Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-09-08
THE BOARD OF TRADE.
Harbor and Convention Matters Con-
sldered Thursday Evening.

Harbor and Convention Matters Con-
sIdered Thursday Evening.
status OF the Chri.tiaua River Improvement |
Project-Propositiop TO Fstabiish "A Trade |
Paper--Convsntion of Fire ana Police su-
perintendents aud Municipal Electricians
of tho united States.
Tho Board of Ikade resumed its !
monthly sessions in the Crosby Is hill
Building Thursday evening. 1t was
80 oppressive that 1t was not surprising
That only handful OF members sp-
peared, but good start was matte on |
lines oil work in which the hoard is in
tetested. The principal topics before
the hoard wero the stntus oil the Chris
tiana River Improvement project, the
acceptance OF a proposition to establish
a trade paper, and preliminary an
announcements looking to the annual
convention OF tho National Association
of Fire and Police Surerintendents
and Municipal Electricians OF the
United StRtee, Of which Jonathan W.
Aydon of this city ia president, which
will meet in this city for two days in
September, 1880. The application of
Mr.. .Aydon for membership in the
board was received and he WINS elected.
President William Lawton nresidnd,
and Daniel W. Taylor was 10 his place
as secretary. Other members present
we're A. l.. Morrison, NJ. z. Satterth
waite, John q. Farra, George Moore,
| W. ID. Mullen. Jr., and James +. Birnie.
Mr.. Morrison presented to the board
history of sn6eavors TO secure money
for harbor improvement, which was as
| follows:
EFFORTS FOR HARBoR IMPROVEMENT.
To the Honorable President and
members Of the Wilmington Board nf
Trade:
Gentlemen: In response to lotter
from Gen. John NJ. Wilson. Chief OF
Engineers to our board, dated October
9th, 1897, your honorable body APP
pointed the writer a committee OF one.
on December Sth, 1897, to act promptly
and as the committee thought hest, to
efficiently procure an appropriation for
the improvement OF the Christiana
River and Wilmington harbor. In COM
pliance Herewith. your COMMITTEES
Waited Washington on several &C.
cHsions aud consulted with members of
Congress. and with the influence OF the
Hon. L. Irving Handy, an appoint
ment was made with the river aud har-
bor COMMITTEES of the Huuse of Repre-
ssntatives to meet the citizens of vii.
mingtnn on February 9th, 10 a. NJ. To
discuss the matter. A delegation of
about so prominent citizens Of your
city, including the mayor aud City
Council went to the capitol at the hour
appointed for the conference, but were
informed that the meeting had been
postponed until 2 o'clock, p. M. st
which hour they again presented them
selves at the room of the river and har-
bur committee only to be informed that
! they would not be accorded bearing
that day
Your COMMITTEES was subsequently
Informed that there would be no River
and Harbor bill passed by the then
existing Congress-. Acting upon this
information, Senators Gray and Kun
! ney, and Congressman Handy were re-
quested and did use every endeavor to
, have an appropriation made by an
: amendment to the Sundry Civil bill
! which was iu the Senate. with the
, result that ON April 7th, 1893, Senator
Ksnney wired your committee that an
: appropriation for the Christiana River
? had been adopted, S205. SAG being the
. amount Of the appropriation. On the
return OF the bill to the Houue, the
u amendment had hard struggle, but
] thanks to the wide personal influence
t of Senator Gray, aud the aggressive
! interest aud constant watchfuluess Of
e Congressman Handy, it was final,
g passed by large majority vote
: Soon after July lst, 1898, Con. Williah
" +. Smith of this city was notified o
Q the appropriation and he submitted
three propositions to the chief Of engi
2 neers, one of which was approved Of
Is July l4th.
+ This was aa followa: To continue tn
: project by using the money Rvailabl
l. to dredge channel Is feet deep at LOT
d tide and 100 feet wide from the IL foo
I, curve in the Delaware River to th
II pulp mills. and the removal of abou
IN 1876 cubic yards of rock near Thir
at street bridge. The subject was sub
~ mitted on that day by ths chief of so
in gineers to the controller Of the treasur
for decision aH to the availability c
go the funds already appropriated for thi
to work, under the ruling OF the JUG
10 Advocate General in the case of Oal
ID land harhor, dated February 4tb, 1881
1t On August I'd, 1898, Assistant Cor
re troler Merritt rendered write
as opinion that the money WAS not avail
d. able as it was insufficient to cumplet
Id the project approved by the board I
engineers for 21-foot channel. q
ly August 9th, your committee rallt
ul upon Senator Gray in reference to I'll
d: matter and on the 9th OF August, Nj
b. Gray went to Washington in the inta
nd ost Of the Improvement On the fo
nd lowing day your COMMITTEES again call,
tie upon the Senator. He then stated b
he determination TO call upon the Co
lid trailer of the Treasury and explain ii
th intention of Congress in making I'll
Ter appropriation. On August Gath, aft
lat this second visit of Senator Gray
cir Washington, Controller Tracewell +
or, versed the decision OF the Rssistan
ing controller and decided that the mon
The is available az it was appropriated
the continue the improvement and not
y a complete it.
On August 26th, Gen. William ]
tho Smith was notified OF this fact by I
COS Chief OF Engineers anu on Augl
aen Goth, he submitted specifications |
the work to the Chief of Engineers
GO approval. On August 30th, the Oh
tn of Engineers asked permission OF
ent Secretary of War to advertise for p
nse posals, which permission will doubll
be granted in the hext day or tv
ial, Thirty days notice for the reception
for proposals is required by law.
and The improvements to the Christia
hat River began in 1886, and from I'll
year until } une 30th, 1896. s366, OPT
slli- has been spent of which $3.50, III. 81