Evening journal., 1901-05-08
RIVER WORK
WILL CONTINUE
Closing Of Engineers Office
for ECOnOmy'S Sake
Il, Direct Result Of the Failure Of
River and HarbOr Bill to
Pass


Washington, May S.-The failure OF
the River and Harbor Appropriation
bill at the last session of Congress has
forced the Engineer Department TO is
sue orders 10 It's Officers in charge VI
river and harbor work throughout the
country TO economize expenditure
whenever and wherever that can bel
done without interfering WITH the intCg- |
rity of the improvements in course OF
constrGctivn Fortunately, IN ,he easel
of many OF the more important inn
prOyemepts there Is an unexpended bal
ance to their credit which will en-
able the engineers to continue opera
tions through the present working
season, but even in these cases expendi-
lures are being curtailed IN order that
the largest sum possible may be utii-
lied in pushing the improvements lnI
accordance with this policy forced upon
the Engineer Department by tie failure
OF the River and Harbor bill. orders
were recently issued by the chief Of
engineers to abolish for the present To-
cal offices established at certain points
fer the convenience of the officers in
charge. Wilmington, Del, is one OF
the points included in the order. The
closing Of this particular office will IN
no particular interfere with the present
or prospective work OF improving the
| harbOr of Wilmington, and carrying
on other work heretofore under the su-
/ pervision OF the officer in charge Of
the Wilmington office and district.
/ There is available for continuing the
1 Wilmington harbOr improvement about
| 800 600 In order that every dollar pos
( sible OF that balance may be used for
the Improvement il was determined 10
cut off the expense Of maintaining the
local engineers office. Of-ccur5e. all
money expended in connection with the
Improvement comes fiOm the appro-
priation for that specific object and
the amount paid for office rent and ex-
penses incidental TO maintaining an
| office would be lest to the harbor at a
| dime when IL is of the greatest import
ance that the money available for
dredging and the like should be care
fully guarded and directed to that pur-
Dose.
NECESSITY FOR ECONOMY.
In conversation yesterday General
Gillespie, chief Of engineers, explained
/ that It was not an unusual thing tC
| discontinue local offices and to USE
| other economies when an emergency
was presented, such as that now con
sfronting the Engineer Department. A
number of local offices have beer
closed for the same reasons that oper
ated in the case of Wilmington.
was a question OF expending none!
for maintaining local offices or expend
ing ;he some money in the active wOrl
Of improving the harbors. Wheneve
provision shall be made for cOntinu
ing the Improvements by addihOna
appropriations, and The pnnll, intor
ests require It the local offices JUS
discontinued will be re-established.
SMITH RELIEVED AT HIS REQUEST
In the case OF Wilmington, there wal
special reason for closing the loca
office ait this time What constitute
he Wilmington district was establish
I'd several years ago, and placed unde
charge OF General William f. C'Baldy"
smith, who is on the retired list, witt
he rank of major Certain works tina
we're included in the Philadelphia an
Baltimore districts were taken 10 con
stitute the district for General Smith
l and he has continued in charge OF tina
/ district ever since. But General Smit
| decided to cease further active duty
| and asked to be relieved. This reques
has hcer granted. AS the condition q
the uneAreLdcd balance to the credi
of Wilmington harbor and other I'M
| provements in that vicinity require
/ the practice OF economy, the retiremen
! | Of General Smith at this time was con
sidered opportune for the closing q
the lO,al office at least, te npc aTii!
and the work hitherto under Geners
smiths charge was divided betwee
Colonel Raymond, who Is in charge Z
the Delaware river improvements, an
General Ernst. who is in charge OF tn
chesapeake bay inpr vements. TIL
discontinuance. as already explained
will in no particular interfere with tll
progress OF the work TO be done in th
} district in charge Of General Smith. o
e the contrary, the discontinuance wi
g benefit the work so far as the expense
q for maintaining an Office can be use
j for dredging