Evening journal., 1896-12-18
DEEP WATER TO THE SEA
In a Year the Delaware Chan
mel Will Be Deepened.
POINT WORK ABANDONED

glneerS who have charge OF the improve
ment of the Delaware river, the deep
water channel between -hiladelphiaand
the sea will be completed BY Decem-
Der ], 1897. there is every probability
that there will be a channel at least ~
feet deep at high tide and 26 feet al
low tide. with a least width of coo feet,
between Philadelphia and deep water
in Delaware bay. This will be suifi-
cient water for the largest of modern
steamships.
The Listens Point dixie board, com
posed of Colonel Henry M. Robert,
Colonel Peter c. Hams and Major O.
w. Raymond. made its report to the
secretary of war on the day that Con-
gress assembled, and it is its recon-
mendatiOn which brings the completion
of the deep water channel of the river
within the next year
The recommendations are, briefly, that
a channel be dredged through Dan
Baker shOal and Duck Creek flats next
season, and that the construction of the
dikes at these localities, recommended
by the Permanent Improvement Board
of 1895, be abandoned. at least for the
present. The boards recommendation
have been approved by General Craig
hill, the chief of engineers. and the re
port is now in the hands of the secre-
tary Of war. Sufficient money is avail
able for the work, and as soon as the
recommendations are approved by the
secretary Of war advertisements call
ing for bids will be issued.
The construction of a deep channel
across Dan Baker shoal and Duck
Creek flats will complete the work of
Improvement under the present project,
TaT a.
localities near the city of Philadelphia
Dan Baker shoal is located below
Reedy Island, twenty miles below Will
mington, and Duck Creek flats are six
miles further down, at the head of the
bay. The work on Cherry Island flats.
near this city, is now under contract,
and should be completed by July next.
Under contract with the city of Phila-
delphia, Schooner Ledge is being re-
moved, and. by the middle of next
year. an adequate channel over this
formerly dangerous ledge of rocks will
be secured.
IL will be remembered that the peo-
pie Of the Delaware shore made a most
vigorous protest last Spring against
the completion of what is known as the
Reedy Island or ListOn's Point dixie.
which was designed to deepen and
maintain a deep channel across Dan
ia--l-~s. -l,-.rs frl,, r,.ie>,.t,r.s.r- com
tended that the construction of the
dixie would shut out from access to the
river a long stretch of the Delaware
shore and interfere seriously with the
navigation of Blackbird and Apo
quinimink creeks, too small streams
which empty into the Delaware between
Reedy Island and Liston's Point.
fInpnnfrrh 10 Of c., y
a proviso was attached to the apDro-
priation of S50O,00 made in the last
River and Harbor bill for the improve
ment of the Delaware river which
practically stopped work on the i'm
provements all of last season. This
proviso was to the effect that none of
the appropriation could be expended
on the proposed dikes until a board of
United states engineers Should con-
slider the project of the dixie in connec-
tion with the navigation Of the two
creeks mentioned, and the riparian
rights of the Delaware shore. 1t was
also provided that the board of engi-
neers should report to the secretary of
war on the first Monday in Decem Der.
After quoting the reasons assigned
by the Permanent Board of 1885 for the
construction of the dixie between Ree,.y
Island and Liston's Point the report
of the board of engineers says that the
Listens Point dixie and the proposed
dixie on Duck Creek flats, also known
as Bombay Hook shoals, though sep
arated by a short reach of deep water.
should be treated as a single improve
ment.
The report then refers to the infor-
nation obtained about the channel of
the Delaware river since the report Of
the board of 1885 was submitted. and
says that the result of the studies is to
cohnrm the wisdom of the location of
sne heedy Island dixie, recommended
oy the prior board
discussing the projects Of the dixie
VIII reference to preserving and inn
proving the navigation of the Apo
cumming river and Blackbird creek
anu lhe riparian rights of the Delaware
shore. the board saws thar anv artif-
cial obstruction to free access from tbe
main channel of the Delaware river IN
the Delaware shore, such as the longi-
tudinal dixie. must necessarily inter
tere with the riparian rights and fa-
cillties OF the Delaware shore" In tbe
opinion of the board the proposed dil-e
cannot have any beneficial effect in
preserving or improving the naviea-
tion OF the two creeks and must To
some extent encroach upon the rights
of the Delaware shore, since it would
be an obstacle to approach from some
directions. If large openings are left
to facilitate interior navigation the oh
struction would MOI be serious. but the
beneficial effects of the dixie upon the
channel of the Delaware river would
be diminished
The board gave a careful considera-
tion Of the question whether. under
the existing circumstances, improve
ment by dredging alone might not be
advantageOusly substituted for dixie
construction, and it suggests that this
be done
The board estimates that to dredge
a channel 600 feet wide and 26 feet
deep at low water through Dan Baker
shOal and Duck Greek flats would re-
quire the removal of 3.00O.0 600 cubic
yards. scow measurement, which. at 10
cents a cubic yard, would cost $500 900,
OF s1,z00.000 less than the cost Of COM