Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1898-11-12
DREDGERS' PROPOSAL.
They Want to Increase the
Width of the Channel.
ENDEAV0R TO STIR UP sENTIMEKT T

hNDhAVOR 10 STIR UP SENTIMENT
LETTERS ADDRESSED TO THE
BOARD OF TRADE AND REPRE-
SENTATIVE MEN IN THE CITY.
OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSE
TIoN.
The Wilmington Board OF Trade and
equally representative organizations
and men in this city have received
from the New York Dredging Com
pany, which has the contract to widen
and deepen the Chrstiana river, the
following communication;
New York, Nov 10, 1898.
Gentlemen: We have just closed a.
contract for dredging in Wilmington
haIbOr, Christlana river, under General
WiMlam Il. Smith, United States agent.
AS called fer In the contract we are to
dredge the channel to a width Of $50
feet. The price at which we have con-
tracted to do this work is 80 low that Il
VIII be entirely possible for the gov
/ "a AAiANAN ~ kil IL larger UllOuuL Vi
work executed than was originally con-
templated with the funds available, as
our price for the work is 1916 cents per
cubic yard, and the governments eeti-
mate was approximately Is cents per
cubic yard. With the funds available,
according to the best information OBJ
tainable for the amount OF work to be
| done, and on basis OF price which we
have made for the work, the govern
ment will be able to excavate a channel
$50 or lS5 feet wide instead Of $50 feet
wide. Il will be Of course a material
advantage to the city OF Wilmington to
have the width OF this channel in
creased, and the city of Wilmington
is surely entitled to all increase possi-
BILE with the funds at present provided
and available for the work
I'VE are willing to make this in
creased width at the same price we
have made for the narrow width, but
If we do this IL Is absolutely necessary
that we should be advised and arrange
ments made for such increased width
Of excavation before actual work ls
started, which will be early in Decem.
: Der.
This increase in width OF channe
can undoubtedly be secured by this
proper move being made by responsible,
commercial concerns by making th'
proper representations to General vii
liam f. Smith, United States officer il
] charge, but II will take some concerted
e action on behalf Of Wilmington inter
5 eEts, probably, to get proper actor
A taken, as It will undoubtedly require al
additional agreement between thi
company and the government to carr
{ out the work for a greater width.
u we have been requested to send thi
; information to several concerns in VIII
mington that proper concerted actiO.
y can be taken, and a copy OF this lette
= Is sent TO the following named parties
''To the mayor, the president o
3 Board of Trade, Phillip Plunkett, presi
I dent Central National Bank; Joseph
Carpenter, ,Jr. president Farmers Bank
James p. Winchester. president Firs
National Bank II. G. Banning, presi
dent National Bank of Delaware
George S. Capelle, president Nations
Bank Of Wilmington and Brandywine
Preston Lea, president Equitable Guar
uhttt anu liucl 1oMldNlf btNldnl
y Nields, president Security Trus
and Safe Deposit Company; j. A. No
II Caulley, president Artisans Saving
"a Bank; William NJ. Candy, presider
1. Wilmington Savings Fund Society; III
Jackson and Sharp Company; the Pr
sey and Jones Company; the Harla
N and Hollingsworth Company; the Dii
le mond State Iron Works, Lobdell Ca
"A Wheel Company, Christiana Improv,
a. ment Company, Davis Coal and Col
= Company, Charles Warner Compan
n George w. Bush and Sons Compan
+ Yours truly,
l. New York Dredging Co.
d. 20. L. WILLIAMS, Secretary"
he The proposition is already object,
"a tc, because, while il would widen q
channel more than designated In Il
'n contract, It would decrease the leng
ne Of the cut. H. under the terms OF II
rk contract there will be money left aft
nd the channel is cut to the Pulp Work
.ir the residue can be used to extend d
deep water above that point and
clear away the shoals between here al
Newport.