The sun., 1898-06-11
Bulkheads Of Solid Stone Ma,
sonry to he Built.
Almost a similar Sum Annually for
the Work...The Speech OF Con.
gressman Handy In the
House of Represen.
tatives.


nington harbor, was welcome news to
all Delaware.
As soon as the money which is availa-
Bile July is received from the govern
ment the work of improvement will be
started at the mouth Of the Christiana
river by the construction Of bulkheads OF
solid stone masonry thus reclaiming the
marsh lands and preventing any more
or the washing away OF the
same. -w-.Sa-
Under the sundry Civil bill Whining
ton will be entitled to almost an equal
yearly and this when re-
ceived will be utilized in a similar man
ner until finally bulkheads will be con-
structed clear to the city of Wilmington.
That the city will enjoy this long-felt
want is due mainly to the untiring ef-
forts of Congressman Handy and in
Offering the amendment for the appro-
priation to the House, the Congressional
Record cites that Representative Handy
said:
''This appropriation is for an import.
ant harbof, and it is sorely needed
without further delay. This harbor is
the second in importance on the great
waterway known as Delaware river and
Bay. The CITY of Wilmington has some
10000 people, and they are busy com.
mercial and manufacturing people. The
Christiana river bears their commerce
for short distance out to- the deep chan
mel of the Delaware.
"The commerce which thus floats
amounts to .S26, 100000 in value every
year. A number of great industrial es-
adjustments are located on the Christi
ana at Wilmington. My understanding
is that Sl3,0O0,0O is invested in plants
there. Five thousand employees work
there. 1t is easy to see that the gentle
man from Illinois Mr. Cannon is quite
right in his opinion that this is real
river and harbor--one where the busl-
ness justifes and demands governmental
improvement.
The proposition to improve and
deepen the Christiana River and Will
mington harbor is not now one. The
government made its first appropriation
for this purpose as early as 1896. From
time to time since then money has been
appropriated for this worthy purpose
until some S40O,0 900 has been spent. 1t
is now estimated that it will require
! S416, CPS more to complete the present
project and give u feet OF water at
mean low tide. We are spending mil
lions % make deep channel from the
sea all the way up to Philadel phia. 1t
would be foolish to open the great chan
mel and yet fail to open the harbors
which are located on it. Any ship
which can come up the Delaware ought
to be able to enter the harbor of Will
mington.
| would not press the war situation to
course of reasoning to which it does
not properly apply, but | feel justified in
calling attention to the fact that one OF
the largest and best-equipped shipbuild-
ing concerns in the country is located or
the Chaistian. The Harlan d Hollings.
worth Company are famous shipbuiders
they bid for the contracts to construct
war vessels. They are now at work on ;
torpedoboat destroyer. At present the,
cannot build the biggest warships be
cause the depth of water is lacking be
tween their shops and the deep channe
of theDelaware. This appropriation vii
go to works which will open deepe
water for these excellent shipbuilders.
new and independent bidder for tn
contracts to build the great ships OF tn
navy might save the government larg
sums of money.
there is another view desire to pre-
sent in connection with this Senat
amendment. This river and harbo
item is not pushing in ahead of othe
river and harDor items of the same kind
Many districts represented on this foo
are waiting for a river and harbor bill.
have many river and harbor projects il
my own district that are waiting in tn
same way, and will, of course, be force
to wait. We can not properly push
few favored places ahead Of all tn
others, and | would not venture to as
gentlemen to do that. But this Wi
mington harbor is not, however, pusl
ing ahead to lead the procession. 1t is
III fact, Il straggler, lar in the rear OF il
proper place. 1t is asking now for wha
} it should properly have received tw
years ago.
+ 'In certain sense | am asking yo
HDN W IS-clldCl anu HldhC NhCSplNC Il
{ item OF the river and harbor act of 1886
Congress at that time strove to provide
and thought it had provided for thi
e work. By construction Of the law pit
! upon it by the Engineer Department,
+ which the gentleman from Illinois Ina
explained, this work has not been don,
There is no river and harbor item that
know of standing now in exactly til
same condition. ! am willing to leay
j.. the whole case without further explain;
. ton on this point than has been mac
by the gentleman from Illinois NJ
: Cannon
. LET me, however, call attention
! ! the following formal resolution, whic
! was passed by the river and harbor con
mittee of the House on April 26th, 1S9
1t is addressed to the appropriation
committee OF the House, and is as fo
lows:
"REsoLvED, That the committee @
y appropriations be, and they are heret
! requested to aegree to Senate amen,
4 ment No. 176, which will carry out IL
Q intention of Congress relative to Il
| o.L,x