Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-09-02

temDiatod the completion OF work In
four years, and no provision was made
in the estimate for maintaining the
channel. In 1888 the estimate OF the
amount required FOR the project from
TINT date was given at S19l, $50. The
expenditures on the project to tae pres
ent time date FROM then. 10 accordance
with the uniform practice OF the de-
partment, this estimate, in the absence
OF Instructions 10 the contrary. was ad-
hered to by me aud deductions made
therefrom, from time to time, as appro-
priations we're made for tho work. APP
preparation OF 1884 was S25, 600 and no
duced the estimate for completion to
sl66,3Si; in 1856 to STAT, C3{; IN 1888
TO Sll7.6 3i; in 1890 to ISL, 63l {; in 1902
TO SAT, ga, and in 1894 the same amount.
In each OF these years the approved
| channel could have been completed
with the amount stated, and, further,
the entire channel therefore made could
have been redredgeh by me whore
necessary to the approved width and
depth of $50 feet aud 10 foot respec
tiYely, within the estimate in each case,
although the original estimate had not
contemplated the maintenance OF tho
channel. After 1891 it was hardly
question of completing the l5.foot
channel. a survey for 2l-fuot channel
had been made and an. appropriation on
the new project was looked for in tho
next session OF Congress, and was ac'
tually made at that session. The est.
mata for 1896 was for 500, 600, and was
for the work on the now project.
The approved channel Dimensions
were made in parts as far as appropria-
tiuns made from time to time would go.
In this way the work was carried on,
go that BY Juno Both, 1891, the ap.
proved cut of 80 feet wide and 10 feet
deep at mean low water had heeu mate
to point 2,jl5 feet above Market
street hridge, and further cut Of So
and another nf 10 faot wide, had carried
u ID foot channel To the pup works.
With about s10, 600 the cut, oil the full
approved Dimensions, could then have
been completol tn the pulp WORKS.
When a further appropriation WAS made
the interests of navigation required re-
DRAGGING where shoaing had taken
place The bar has bean dredgeu i've
times in 10 years. The 10 foot channel
made in 1887 and 1855 from Market
4. street. bridge to the Delaware River was
redredged and widenet to $50 feet from
1889 to 1888, and the channel was re.
drodged TO l3 feet from outside the
mouth of the Christiaua to 1000 feet
above the mouth of the Brandy ia
1876, ami oil this under appropriations
maie for continuing tine project.
The appropriations made in the 10
years prior To 1894 average Sli. 3I5 a
} year The appropriations made in 1894
and 1896, which cover four years from
1891, average only between IS, 700 and
, So 600, after deducting for the work at
i Churchman's Bridge and the survey
for the 2l-fout channel ordered by Con-
gress. With this, little could be OK.
pected to he done especially ne tho
price of dredging had gone up and the
: rate of shoaling had Increased. A
, channel of 10 fact depth in this harbor,
unless protected, must require eztonsivs
annual dredging for its maintenance.
In regard to that portion of The
Port Wardens' resolutions where the
statement is made that the depth has
t decreased from ID to Is feet in 10 years,
, | would say that in 1896, beginning on
March 26th, tine channel was redredged
l from the Delaware River up, to depth
| OF Ii feet at mean low water. The
! mouth of the Brandywins was reached
, By the Both OF June, three months later,
| at which time it was stated that as q
. defined channel II feet deep between
those pointa. The depth called for by
r the contract was 10 feet, but the depth
. actually made was much greater al
! many places This statement was in
0 tended TO show what work had actually
/ been accomplished and the statement il
l correct. There was not II foot chan
{ mel in 1855 and 1886 and there was moi
= l2.foot channel from the Delaware
4 River to third street bridge at thai
time. Tho appropriations referred Il
r began in 1884 and tho period from ther
10 1896 is IL years. | will say also thai
o the appropriations have not been ex
| pended as stated.
I s. To the assertion that there was only
Q nine feet of water at Third street bridge
/ In 1896, ! would say that the ssatemen
ia correct only as 10 one spot of SINAI
J, area Just below Third street bridge
o This has sinue been dredged to IL fee
I at low water. There was not eyon
r II foot channel.
u Tho figures given in the resolutions
r as my estimates for the cost OF couple
Il ting the project were correct. In th
II years mentioned | also stated tn
i amounts that could proitahly lie ex
"A pended on the work, within the genera
!. year in 1895, lsSG, 1887 and 1883, 800
!. 900 in 1889, SS7, GA in 1880 and 1891
d and the balance remaining on the esti
It mates for tho first three years woult
n have covered the entire amount of tn
IT estimate for the completion OF til
8 project.
), Further, IN reply to the resolutions
l. would say that after making Is
n font cut, tho 100 foot cut WAS hprun ii
1t 1883, and completed in December. 1893
3. between the points named, II is in
4 tended 10 sny in tho resolutions tina
" thu denth n! II foot had nor heon con
D. tnunnsly maintained, that ia anothe
It uatter. On June 10Th, 1888, Majo
1t Heuer, my predecessor, reported that
is l2-iont rhanne existed from the nIout
d Of the river to Market street bridge
10 Gin June 30th, 1881. hu reported th
ii same condition OF things. The fact wa
Iy that between tho compation Of the II
as foot channel to the summer of 1884
o. $4,000 cable yards Of aa1imeut hnh bee
Ii deposited in the channnl. This
1t proved by the Iiarbor Commissioners
N map Of 1854, Majnr Ileucr only intende
e to report tine condition of the cbannC
~ at tho last examination made by hin
K In the same way my reports Of 1891 an
10 1891 must be internretnd. Had Their
Is been any sum appropriated or consiC
OF cred as for maintenance of the cham,
| should have rnpurted in each Of thef
co reports the then existing condition q
IL The channel Under the circumstance
ut | had TO report my efforts to carry OF
&, tho project; that is, to dig a ghannt
~ of the prescribed width and depth