New-York tribune., 1903-07-25
TRENTON AS A PORT.
Efforts To Be Made to Deepen
Channel of the DeLosrare RiUer.

Trenton, N j. July "a CSpeciaD.-United States
Senator Dryden and Congressman Wiley have prom
ised help Trenton in its efforts to retrieve tT
prestige river port. The tides ebb and now
its threshold. but for a good many years it
has been without river navigation. except that
which is carried on In vessels Of shallow drausht.
Years ago steamers and sailing vessels OF deep
draught came to the wharves in the southern part
of the citv and a port was established there called
the Port of Lamoerton. The distinction that goes
with the name exists to-day. but II means nothing
practically. George Whitaker. of the oldest
citizens Of Trenton has been Collector Of the Port
of Lamberton for nearly half century, and he IS
as Jealous Of the honor he when the Office
meant something To-day it pays him nothing.
A few years ago it afforded him considerable
income
There has been a remarkable change in the char
acter Of the Delaware River at this point Then
# was full Of strong. sturdy currents 1t deep
and capable Of floating large vessels laden with
valuable cargoes Rats Of logs worth many thou
sands Of dollars each came down from the head
waters and sent past the city Of PhIla-
dephia and other towns down the river. where they
we're made ready for the lumber market.
But there 10 RATS now, and the only craft
that come TO Trenton the small steamers that
manage to worry their way between the sand bars,
and the heavily laden freight boats that come here
by the way Of the Delaware and Raritan Canal
which debouches into the river at Bordentown
about six miles south of this city.
The traffic through the canal is large and con-
York and Philadelphia. The canal company is
making money. and for that reason its officers
not enthusiastically indorsing the movement Of
the citizens OF Trenton in the direction Of improv-
ing the Delaware River by deepening its channel.
The city has outgrown the shipping facilities pro-
Vided by single railroad line and canal Of Inn
fted capacity and attempt is to be made to get
appropriation from Congress sufficiently large
enable the city to carry out its plans. which
template making il of the most important river
ports in the State
During the last ten years the Board Of Trade Of
Trenton has made effort to get some recogni-
tion from Congress Of the growth of the city and
Congress has been indifferent TO the Importance Of
Small sums of money never exceeding. 5000,
have been appropriated from time to time for the
amount has been hardly sufficient TO pay the cost
of dredging through the Periwig Bar after the
transportation companies that have undertaken TO
dig their way through the numerous sand bars to
This year the Board of Trade has taken hold of
the proposition with the determination to win, and
sentative citizens of Trenton. together with promi
nent State officials. on steamboat trip down the
Congressman William H. Wiley. of the With
District, was Of the party. He is practical
engineer and deeply interested In the project
went over TIE ground and expressed the opinion
at the end Of the cruise that Il Congress could be
ilel OF the Delaware could be made deep enough at
reasonable expense 10 HOaL Oeep uraUSlt vessels
20 Trenton's whaTves.
Congressman Wiley was assistant engineer in
the construction Of the Brooklyn Waterworks and
the Croton Waterworks in New-York. He is
member Of the American Society of Civil EnEi-
neers and treasurer of the American Society Of
Mechanical Engineers. He suggested that the
services Of first class marine engineer be secured
and plans devised for the improvement of the
river. He expressed the opinion that the channel
could be deepened by the building OF dikes and
Tnattressing Of the river banks was done along
the Mississippi River He roughly estimated the
cost at $500 600.
For wears there has been gradual decline in the
volume Of the Delaware at his point
This is attributed by scientists 20 the fact that
the forests at the headwateTs of the river have
lessened- Others say that the water taken from
the river fer the power that furnishes mote
force for of the mills in Trenton. and by the
feeder that supplies the Delaware and Raritan
Canal. has lowered the river. Whatever the cause.
fact remains that the river is not y hat II used
he and the point where the tdaXaters meet
he downward current of the stream sand bars
have formed and becoming more serious bar
Iiers TO river commerce each year.
Adam EXtOn. president OF the Board Of Trade.
says that il will he easy matter to raise the
money necessary TO pay the eXpense of having
plans prepared for any system of river improve
nent decided upon, and that work will be begun
along these lines as engineer can be
found who is competent to do tie work.
The jettY system. like that built by Eads in the
lower MissssiQpi. is favored by many of those
who have examined the ground, but they are will
ing to abide by the suggestions made by the eng1-
necr who undertakes the Job of figuring out how
Trenton's river port can be preserved.