Evening journal., 1897-11-05
SOME MORE MUD TALK.
The Matter Will Sleep Until
Congress Convenes.
A VOICE FROM THE WEST
THE TARIFF COMMISSION, OF NEW
YORK, REQUESTS THE BOARD OF

| THE TARIFF COMMISSION, OF NEW
YORK, REQUESTS THE BOARD OF
TRADE TO ACT COMPARATIVELY
IN ABOLISHING TARIFF IN POLL
TICS.
That old subject of the betterment of
the Wilmington harbor received It's
regular monthly boost at last nights
meeting of the Board of Trade. Only a
handful of members were present last
night and the meeting. which was es-
pecially called for the purpose of giving
a hypodermic injection to the Whining
ton harbor project ended in the mem-
bers hearing that nothing could be done
in the matter until Congress convenes
in December.
President William Lawton was in the
chair and Daniel w. Taylor was secre-
tary.
Secretary Taylor read a letter from
Senator kenney, which stated that he
would work persistently TO secure i'm
i provement to this harbor
President Lawton said that the board
Is just where it started four years ago.
"A great deal of talk and eleven feet of
mud in the Christiana. But" continued
Z Mr.. Lawton, what is the use OF the
members worrying about the Christiana
when the representatives of the large
concerns ON its banks show no interest
) in the enterprise? Where are those
men? l fail to see them"
w. d. Miller said that the project
must remain dormant until Congress
convenes, and then" he said, 'let us
., work to get the s250,000 appropriation
e toward finishing the project. AS II is
r we are barred cut until December"
e President Lawton favored the ap-
pointment of a committee of five or ten
men to go to Washington as a Jury,
to appear before the harbor committed
: of Congress and make formal demand
for the necessary appropriation.
I S. w. Satterthwaite moved that Il b'
4 referred to the committee on navigation
of the board 1t was so done.
Secretary Taylor then read this let
IS ter from John W. Wilson, brigade
8 general chief of engineers OF tn
IS United States Army. who is in charg
t. of all harbor improvements, with offic
at Washington when improvements ar
y authorized by Congress:
r. "Daniel w. Taylor, Secretary Board O
Us Trade, Wilmington. Del.
n Dear Sir: ! have the honor to &C
ss knowledge receipt of your letter OF tn
re Sth instant, transmitting to me a cop
in Of a resolution of the Board of Trade q
y, Wilmington, Del, requesting me
10 form a project for the permanent in
r Drovement Of the ChristiGna river an
stl Wilmington harbor, and to have III
S; same completed in time to be presente
r: to Congress when IL meets in Decemhe
e. 1897.
I'd "The river and harbor act of Augul
~ 18, 1894 provided for a survey OF Chri
tiana river and harbor, with a view {
" obtaining depth of q feet. The su
81 vey was made and report thereon, II
4 Guiding The 'medlaea project, was sui
% mitted by Major w. f.. Smith. Augu
n 10, 1895. This project contemplate
dredging a channel q feet deep an
from 200 to 800 feet IN width, to be col
g fined between bulkheads or dikes, to
built by RIPARIAN owners; the remov
- , of the rock, the construction OF tlusl
- ing basin; all at an estimated cost
rs 81 1863, ,494 The project was referred
In a board of engineers, who reported III
- favorably upon the proposed hushir
SI basin.
%. "The river and harbOr act of June
l. 1896. provided in connection with WI
lllnBAOH AdA nnl lANAAi ARA N'Ah hHA"NANAA
&. work under the modified project, NJ
e. including flushing basin or extension
'S; lefty. at a cost not to exceed s225, SAG.
j. "The United States agent in loc
sk, charge of the work reported that und
E. the limitations OF the act he was u
In able to present project for the wor
Is and the matter was referred to boa
Iill Of engineers. The board, after fully di
lO- cussing the project, reported that, in
opinion, the execution of the modiii
project under existing conditions
practically impossible within the linn
IN of expenditure established by the at
,at It was aleo of opinion that the wo
of provided for by Congress would not q
90 compish the improvement conte
yn plated by the project. Under the CO
idel ditiOns of cost the letting of cont
nat uous contract was not permissible.
Ter 1T is provided by law that after
md regular or formal report on a work
aen submitted, no supplemental or additic
tho al report or estimate shall be made, 4
sed less ordered by concurrent resoluti
the of Congress. This prohibits me FRI
IN presenting any further report or prof
to Congress unless the same be cal
for by Congress, but all the facts in
case and the full report of the board
l. engineers are given IN my annual
sex port for the past year and this repo
rty which will be before Congress when
pli- meets in December, gives, it is believ
ted such information as will permit c.
mis- gress to take further action either p
will hitting the work to go forward witt
sic. the limit OF cost fixed or permitting
jim modification of the project as reco
Pile mended in tie report Of the board
aul engineers.
sen. "In October, 1896, my predecoss
airs, General w. p. Craighill, authorized
Ten expenditure of the funds available,
Guiding $4,000 appropriated by the
Of June 3, 1896, in widening and de
ening the channel.
81 VERY respectfully,
JOHN w. WILSON, Brig. Cen,
IN "Chief Of Engineers u. S. Army.
.e .ul The letter was handed to the CONN
49, -, tee on investigation.
iea A letter of inquiry was read from
Triffic, a trade journal, asking for
formation as to the return of prosper