Evening journal., 1903-08-06
REPORT MADE ON
DELAWARE WATERS
Captain ]. c. Sanford, United
States Engineer Writes
on Wilmingtons Harbor
HISTORY OF THE IMPROVEMENTS

HISTORY OF THE IMPROVEMENTS
In his annual report on harbors sub
mitted to the government Captain j.
G. Sanford had the following TO say
about Wilmington's harbor.
"The harbor Is IN the Christiana
river and includes a length Of about
four miles above its mouth at the Del
aware River. II also includes the
lnavigabe portion OF the Brandywine
River, which flows into the Christiafh
River at a point about one and three
quarters miles above It's mouth.
Previous to 1886, when the first ap-
preparation for the Improvement of the
Christiana River was made, the low
water depth at the entrance TO this
stream was about eight and one-half
feet The minimum depth in the
channel IN the portion of the river be-
/ low Third street bridge, Wilmington,
was eight feet The depth was in
creased in 1886 by dredging to ten feet
below low water
The present project is based upon
survey made I'm 1895 and pro-
vides for the formation by dredging
rock removal and construction of
dikes of channel I'm the Christiana
River twenty-one feet deep at mean
low water from that depth in the
Delaware river to the Pulp Works. a
distance of about four miles, and
thence diminishing to a depth of ten
feet at mean low water 10 the draw
pier of the Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Washington railroad cut-om bridge
No. A, the width at the bottom vary
ing between $50 feet at the mouth and
200 feet at bridge No. 4. The project
further provides for the removal Of
shoals from bridge No a. at Newport,
to depth of seven feet at mean low
water. The width made under the
present project Is 200 feet from the
Pulp Works TO the mouth OF the Brart
dywine and thence TO the 21-foot con-
tour In the Delaware river $50 feet, eX-
cept n stretch Of about f75 feet extend
I ing up from a point opposite the light
house at the mouth where the width
was made only 200 feet The depth
made was twenty-one feet. and over
the rock lodges above and below Third
street bridge about twenty-one and a.
half feet
The engineer here calls attention to
the history OF the Improvement and
the work done under this and previous
projects found I'm the annual report Of
the chief OF engineers. Continuing he
says:
The last work done on the improve
meni was IN 1901. During the past
fiscal year survey was made of the
river extending from the 2t-foot con-
tour in the Delaware River TO the
draw pier of the PHILADELPHIA, Balu-
more and Washington Railroad cut-on
bridge No. 4. and report thereon, with
maps. was submitted TO the chief OF
engineers under date of March %. 1908
The expenditures were for outstanding
liabilities. cost of survey, etc.
The amount expended on the i'm.
provement of this river from 1886 tC
June 80. 1908. is SS45.S55.22, OF which
St4S.2tq.10 Is on the previous project.
The survey made late I'm the fan o
last year shows a channel 81 feet deer
at mean low water and ranging from
25 to $50 feet In width. from the mouth
TO about 1900 feet above the ThirC
street bridge. broken by two shoals ag-
gregatlng 1000 feet I'm length on which
the depths are bui l6 feet. Above this
al the Pusey & Jones Company
wharves the depth was 1875 feet. BE.
tween these last two named points th'
depths ranged between l5 and 20 feet
The maximum draft that "an be car.
ried June 80. 1908, at mean low water
over the shallowest part of the chan
mel under Improvement between tho
delaware River and the Pulp Works
is i1.5 feet
The engineer here gives the provi.
sion of the river and harbor act OF
June 10 1902. relative TO improving
Wilmington Harbor.
The tonnage and value Of the leadinl
articles shipped TO and from the Port o
Wilmington Ia the year 1902, as reporte
bv the Board of Trade was S29,6o6 tons
valued at s95. .2g7 i55. The foreign com
merco amounted to Ns5O5o0 additional
and the shipbuilding industry is quite eN
tensive
The money statement follows;
July ]. 1902. balance unexpendod. $50, 65i. d
Proceeds of sale of river and har-
bor property. -........,s.,.''.. -lV''