Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-11-11
i, HARBOR OF WILMINGTON.
Plans for Further Improvement Cannot b
Made Untii Congress. Meets.

|
The. answpr Of Brigadier General
John ". wi'ann, Chief of Engineers.
United States Army to the request of
the Board Of Trade that be form n
project for the permanent Improvement
OF the Christiara and have the same
ready for presentation TO Congress
whom it meete in December was read
at the monthly meeting of the Board OF
Irads Thursday evening. 1T shows that
under the law the request cannot he
granted 10 the time desired, for the
reason that the forma report, already
prepared, cannot be supplemented unless
Congress should ask foran additional
report, II appears that nething can he
done in tine matter until Congress
meets.
The letter which is dated October
9th and is addressed to Eaniel W.
Taylor, secretary OF the boa,d, ia as
follows:
"Dear Sir: have the htnor to
acknowledge receipt of your letter OF
the 9Th inst, transmitting to me copy
of resolution OF the Board of Nrade
OF Wilmington, Del, requesting ne to
form project for the permanentim-
proyement OF the Christiana River Ind
Wilmington harbor and to have ne
came completed in time to be presented
to Congress when it meets in Decem
her. 1897.
'The River and Harbor act of August
18th, 1894, provided for survey of
Christiana River and barber with
view of obtaining depth of q feet.
The survey was made and report thereon
including the modified project was
submitted by Major ". F. Smith,
August 18th, 1895. This project con
templatau dredging channel q feet
deep aud from 200 to 500 feet in width.
to be confined between hulkhesds or
dikes, TO he built by riparian owners;
the removal Of rock; tina construction
of flushing basin; all ut an estimated
cost Of 81. 800. 49i. The project was re-
ferred to Buard OF Engineers who re-.
ported unfavorably upon the proposed
flushing basin.
"The River and Harbur act of June
Sd, 1896, provided in connection with
Wilmington harbor item for completion
of work under the modified project
not including flushing basin or extern
sion of jetty ut a cost not to exceed
1926, s46.
1.-THE United States agent in local
charge OF the work reported that under
the limitations of the act he was unable
to present a project for the work and
the matter wac referred to Board OF
Engineers. The hoard after fully dis
cuHsing the project reported that in its
= opinion tine execution of the modified
> proieGt under existing conditions e
= practically impossible within the limits
y Of expenditure established by the act.
l 1t was also of opinion that the work
!, provided for by Congress would not ac-
:, compliBh the improvement contemplated
= by the project. Under the conditiont
of cost the letting OF a continuous con
tract was not permissible.
y 1t is provided by law that after the
!, regular or formal report on work il
:, submitted, no supplemental or addi
" tional report or estimate shall be made,
!. I unless ordered by concurrent resolu
= tion Of Congress. This prohibits mt
Z, from presenting any further report oil
!, project to Congress unless the same b,
. called for by Congress, but all the factl
: in the case and the full report of tht
Board of Engineers are given in m,
annual report for the past year and thi!
i, report, which will be before Congress
rs when it meets 10 December, gives, j
lie believed. such information as viii
} permit Congress to take further acton
j. either permitting the work to go for
st ward within the limit of cost fixed o.
permitting a modification of the pro
r. lect ns recommended in ths report of tn
10 Board of Engineers.
,, "in October, 1896, my predecessor
IL Gen. W. p. Craighil, authorized tn
" expenditure of the funds available. in
l. Guiding $50. 600 appropriated by the &C
al OF June Sd, 1896, 10 widening ant
Ig deepening the channel. "
D, President William Lnwton having ex
j. pressed encouragement at the state o
t. affairs and the apparent lack of interes
le in the matter of the harbor, the answe
., was on motion of Nj. d. Satterthwait
"a referred to the committee on navigation
Ii "A letter was received from Unitel
10 States Senator Richard Il. Kenney o
D. Dover pledging his efforts in behalf o
t. the. permanent improvement of vii
1t mington harhor.
!, On motion OF Mr.. Satterthwaite, Hon
,e George Gray, United States Senator
ot was elected an honorary member, il
at recognition of his servicea.
10 The following were elected to Nom
r. bershIp: Elmer l.. Benson, Charles L
/. White, Theodore Fersahke William A
st MCGOWAN, Max Epbraim and 1saia
b. N. Eaton.
Secretary Taylor read a communica
| IlOU lrOtu tub lhrln OUtnulihsluu Lbhb u
of Newark. N. j.. advocating the takinl
~, OF the tariff question out of politics AM
- recommending the massage by Congress
- of bill like that enclosed The bi
~ n was also read. 1t provides for th
If raising of revenue and tho creating G
v a tariff commission of seven members
4, The duty on goods manufactured j
a. this country is to he equal to tine dill
ID ference between their cost here an
+; their cost abroad; and on articles nc
ne manufactured here the duty is TO b
as laid for the raising Of revenue.
~ The bill was read after motion
nj refer il to the committee on legisatio
a. hail been lost. L. W. Brosius, Fran
H.. Woolley and W. D. Mullen, Jr., though
~ it should not be tabled in that way
an After it had been read Mr.. Brosiu
as said it was crude but he agresd wit
~ the principle and he moved that th
If bill bs endorsed by the board. Thi
motion was carried.
10 4 letter vas read from Charles Mar
bs toll of Trinidad, COL, asking IL rh
II. board had any circulars of informatio
nc concerning the city. He announce
:, that he expected TO locate here and
NJ invest few thousand dollars. TIL
in secretary will inform him that boo
ii, containing the information he see,
80 will be isaued in a few weeks.
20 The secretary will also answer quet
~ tions of Traffic, trade paper, as to III
IL condition of business here.
al The board took no ACTION on a reeoir
Id tion asking Congress to Greats d.
h partment of Commerce and Industry