havo always felt that deep
channel to the sea, enabling vessels of
the deepest draught 10 reach Phia-
delphia, would add to the business and
wealth OF tho Delaware metropolis. 4"
Delawareans do not oppose the deepen.
ing OF the channel, but they certainly
must protest against anything that
might take away its rights in tho
navigable streams that the Ledger calls
''shallow creeks. - And further, ac-
cording to Senator Gray, the govern.
ment has no right to take away from a
community its God given rights.
In the course of statement, William
r. Tucker, secretary of the joint execu-
tive committee on tho improvement of
Philadelphia harbor and the Delaware
and Schuylkill rivers, said;
g" 1t was proposed by the Engineer
Department to amply this appropriation
OF $500, 600 to the completion of the
dixie between Reody Island and Liston' 3
Point, whereby the removal of the
shallow areas at Dan Baker Rhoal, which
have 80 long embarrassed the com
merce OF the port, was to be accom-
plished. In the Senate an opposition
to the appropriation was devolved by
the Delaware Senators upon the claim
that the proposed dixie, which was
planned II years ago, would interfere
with the navigation ot couple OF small
creeks on the Delaware shore. which
carry very insignificant amount of
commerce.
1.-THE question of the interference Of
tho proposed dixie with these creeks
was at once referred to board of on
gineers, who promptly reported that by
suitable opening in tho dixie the OBJ jec-
| tions raised against its constructions
would disappear
. In the meantime tho Senate com
mittee reduced the appropriation to
500 GOO under tho claim that such an
amoa ant was all that the engineer could
properly cxpend upon the improvement
of the river until the passage of the
neyt bill in 1893, and further added
| proviso prohibiting the expenditure of
/ tbia Recommendations
| Island dixie, rs we'll as all appropriations
| heretofore made, until a board Of en-
| einoers should report upon the effect Of
the proposed dixie upon the navigation
Of these creeks and tho rights Of
riparian owners.
Although report Of board of
engineers is available for the informa-
| tion of the Senate upon the questions
| involved in the prohibiting pr0yiao,
nevertheless the proviso remains in tho
present bill as barrier not only to the
expenditure Of any moneys which may
be appropriated in tho present bill,
hut it will, Immediately upon It's pas
sage, require the cessation OF all work
now in progress under existing con
tracts for tho improvement of the worst
shoa in the river. -
Major G.. ". Raymond, United
States engineer in charge of the work.
pointed OUT, in an interview that the
proyiso introduced by Senator Gray
required q consideration Of the dixie
| project, and not resurvoy, and con
sequently there could not be dtlay Of
two years. a5 all the data needed Is at
hand.
In relation TO a statement that tho
engineers practically declare that the
| plans under which they have been
working for several years past are a
failure, Mai, Ray mond said. very en-.
| phatically, that no such declaration had
been made On the contrary, he said,
| tho results wcre not disappointment
| in any sense of the word, hut SUCCESS
beyond all expectations, and there is
no idea Of making another survey.
lie declared also that there are no cr
rors to correct in the plans for the inn
provemcnt Of the lower river.
He did not think the dixie at Dan
Baker Shoal Is on the wrong side Of the
river The dixie is to he 90, 600 feet
long and only G,O00 feet have been
constructed, and in its unfinished CON
dition 1t is impossible to tell what the
effect ot the completed dixie will be.
If Mai. Raymond SAID that sin its
unfinished condition it is impossible Ia
tell what tho effect Of the completed
dixie will be" he made statement
that looks very like an admission. II
is ono OF the contentious Of tho Della
waro side of this controversy that the
dixie will not do the work il is intended
to do. According TO Mr. Higgins that
portion Of the dixie that is completed
from the southern part OF Reedy Island,
has not had the desired effect oi
cleaning the channel. IIe holds that
il the dixie were carried across the gar
the desired effect would still not be
obtained because the DETECTION, Of the
current would not reach the narrow part
desired TO be affected.
The dixie as at present contemplated
will be one foot above low water mark.
II the object ~ to contract the stream
Mr.. Higgins thinks that it will fail be
cause the high water will, of course
flow over the dixie. On the other hand
il is said, that the object Of tho dikl
Is to keep the flood tide from the flats
where it now flows, instead of running
in the main channel.
In Mr.. Higgins opinion the building
ot the dixie has not received suiticien
consideration, like building founda
tlon before deciding upon the kind o
house 10 put upon it.
The original project was not that o
Mai. Raymond, but it was decided
upon in 1855 by board of whiet
colonel, now General Craighill was thu
hoad. Mai Raymond is simply car
rying out the project as decided upnn
Tho scheme, however, appears 10 b,
tentative rather than final, Shoull
tho dixie ever be completed and thl
channel not helped thereby, the govern