Evening journal., 1903-10-05
NEEDS OF HARBOR
WERE DISCUSSED
Captain Sanford and River
and Harbor Committee of
Trade Board Meet
PROMINENT MEN WERE PRESENT

An inportant conference was held at
the old Federal Building on Saturday
afternoon between the River and Har-
Dor COMMITTEES OF the Board OF Trade
a number of public officials and Cap
tain j. c. Sanford. United States en-
gineer for this district. The bullShead-
ing and deepening of the Christiana
river was discussed.
United states Senator ]. Frank AL
lee and Colonel Everett Hickman, sec
rotary to Congressman Houston. were
present Others present We're United
States Commissioner William G.. Ma
haffy. Mayor Charles ID. Bird, Presi-
dent of City Council +. j. McNulty,
Collector OF Port Robert G. Houston,
j. Newlin Gawthrop. Daniel w. Taylor,
William Lawton, Colonel Enoch Moore,
A. S. Reed, Captain Horace Wilson,
Thomas II. Savery, Charles G. Cannon
and Frank r. Carswell.
AS Senator Pan had previous en-
gagement he was unable to I G pro sell.
When first informed of the NEE ting ne
was told that il would be held a week
earlier and made his engagements ac-
cordingly. He was very sony that hS
could not be present
He sent a letter to the board saying
he would do all IN his power to assist
the Board of Trade in any of its plans
for the betterment OF the city.
Although he has beer in charge OF
this district but a short Time Captain
Sanford has shown his efficiency and
ability and has made numerous friends
among those with whom he has come
I In contact. Captain Horace Wilson
called the meeting to order and j..
Newlin Gawthrop was selected as
chairman and Daniel w. Taylor secre.
tary. Captain Wilson said that the
object Of meeting was to learn from
Captain Sanford the present condition
of the harbor Of Wilmington and what
is necessary to give the Wilmington
harbor a greater draught of water and
to maintain the increased depth.
III explanation Of what Captain Will
son stated Captain Sanford reviewed
the past work of the government, in
cluding the two jetties. Three years
ago . 100000 cubic yards of material
were dredged from the Christiana and
since then about 100000 cubic yards Of
mud have filed in and the government
has opened bids to remove the shoals
caused by il which are the worst in
the river. II is encouraging that only
a small amount of material has come
back in the two and a half years since
the work was completed. Captain San
ford also reviewed the recommenda-
tions made some years ago regarding
the bulkheading of the Christiana riv-
er. If this was done the river would
have a width of 500 feet at its mouth
200 feet 10 Third street bridge. and 20l
feet to the pulp works. There has beer
a great inflow of soft material from the
sides and this can be stopped by a sys-
/. tematic sheet pning aud then the
dredging necessary would diminish
kevery year.
1t is most important to establish
Irregular pier head line. Captain San
ford pointed out. Better bulkheai
lines need to be drawn in conformit.
with the requirements of the govern
[ ment rules. Then to get a greater dept
\ and width II would be necessary to ge
Congress first to order the survey Thi
would require a delay of two years.
, Captain Sanford's statement was fol
lowed by a general discussion. Harbo
lines could be established by applyin
4 to the Secretary OF War Captain san
ford said. Congress is not I'm the bust
, lness Of building wharves for individ
uals. and il the abutting property own
ers along the Christiana would bull
the bulkheads. Congress would Look af
t"r the channel Cantain Sanford sai
he would have the question Of harbo
lines looked into. but he knew tina
/ Congress would not builG urivat
, wharves.
Collector OF Port Houston said tha
he believed that If the government es
tablished the harbur lines then the pcs
warders ana city could establish thei
lines. Aivan J.. Morrison cc1nn,ente
on the proposed width oc the river an
said no one can build a wharf outsid
Of the port warden's line He OK
rlained that it would require $4,000
year to dredge the river to keep N
twenty-one feet of water and Congress
would not like to aDpi oDriatc muc
more although the Secretary Of Wa
would have to do the work shoul
2 Congress make the appropriation.
In the near future he viii make
trip along the Christiana with IA
Board Of Trade subcommittee an
Captain Wilson, who is manager Of tn
J.. Wilmington Steamboat Company. wi
point out The harbor and port lines {
Captain Sanford.