New-York tribune., 1899-07-30

n, Governor's Island and reaching the curve III
the East River at a point five and a quarter
miles from the south end of Bay Ridge Cnah
mel. -
Great benefit will be derived from the com
pletion Of the proposed continuous channei III
the development Of commerce along bay nuse
Channel. and in affording increased 1aci'i'ies
,o the commerce of Buttermk Channel ana 10
the Erie Basin entrance.
Tho value OF the entire improvement. In It's
erfording a wide and deep channel, ooth from
the Narrows and from the upper harOor' anu
extending alone a waterfront as yet only parity
developed has been pointed out by Major II.
NJ. Adams Of the Corps of Engineers VINO mas
the work in charge, who said In report ne SUD-
,ritted about two years ago 10 the Chief of En-
gineers:
"rhe total commerce at the docks along Bay
Ridge Channel in the calendar year 1896 is re-
ported as III, 800 tons. valued at S12O4o2'O. The
commerce OF Red Hook Channel during 1896 is
,.enorted as S33 1856 tons About 5000 tons of this
,s actually discharged at the docks The rest
cons,sts Of coal in barges of six TO nine feet
draught which are brought into these waters,
assembled into tows and taken away again
The commerce of Buttermilk Channel, from the
Erie Basin to Atlantc-ave.. Brooklyn, during
1895 is reported as 150S031S tons. valued at
1902 6O6 800. 1t is carried in vessels OF from lo
TO rs feet draught Besides this, the commerce
from Atlantic-ave TO Fulton-st. Brooklyn
would find its shortest outlet by Buttermlk
Channel. This is reported as amounting to
S,566. 73S tons"
THE COMMERCE GROWING.
The commerce referred TO by Major Adams
has considerably increased since his report was
written. and the value of the proposed deepen
ing and widening Of the channel is. OF course.
enhanced.
There has been much difficulty in the past In
obtaining bids sufficiently low to bring the cost
of the entire work within the limits OF the ap-
proprjations which Congress would allow, but
finally Major Adams has succeeded In this, and
he was recently instructed to let the contract
for improving the Bay Ridge and Red Hook
channels TO Hughes Bros. & Bangs. OF Syracuse.
n Y. There is as yet no appropriation made
for Buttermilk Channel
So far as previous dredging indicates. the
material TO be excavated In making such chan
,nels Is in Bay Ridge Channel. mud and sand
at the lower end and sand overaid with mud
nt the upper end In the triangular area and IN
Red Hook Channel, mainly sand Altogether
IL will be necessary TO remove 22.OOO,OO0 cubic
wards of this material from the two channels
An order TO obtain the required depth and width
and for this the contractors are to receive j,
cents a yard, or S22OOOOO which Is $3oo.UOt
less than the amount appropriated for the work
The contractors will be obliged TO provide spe
cial machinery and appliances for the execu
.ton of the big job they have on hand. but the!
have ample time TO do So as they are allowed
nine months within which 10 begin the work
the completion Of which will require from six L
seven years.
CHANGE FROM ORIGINAL PLANS.
The proposed improvements have developed
from a project which was adopted In lsSo 10
removing part OF shoal at the north END o
ButterInik Channel Under authority OF seVera
ects OF Congress this project has been extende
until now It includes the whole Of the easter
water route 10 be dredged TO the dimension
already mentioned. =,
Tbe fact that they have at last succeeded Il
letting the contract for this work within IN
limits of the means at their command 10 espe
cially gratifying to Major Adams and other en-
oineer oficers who have taken a deep and actiV
interest in harbor improvements. and they hav
further cause for satisfaction In the fact Una
4he Contract for the Dredging of the East Chan
mel. a work the nature OF which has alread
Deen described in The Tribune. has also bee