Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-03-11
AN UnWtL COME REVELATION.
The Big Appropriation Made by Congress for
wiimington's Harbor Useless.

The Big Appropriation Made by Congress for
wiimington's Harbor Useless.
President Lawton made the startling
announcement at the meeting OF the
Board Of Trade Friday night that the
1926. 600 appropriation which was re-
Gently made by Congress for improving
the Christiana river was OF no avail,
as the engineers. after an examination
found that S476, 625 would be required
to do file work which was specified in
the bill, making the appropriation
A According to Mr.. Lawton. who has
given tho matter close attention, ths
bill calls for dredging q foot channel
from the mouth OF the Christiana to
the works of the Harlan & Hollings-
worth Co., and as the amount specified
will not pay for the work the appro-
priation cannot be touched, according
to recent decision of the Secretary OF
War, in accordance with which it is
necessary that the full amount must be
available before the work is started.
1t will be necessary, therefore, to work
for an additional appropriation before
Wilmington can receive any benefit.
Mr.. IIawton stated, however, that
there 10 an appropriation of about $40,
600 for improving the Christiana. and
| he understands that the work which
| that calls for will be commenced within
| 80 days
1t is understood that big item in
dredging. il 2l.foot channel is to be
| made, will be the removal of trouble-
some rocks in the vicinity Of Third
street bridge. which, the engineers
estimate, will cost about $50, OS3.
Patrick Neary suggested that the
| board might make an effort to have tho
appropriation applied with view to
making an 1S-foot channel. and thought
| it might be accomplished by way Of
an amendment to the bill making the
appropriation. He believed that by
getting the engineers to recommend
that the channel be made Is feet
instead Of q feet that the desired end
could be accomplished through Con-
gressional enactment. Ho also sug.
geated that committee be appointed
| to consult with the engineers on this
| punt.
Alfred d. Warner made motion
| that the river and harbnr committee of
the board coufer with Delaware's Sena-
| tors and Representative in Congress,
with a view to having them use their
| efforts in the direction of having the
depth OF the channel changed to Is
feet instead of 81 feet. 80 that the
appropriation of 1926, 600 can be used.
The idea met with favor and the
motion was unanimously adopted.
| President Lawton stated that the
engineers wanted to know what the
city was going to do with the sewage.
| He thought that the city should make
an annual appropriation for harbor
improvement.
| - ho x,r,,fdoaI nil q,
charter WAS brought up, and Josiah
Marvel suggested that it would be wise
| 10 call town meeting in order to
have tho citizens express their views in
regard to it, and on motion OF A.. S.
Reed, the president was authorized to
call town meeting for some early date,
at which the charter can be freely
discussed and the opinions of the
general public obtained.
The president was also authorized to
appoint committee CT five to make
arrangements for the meeting. which
will probably ba held about next Thurs
day. The details in regard to date
ard meeting place will be decided and
announced by the committee.
The new charter for the board, which
has been prepared for presentation to
the Legislature, was read and discussed
and approved, after MIR. Marvel had
explained that ii followed in the line of
the old charter, except in the matter
of port waT,lous, which had already
been provided for by Legislative enact
ment. Tine new charter will give tho
board all tho necessary powers, although
1T is brief.
communication was received for
Secretary II. d. Speakman of the new
Lewes board of trade. thanking the
Wilmington board for information
which assisted the Lewes people in
organizing their board.
| The president was authorized to ap'
point a committee of five to make
arrangements for presenting silver
service to the new gunboat Wilmington.