Evening journal., 1898-12-03

dredeed Tor a length OF 80 600 feet over
a width varying nom 300 to 500 feet
and TO a depth Of 26 feet About 6,O0O
feet OF this channel. as before stated,
has shoaled to a depth Of 20 feet. At
Duck Creek flats the dredged channel
has a length Of 10000 feet, width OF
400 and depth OF 26 feet.
The work remaining to be done to
secure &c feet OF water from Philadel-
phia TO the sea is the redredging OF the
shOa. in the channel at Dan Baker and
the dredging Of the channel between
Marcus Hook ice piers and the head OF
the channel now under construction on
the Compass range, above Cherry
Island fats. the distance being 2s.SOO
fe5t, and the present depth OF water
from 2S to 20 feet. Some Of the ex-
isting cham Is will, however, have TO
be widened to secure the full width,
viz: 600 feet. provided for by the 26
foot project
NO SH0Ad1NG IN THE HARBOR
In Philadelphia haib0r the obstruc-
tion In the channel below Cramps ship
yard known as Mameluke rock. has
been blasted down. together with two
ether projecting spurs. so tina. the least
derth of water now on the rock is %
feet at mean lew water The three
points had an area Of 1.04O square feet
and were from to fee. high The
ledge or rock on which these spurs
were located has an area Of about one
ard a-half acres. on which the low
water depths vary from % to % feet
a recent examination Of part Of
Philadelphia halb0r shows no shcal-
ing in the 1000 foot channel opposite
that rait Of the city between Cooper's
ard Kaighn's Point.
The committee heard with much
satis.ac,ion that the channel across
Duck Creek fats. at the head Of the
hay. dredged last year, had maintained
its dep.h. That shoal and Dan Baker
just above It. have caused much delay
to chipping In the past.
Mr. Thompson also gave an account
Of the work done IN the Schuylkll
river towards securing a 26 feet chan
mel to Gibson's Foint and % feet from
there to the Walnut street bridge.
On mction Cf Mr.. Sharwcod. the
committee On the 30 feet channel, con-
sisting Of w. d. Winsor, J.. Y. scher-
merhorn, F. l.. Neah. e R. Sherwood
and w. r. Tucker. was requested TO
consult with Colonel Raymond in re-
gard 10 the advisability Of again TAX
ing up the question Of building dlkes
In the vicinity OF Dan Baker shoal for
the purpose OF maintaining the chan
nel, and II his views are favorable. the
committee was further instructed IA
interview the congressman and United
States cenators from De.awure and SEE
wha, can be done to overecme the for.
mer objections to the dikgs. The com.
mittee was also instructed to take step.
TO urge upon Congress the necessity o.
appropriations for improving the chan
, mel. I be committee on Schuylkill rive
was given like instructions.
The deepening of the channel OF th'
Ds,aware river 70 a depth Of 90 fee
at low water would naturally be a cost
, ly piece of work, but dts cost would b
: far overbAlanced by the incalculabl
! benefit which Il would be to the port o
Philadelphia and to American com
meIce in general. Colonel Raymond
in his report on the proposed 30 fee
channel. sent to the secretary OF wa
: last January. and by the secretary c
e war to CongreeH. estimated that N
G cost Of occurring a 80 fee, channel 60
. feet wide would be a little more tha
s5.9OO.OOO
His report is based on surve
8 made during the Summer and Fall G
s 1897 authorized by the River an
G Harb1r bill Of June, 1896. IL Is llkel
that the estimate would be consider
ably reduced by the time a contract
awarded. if Congress will authoriz
b she work for the improvements {
{. dredging machinery are coninuall
I reducing the cost or the estimate
9 amount more ehan 5000 600 was for th
renewal OF rock al Schooner Ledge an
: in the harbor between Petty Island an
Il Cramre shipyard The amount Of mul
d sand, gravel ana clay to be removed
: estimated at something more than 30
II 100000 cubic yards and there is in az
: ditional 10000 cubic yards OF rock tn
eefm is Based On all excavate
Il ma erial being placed on shore {
s dumped in the bay.