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

"
below 10 100 feet. Tn to that time the
channel had been given, by dredging
and rock removal depth OF 10 feet at
mean low water and width OF 100 feet
10 point ,, 5i5 feet above Market street
bridge, and above therv to so and 40
feet wide respectively.
" In 1898 survey was made OF the
baTbur, in accordance with the prupi-
sions Of the River and Harhor act of
August 18th, 1894, for q foot channel,
the report being submitted in August,
1895. a portion OF the report read as
follows:
"'As the River and Harhor act of
August 17tb, 1894, provided for sur
vey for a 2l'foot depth, il was not
deemed advisable in view Of its proha
hle adoption, 10 expend the entire APP
preparation ut that time. but to coniiue
the work to what was believed to be
necessary for tho daily wants Of the
river under the existing conditions. A
contract was made with the Atlas bred.
ging Co., dated December 10th, 1885,
for redrodging the channel where IL had
shoaled to depth of IL fast below
mean low water from ths month Of tina
river towards the pulp works, the width
TO be 100 feet 10 the Delaware Western
railroad bridge, and above that point
60 feet. Work under this contract wac
begun on March 2Gth, 1896, at the Is.
foot contour at the mouth of the river,
and by the end of tho fiscal year tho
channel had been redredged to the
mouth OF the Brandywiue, "a, 47A cubic
yards of material (mud) having heen
removed. AS result OF this work
there exists n clear, well defined chan
mel OF minimum depth and width of
~ and l50 feet, respectively, from the
Delaware River to the Brnndywine.'
"To have restored the entire channel
to l5-foot depth at that time would
have required the removal OF two years
shoaling, say 1000 cubic yards, for
which the available funds we're entirely
inadequate. The depth of IL feet was
then regarded as the best that could he
done under the circumstances, to bridge
over, as it were until work on this IL
foot channel could be begun, which
was looked upon as probable shortly.
An examination of the channel,
which was made in the spring Of 1893,
showed the shoaing that had taken
place since the suspension of dredging
The 15-foot channel had contracted at a
number Of places from the width made
hut there was then channel from the
mouth to q 5l5 feet above Market street
bridge. Il feet deep at mean low water.
with widths varying between 30 and 2l0
feet, the smaller widths being where
the Hides had caved in.
"Soundings made in June, 1896,
showed l3foot channel from the
upper side of the mouth OF the Brandy
wine to within 800 feet of Third street
bridge, and within that distance there
was 15.foot channel and over for o
length of 800 feet abreast OF the Jack.
son Il Sharp Co. Is yards. Fo. the re
naming distance there was a gradun
shoaling to within 400 feat OF Third
street bridge, where the depth was over
nine feet, and thence deepening to the
south draw OF Third street bridge,
where there was depth of over 10 feet,
the width varying between 80 and 81
feet. The Port Wardena' statement
therefore, so far as it conveys the i'm.
preston that there was only a nine foot
depth the entire distance between the
mouth of the Brandywine and Third
street bridge, ia not correct. Only {
small section of thar distance hat
Hhoaled to that extent, and Of that the
depth was over mind foot. except at ont
place, about 400 feet below the ThirC
street bridge, where the Houndingt
gave nine feet at low water, one sound
ing giving only s. 3 feet Tho depth o
this sboal was between and 10 feet fol
length Of about $50 feet. Below thu
mouth of the Brandywine this depth ir
the channel was nowhere down to thu
Delaware River less than II feet, will
minimum width Of 100 feet. wher
soundings were made in March OF tina
year. The dredging Gone on the con
tract in 1896 carried l3 foot channe
for width Of 100 feet from the Della
ware River TO 100 feat above the upue
side of the mouth OF tho Branhywine
and under the contract Of 1897 tn
channel has been continued to Thirl
street bridge and beyond to a depth o
10 feet. This last contract was mad
after all hope of beginning the ll-foo
channel was abandoned.
ITO begin work on the new project
that is for a 2l.foot channel, 500, 90
was estimated for IN my annual repor
for 1896, although it was auite eliza
thai the project could not he CARRIE
out for the amount to which the Rive
, and Harb0r act OF June 3D.. 1896 ha
limited contracts 10 be made for it
! completion. My estimate was S305, 3 ~
and the amount limited by law wa
! S22J, SIG, and my estimate was d clos
! one 1t should be distinctly under
stood that the 1925, SIG was not appru
priated. Tue law merely authorIzet
, contracts to he made for that amour
, to complete the project. Since the
ruling, approved by the Secretary 4
War, aid sent to Offices Of the engineer
J for their government, has been made
: under which work cannot be con
3 meuced on a project unless it is know
} that 1T can be completed for the amour
, of the estimate submitted by Congress-
. This prociuded amy attempt to make
contract or to do any work whateyt
4 under the authorization of the law r,
, ferred to. A it appeared to me thf
I the project could not bo carried Of
under tho limitation OF the law, and
: it waa desirable that something shout
] be done, tho matter was submitted
the chief Of engineers who convened
{ hoard of engineer utlirers in this Gil
t to consider the matter. The result VT
: the submission Of a new estimate, il
Guiding two ietties, one at the muu;
j Of the Brandywine and the other &
, the mouth of the Christina, at u
r estimated cost of s377, $50 for the dredl
ing and jetties. To this 500, OS3 ht
4 been added for the rock removal, mai
: ing a total Of si76 623, which il Il
9 amount given in my report for tn
0 year as required for the completion
g the project.
o ''As to tho amount expanded stint
!. 1854, tho Port Wardona' statement
: that slGl, 3si WAS appropriated an thi
9 1923, 600 was expended for dredging
# the difference, sGS, 3sl being require