Evening journal., 1902-05-23
TO RENUMh WORK
ON DRLAW ARD
Colonel Raymond to be in
Charge Of improvements
River Channel Will be Made Deeper
and Wider FrOE Philadelphia
10 The BreakWater

Lieutenant-Colonel c. w. Raymond,
now a member of the Board of Engi-
neers, with headquarters in New York,
who for a number of years was in
charge OF the Delaware river improve
ments. has been reassigned TO the work
of channel making, after being absent
from it since October 1 of last year.
Colonel Jared A. Smith, now in charge
Of the district, will continue 10 have
supervision of other work outside the
channel proper. but it is expected that
he will De transferred soon to a South
ern engineering division.
There is some comment to the effect
that it viii be very difficult for Colo
mel Raymond at this time to resume
the Delaware work He is now sta
toned in New York as a member Of the
Board of Engineers. which acts in an
advisory capacity in the matter OF
large projects. He is to leave in June
for Europe as one OF the representa-
tives of this country in the great engi-
neering convention to be held at Dus-
lseldorf. Besides this, he is soon to
have important work in connection
with the Pennsylvania tunnel project.
Distance lo4 Miles
From Cramps shipyard to the
BreaSwater the distance in an air line
is eighty miles, while by the windings
Of the river it is 104 miles. From the
Horseshoe bend at League Island to
Bombay Hook. in the bay the air line
distance is about thirty-four miles,
while the river follows almost a semi
circular arc. covering fifty-three miles,
or about SO per cent. farther.
The most persistent shoalings occur
where the river bed is larger than the
theoretical tidal volume requires, and
yet it is here that all previous efforts
have been made to improve by still fur
lther enlargements by dredging.
At the Cherry Island flats the mean
area of the section is 10000 square
feet, or II per cent. too great, and the
river is constantly trying to contract
its section by depositing here, while
| the dredging has the contrary effect
and the channels rapidly silt up. The
plan of canalization, which has been
frequently urged in vain, Should be ex-
ecuted. and the section reduced by the
above amount.
Where Tides Congest
At deep water point the sec6on is
too contracted, being 10000 square
feet. or 70 per cent too small. so that,
while the depths are too great, the MAJ
lterial secured from the bottom helps
] TO maintain the shoals in the fats
| both above and below. No suggested
improvement has been proposed for
this section, and yet ii is an element
in disturbing the tidal movement just
as much as where the river is too large
lsince it cOngests the tides.
It should, therefore. be enlarged
some u per cent. by dredging of the
point on the New Jersey side, and
lplaeing the spoils behind a dixie above
the point. From Fort Delaware to Lis
toms Point the river, with two minci
exceptions, is too small. and yet tnLs Is
the place selected for the construction
lof an artificial island. which will still
further reduce the section about 80 pei
Icent., and it may become a peninsula
with a reduction of about so per cent
Isituated at the mouth of the river
where its influence in obstructing thu
tidal movements will be most serious