Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-08-04
IMPROVEMENT OF THEHARBOI
Appropriation is All Right, Blu.
There Is Some Delay.
WORK MAY START IN SEPTEMBEk
Money Must All Be Used Be-
fore July 3Oth, 1899.
Gen. Smith, in Order to Hasten the Work,
Took the initial Step Befors He Was Re-
quired to Do So, But for Some Reason
He Has Not Been Ordered by the War
Department Co Proceed.

For the past few days a report has
been in circulation to the effect that
there was some hitch ia the govern
ment appropriation for the improve
ment of tha Wilmington harbor. This
is evidently mistake, although there
is some delay which Ganuot be ac-
counted for by United States Engineer
Smith, who has done what he could TO
hasten the time for beginning the
work. As matter of fact, he took tho
initial step before he had been officially
advised that the money was available,
in anticipation of receiving an early
reply and proceeding as soon as posHi-
lic gith the work.
iue nundry Civil bill, which was
passed by Congress the latter part of
June and approved on July 1st, of the
current year, contains the following
item at the top of page 81 OF the
printed copy:
For continuing the Improvement of
the harbor of Wilmington and the
Christiana River, Delaware, $205, 846. -
The bill stipulates that the appropri-
ationa made therein are for the iiscal
year ending june 30th, 1899, and all
money not expended by that time will
not be available for the purposs for
| WniCn udh ubou
! fore, it is necessary that the Whining
ton harbor work be started as early as
| possible, as some time will be required
to complete it. and also because com
mercal interests demand the improvs-
ment this year.
On July 9th Gen. Smith received a
letter from the chief of engineers at
| Washington, enclosing a copy of the
bill and making request for projecr.
| The letter was written on July 3th, but
| prior to that time Gen. Smith had pre-
pared project, which, in anticipation
of the request. was mailed to Washing
ton before the letter was received from
there, and it was expected that Gen.
Smith would be directed to advertise
for bids before the middle of July, hut
| although this is the first of August.
the General has received no intimation
as to the pleasure OF the Wsr Dspart-
ment concerning our harbor. The Gen
eral ia of the opinion, however, that
there is some reason for the delay, and
communication is expected from the
War Department at any time.
A Wilmingtoniun who was IN Waah4
ington day or two ago stated that l,e
had heard while there, from an IN
official source, that Gen. Smith'a
projHct had been approved ny ths onlel
of engineers and had been sent by him
to the Secretary of War. If.this Is the
case, it would probably basten the
work some IL some influential sDala-
wHrean would call upon the Secretary
Of War and infurm him of the necessity
of having the harbor improved as souu
MS possible. :.
The project which the chief of engi-
neers is reported to have approved il
for an 18-foot chanpel 1870 feat wide.
Specifications are in shape at tbs
Office of Gen. Smith, and as soon as be
is advised that the project has been ap-
proved he will send ON specifications al
once and ask for authority to advertist
for bids. all OF this would require
probably less than week. but. unfcr'
, tunately the advertisements must hs
, printed for month before the con
tracts can be awarded.
1t is hoped that a favorable message
will be received this week from thu
, War Department, and il such com
munication is received everything
, should be ready to begin work by th'
middle of September.