Evening journal., 1903-04-02
ENG|NEERS SMITHS
HARBOR PLANS
He Suggest That a Tidal Res
eivoir BE Built Above
Wilmington
It WOULD INCREASE LAND VALUE
Reclaimed Land Would Mean a Les
sening Of Mosquitoes and the Eradi-
cation Of a MaIsria Breeding Place.
Valuable for Truckers.

Colonel Jared A. smith, United
States engineer in charge OF Govern
mcnt work. or rivens and harbors In |
this district. Is taking much interest
I'm the affairs of Wilmington. Ho has |
noted the building boom, which bids |
fair TO exceed all expectations this year, |
and consequently is doing his best 60
bring the conditions as now prevail In
the Christiana to the attention Of the
Washington authorities. To this end he
recently sent to the War Department
plans for the improvement of the Chris
tiana river. especially betweon It's
mouth and the mouth of the Brandy
wine. which, If followed cut. will mean
a channel twenty-One feet deep at low
water between these two points.
In speaking OF the improvements now
going on in the city, Colonel Smith has
the following suggestion to make
which. II followed out. will largely In
crease the acreage OF land above Will
mington on the Christiana river;
"rhere Is n very large acreage of
land above Wilmington ON the Christi
ana river or Immediately bordering IL
that Is entirely submerged at high
water and at present It Is valueless for
any purpose OF business or production
The value of this land Is entirely
prospective that Is 10 say In the hope
OF future betterments of some sort
Suppose. for instance. we would pur-
chase from 1000 to $500 acres Of such
lands that are flooded at high water;
they ought TO be obtained for small
prices. and then suppose that Con-
gress would authorize the government
dredge out one-third OF that. from
| five to six feet below water. and put
Il on top the two-thirds and bringing
| Il four feet or 80 above high water.
Then that two-thirds OF the acreage
would be worth many times as much
as the whole OF IL Is now. lt would
sell at high prices for farm production
or could be utilized for park purposes
and for It's value for truck gardening;
land the reservoir would make a fine
place for boating. 1t would increase
the tidal volume OF waiter coming in and
out OF the river, enough to make a very
material and permanent improvement
20 the channel. Probably the mainte-
nance OF such a tidal basin would cost
very little.
"That is not the plan that has been
submitted; It is simply a suggestion fos
the people 10 act on or mot.
"The idea of Il would be- that the in
creased volume OF water flowing IN
would clear out your channel and main.
tain a better channel You could gel
as much flow In and out above this
4 mouth OF the Brandywine as you have
below"
The reservoir might have half D
dozen channels from the Christiana &c
Il and would be accessible to boats and
launches. The reclaiming Of the land
might mean q lessening OF the number
OF mosquitoes and the eradication OF 3
malaria breeding place. IL might be an
, opportunity for q syndicate to get pos.
session OF the property and turn ovei
. some Of It to the government which
I would probably pay for the dredging
, land the possible increased value OF The
, Hand might enable the syndicate Z
lrealize on the investment.