Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-12-28
HARBOR IMPROVEMENT.
Work ON the New Contracts to Begin 500
After the First OF the Year.


4 After the First OF the Year.
Although the contracts for perma-
nent improvement Of the Christiana
River call for the beginning Of work on
the ietties early next month, 1t IL not
likely that anything beyond assembling
of material will be done before Febru-
airy, unless the weather conditions
should be unusually favorable. 1t was
stated at the Office of United States
Engineer Smith this o,ning that it
is expected material will be on the
ground by the time the weather con.
ditions will permit the work 10 proceed.
1t IS desired to have the work on the
jetties we'll under way by the time the
dredging Is commenced. The entire
project is to be completed by June 30th,
1901, about IS months after the time
fixed for beginning operations.
BENJAMIN L. Collins of Milford, who
has the contract for the Brandywine
ietty and the jetty and cross-dyke at the
souti, side Of the mouth of the Chris,
tiann. and the Sanford & Brooks Co. of
Baltimore, Md, which is to extend the
north ietty at the mouth of the Chris
tiana and build crib at the end, are
making preparation for beginning the
work, and it is expected that when it is
commenced it will proceed without
interruption. provided the weather con.
ditions arc favorable.
The Bowers Dredging Co. of Camden,
N. j., which has the contract for
| dredging, is to begin operations about
Dredging Co., which is making an 49,
foot channel. has its work well under
way, and it is expected that the 49,
foot channel will be completed by the
time work is commenced on the deeper
channel. A channel $50 feet wide and
u feet deep is to he dredged from the
Delaware River to the Brandywine
200 feet wide and 81 feet deep from
that point to the upper end of the
Delaware pulp mills, and above that
point 100 feet wide and 10 feet deep,
so far as is practicable. About 900, 600
cubic yards of material are to be re-
moved.
The work OF taking out rock to derth
of gig feet, for which j. j. Fitzpatrick
Of Platsburg, N. u, has the contract,
has been begun, but will be inter
rupted by the condition of the stream
in the severe winter weather. While
the drilling apparatus is idle, which
may be for month or SO. 1t will be
overhauled and put in first-class condi.
tion.
Beginning early next spring, all oil
these contractors will, in all proba.
bility be actively at work On their con.
tracts, and the indications are that the
Christiana will ne an unusually lively
stream until the work is completed.
The contractors are going to arrange
their work, however, so as not tc
interfere with shipping any more thar
cannot be helpedl.i
The work outlined above will com
plete the project for an improved
hai bor, which has been agitated fol
some time, but Congress will be called
upon at each session to make appro
priations for maintenance. Such appro
priations are practically assured, how
ever, as result of the manner il
which the present work was brough
about. The appropriation for the cur
rent year for maintenance was 800, 600
just what amount will be needed
annually tc keep the improved harbo
in good shape is not known, but thi
will be determined from the annual re
ports Of the local engineer in charg,
of the work.