Smyrna times., 1901-11-06
IMPROVEMENT URGED FOR
DELAWARE BAY AND RIVER
CHIEF ENGINEER GILLESPIE SAYS 1T WILL
TAKE S5,3IO,OOO TO COMPLETE WORK.
of These Figures Delaware River Will Need
S65O,OOO; Wilmington HarbOr S5OOOO, and
Inland Waterways 100000.


Brigadier- General Gillespie, chief of
engineers, in his annual report, made
public In Washington last Thursday,
estimates that it will require $3.50, 900
for the work on the Delaware River
for the fiscal year ending June Both,
1903. He says that it will take S., 310,-
900 for the completion of the existing
,dEoject. On July 1st, 1901, there was
g.. available balance of $403, 1856 for
k ON the Delaware. In speaking
ut the improvement of the Della
81. .e, the report says:
"a board of engineers, convened for
ae purpose of considering the subject
IF the permanent improvement of Della
hware River and Bay, recommended,
under date of January 2nd, 1885, the
formation of a ship channel from a
point opposite Philadadelphia and
about midway between the Ameri-
can Ship Building Co. s yard and the
gas trust wharf to deep water in Della
ware Bay, having at least width of
600 feet a deep of 26 feet at mean low
water. The estimated cost of obtain
ing a channel of the above dimensions
was about So, ,425, 900, which covered
the estimated cost of the permanent
Improvement of the Delaware River
between the upper part of Philadelphia
and deep water in the bay.
1.-The estimates for improvements in.
clude these figures: Delaware River,
$3.50, 900; Wilmington harbor, $5O,O0O
inland water way from ChincOteagut
Bay, Va, to Delaware Bay, 100000.
Speaking about the defences of the
Delaware River, the report says:
"The defences include two masonry
works of old type, one of which is il
charge of an ordinance sergeant. NJ
new work is contemplated at this site
Modern batteries have been erected a
the other site and are being cared TO
by a small detachment of troops
Modern works of defence are also 10
Gated at two other points on the river
which are garrisoned.
SAT the beginning of the fiscal yea
: the following batteries of modern typ
: had been completed and turned over t
: the artillery: One battery for thre
9 12-inch and three 10-inch guns, on dii
appearing carriage; one battery for tw
4.72-inch rapid-fire guns, on pedestt
mounts; one battery for 16. 12-inch
L. mortars; one battery for two Sine
e guns, on disappearing carriages, an
two 12-inch guns, on non -disappearir
e carriages.
ia 1.-TWO steel instrument towers f
a battery commanders stations are
= course of erection. The work has bee
le retarded by delays in the delivery
,e materials and by extensive alteratio
st necessitated by the poor fitting of mai
ID of the larts. Two stationsfor Raffer
,e range-fnders have been built.
During the year, under vario
in allotments from appropriations
ne preservation and repair of fortifi
IN tions, electric lighting plants we
H. operated and cared for, repairs We
lie made to battery slopes, lead FASH
rs was placed over joints in the platfor
in to prevent leakage, iron work v
an painted, the entrance walls of one b
ST. terry were torn down and rebuilt,
to ground near another battery '
ON cleared and graded, repairs were mt
to river banks and wharves and OF
works of maintenance and repair W
carried on"