Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-01-23
A NEW SURVEY.

Former Congressman HANDY Receives As
surance From congressman.
81 fee' morally certain that Congress
will authorize the survey OF the pro
posed new project Tor Wilmington
harbor, said former Congressman
Handy Thursday. Mr.. Handy attended
hearing accorded Delawareans Wednes
day by the river ard harhor com
mittee OF the House OF Representatives.
Although he went there at the request
of the Smyrna delegation to speak for
them, he took great interest in the
proposed Improvement OF the Whining
ton harhor and made an enthusiastic
speech in favor OF it.
Having been member OF Congress
and being acquainted with the mem
bers OF the committee, he remained
after his fellow Delawareans had left
Washington for home and spent the
entire afternoon doing missionary work
among the members of the committee
and congressman generally.
81 received assurance from mary of
the Congressman, he said, in speaking
OF The matter, Ito the effect that the
Wilmington Item in the river and
harbor bill that failed OF passage last
year would be allowed to remain and
they will vote for it when it comes up
for passage This item provides for d
| survey for new project, which will
make the ha Dor Improvement pefma
nent by bulkheading
AT the request OF the Board of Trade
| ] went to Wash ngton last year and with
| the help OF Congressman Ilolfecker. had
that item put 10 the bill and it passed
| the approval of both housee The bill
would have passed had 1t not been for
| the fact that il was talked to death by
| Senator Garter on the last day of the
session. 1t comes up in the same form
| at this session and is now under con
sideration. have found no serious
opposition to the Wilmington item and
it is likely that an ap reputation OF
$50. 600 will also be made for main
! tenance
1.-THE spirit and feeling OF the river
and harbor COMMITTEES n the matter OF
improving the Wilmington harhor is
such that Congress In the future will
be slow to appropriate money to main
tain the present depth or to improve
the habor until Wilmington has done
what she ought to do for her own
harbor. Tho complaint ~ loud because
of the einptying OF sewage into the
Christiana under such conditions that
the harbor fills up almost as fast as the
government digs it out. The official
reports of government engineers have
brought this matter very prom nently
to the attention of the Congress onal
committee, and the chairman does moi
hesitate to say that in the future Will
mingtcn must help to dig out tbs
hafhor instead OF helping to ill it W
by deposIting its sewage, as at present
THE Wilmington Board of Tradt
has been most Intelligent and efficient
in its efforts to present Wilminvton' &
needs to the attention of Congress
Congressman Ball is operating
zeelously and doing all that can be
done by a representative to secure il
J the river and hRrhor hill proper appro
priations for all Delaware streams. anC
it looks as if his efforts will be re
! warded by success.
The hRrhor survey project mentioned
by Mr.. Handy contemplates bulkhead
ing the Cheistiana from its mouth tt
J the pulp works and other improvements
including a wider channel than a
present The bulkheading would proven
} the mud from finding its way back ant
| there would be u feet of water from
one side Of the river to the other, al
! the way to the pulp works, and yer,
little would be required for main
, tenance
} This is one OF the chief things tn
Board of Trade wanted Congress t.
J arrange for. and the delegation wa
, pleased to learn that the item il in th
} bill this year and that there was N
desire TO strike it out The other re-
, quest was for $4,000 for maintenance
Such project as is contemplated il
the proposed new survey will cost some
3 thing like 81, 800. 900, but when it
8 completed the annual expenditure
thereafter will be reduced to the mini
mum. If the survey is authorized thi
, year an effort will be made next year t
. have Congress authorize the work done