Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-09-21
IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR
Two JsttleS to be Built, the Old Jetty
Extended and Channel Deepened.
WORK TO COST ABOUT 100000
Gen. Smith Authorized to Ad-
vertise for Proposals.
THE BIDS TO Be OPENED OCTOBER 19

Gen. William F. Smith United States
engineer in charge of the work in this
district, has received authority from
the department at Washington to adver-
tise for proposals for extensive addi-
tional Improvements to the Wilmington
harbor, which will cost something like
$500, 600, and 1t is likely that work will
be commenced before freezing weather
sets in, but year or SO may be re-
quired in its completion. In compli-
ance with the order, the advertisement
first made its appearance last
Monday and bids will be opened at
Engineer Smiths office, in this city,
at noon on Thursday, October 10Th.
The plans for the work, which have
been completed and approved, call for
the deepening of the channel of the
Christiana River from Is to q feet
from the mouth to point above the
Delaware pulp mills; the extension of
the ietty at the north side Of the mouth
of the stream, with crib at tho end /;
the construction of ietty and cross
dixie at the south side of the mouth of
the Christiana, and also jetty at the
mouth of the Brandywine.
The ietty at the north side Of the
mouth of the Christiana is to be ex-
tended 800 feet and the crib at the end
will be to protoct it, and light will
probably be placed there. The present
jetty is to be put in firstclass condi-
tion. The new jetty at the south side
of the mouth of the Christiana is to
be 1,515 feet in length and the cross
dixie, which will be built in connection
with it, l, ITO feet
The object of this additional work at
the mouth of the stream is to prevent
shoaling at that point, which has been
source of great annoyance for long
time. Both banks arc chiefly soft mud
at the water level and as a result much
of this material has been washing into
the stream. The ietty on the north
side has been protecting the north bank
TO certain extent and will do so more
effectively when the extension and crib
are built. The jetty and cross dixie at
the south side will also keep the bank
from running into the water there and
will obviate shoaling, as will also the
jetty at the mouth of the Brandywine.
The shoals at the mouths of these
streams have caused great trouble,
especially at the mouth of the Chris
tiana, and the improvement will be of
untold benefit to shipping interests
directly and the general business of the
city directly. This work has been con-
templated for some time and the fact
that it has been authorized will be
hailed with great satisfaction.
The New York Dredging Co. is we'll
under way with the project for an 49,
foot channel, and this work will in all
probability be completed before the
new work is commenced. Up to the
present time about sl7O, GOO has been
expended of the large appropriation
which was made by Congress few
months ago and with the $500, 600
which the contemplated improvements
will probably cost, will make an
approximate outlay Of $500, 600 for the
permanent Improvement of the harbor,
and the work now planned will add
very materially to the permanency of
the improvements. When it is COM
pleted Wilmington will have first
class harbor and one of which the city
may be proud.