Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-09-14
DEEP WATER TO THE SEA.
The board OF Engineers Reports III Favor
of "A 30-foot Channel.


PHILADELPHIA RECORD, Saturday
A big impetus was yesterday given to
the movement for a 30-foot channel
from this city to the sea, when the
board OF engineers appointed by the
Secretary Of War to prepare plans and
estimates Of the cost of the work conf
pleted its labors and forwarded its re-
port to Washington. The report con-
tains among other things, the important
fact that tho great project can be sue
cessfully carried out within the limit
of cost prescribed by Congress.
The work of deepening the Delaware
River channel to uniform depth OF 30
feet from Philadelphia to the sea was
authorized at the last session OF Con-
eress, provided tho actual cost of the
work did not exceed $4,000, 600. This
action was based very largely upon
report submitted two years ago by Col.
9. W. Raymond, the engineer officer
in charge of the Delaware River and
harbor, in which he estimated the cost
of deepening the channel, after most
careful and exhaustive survey, at
s., 800, DIG.
In conformity with the action of
Congress board of engineer officers
was appointed, composed of Col. G.. Y.
Lvdecker of Detroit, Major w. II.
Bixby of Cincinnati, and Col. G. W.
Raymond of this city, to make the
necessary surveys and to prepare plans
and estimates of the cost of the entire
work. This board assembled in Col.
Raymond's office in this city in April
| to begin the work, which was conf
| pleted yesterday by the formal signing
of the report and its submission 20
| ~ - 1T NJ tho
| United States army.
Col. Raymond last evening said the
report of the Board of Engineers
differed but little from the ono sub
mitted by him to tho department two
years ago, either as to the details con-
corning the work or the estimated cost.
| The only changes that the board had
made were tho leaving out of the rock
| work at Petty's Island and the dredging
out Of about 1000, 900 cubic yards of
additional material through tho Duck
Creek Flats. The estimated cost OF
the work MS agreed upon by the board
was $3.50, 900, slight advance upon
his estimate, but still we'll within the
limit of cost prescribed by Congress.
The changes made by the board in
the plans at the lower end of the river,
he said, were an Improvement upon
those originally made by him. in that
they provided for straighter and
better marine channel. This, he said,
was in conformity with his ideas wher
he made his original surveys and plans,
but the matter of cost ut that time
caused him TO adhere more strictly tt
the present course of the channel.
One of the most serious problems
that confronted the board, once it
estimates were completed, and foune
to be within the $4,000, 600 limit, wa
: where to begin the work with TIN
$500, 600 available for that purpose. l
was finally determined that the prope
, place would be through Dan Bake
Shoals. Col. Raymond said it wa
! now too late in the season to begin tn
! work, and that nothing would he done
beyond the possible letting of the con
tracts, before next spring. The con
tracts under the money now available
! he thought, would be let by the tim
Congress assembled. Under the esti
! mates prepared by the Board OF Engi
t neers, Col. Raymond said the deepenin
5 of the channel to 30 feet would requir
: the excavation of "a, 600, 600 cubic yard
! of earth and "a, 100000 of cubic yard
: Of rock.