Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-06-24
DREDGING THE CHRlSTlANA
An Order to Proceed With The Work 10
be Received Within a Week.
THE SUM OF $25,OOO AVAILABLE
A Fifteen-foot Channel to the
Pulp Works.

The matter of dredging the Christi
ana. which has been hanging fire for
some time on account of difference
between tho Engineering Department
and the contractors for the work, The
a tlas Dodging Co. OF this city, has at
last assumed definite shane, and the
difficulty will be adjusted satisfactorily
to all and the work will begin in q
short time. e
Tho matter was referred by Gen.
Smith, the local engineer, to Gen. Viii
sou, the Chief OF Engineers in Wash
iDgton. aud, acting upun instructions
from him. Col. Peter G. Hams Of Bal
timore, engineer in charge of the South
eastern district, which includes Della.
ware, came to Wilmington yesterday
and made a thorough examination in
the case.
Upon his arrival in this city Col.
Hains went TO tho Office of Gen. Smith,
and. after a conference with that official.
bu and several attaches ri the local
Office went 10 the Christiana banks and
tuols survey of tho banks of the
stream between the mouth OF tho
Brandywine ard the Delaware River,
considerable data being taken. lie now
understands the situation, and will
htb iCNp'h-
mendations to Gen. Wilson, chief of
engineers, in day or two.
Col. Iiains left on Monday, but he
fore his departure announced that he
would make a speedy report, and also
gave the information that his recon.
meDdation would undoubtedly be calcu-
lated to give satisfaction tu all parties
concerned. Col. HaiDs' report will prob
shiy be submitted by Gen. Wilson to
the Secretary of War, who will un-
d0ubtedly advise Gen. Smith to pro.
ceed in accordance with the RECON-
mondation contained therein.
IL is expected that the order to pro-
ceed with the work will be received
within week. and Immediately upon
| its receiptthe local engineers will begin
their survey. The dredgera will com;
msnce work about the same time, and
| there is every Indication that there will
be no further hitch iu the work.
the amount of money available for
| the work is S25, 500, less engineering
and contingent expenses, which will
leave considerable amount for the
dredging. The contract calls for a l5-
foot channel at low water from a point
opposite the works of the 4 tlantic Re
iining CO. g wharves, near the mouth
of the Bfandywine To the Delaware
| pulp mills. The start is to Is made at
the Refining Co. Is wharves, as shat Is
whore the work was stopped before.
There is already navigahle channel
from tho Delaware River to that point.
Should there bn balance after the
10 foot channel has reached as far as
tho pulp works, tnen the instructions
are for the dredging company to work
| n thA lirnrtinn nF tha p,npth nf thu
Christiana from the Refining Co. g
wharves.
There are numerous shoals in tho
stream, and the new depth will be of
great heneiit to the commercial interests
of the city. as we'll as to the snip.
builders.
The contract for doing the work was
let some time ago to tho Atlas dredging
Co., but they we're restrained from pro.
Ceoding, as it was thought to be the
intention Of the company to deposit all
of the uredgeG material in tho vicinity
OF the ChristiaDa and Braudywice,
while the government desired some OF
the mud deposited on tne lighthouse
property at the mouth Of the Chris.
tiana. In anticipation Of receiving a
portion of the dredged material the
buildings at that point were raised five
foot and ara now standing at that
eIosation. 1t is believed that Col.
Hams will recommend that sume OF
tho dredgad material he placed in the
vicinity of the lighthouse property,
which Is said to he agreeable to the
contractors. just what tho proportion
will be is, of course, not known, but il
will probably he in the nature of d
compromise.