Evening journal., 1905-07-24
FLAGLER'S REPORT
FOR YEAR 1905
Y. S. Engineer Recommends
Appropriation Of S1o5,ooo
for Next Year
.HISOTRV OF RIVER IMPROVEMENT

United States Engineer Flngler for this
district, has completed his annual report
for the fiscal year ending June ao 1905.
and In Il lac recommends that 100000 be
appropriated for the year 1896 for tho
maintenanoe Of the Improvement to tho
Christiana river and Wilmington Har.
Dor. This amount does not include any ex.
penditures for additional work. Major
Flagler in his report says:
"At the clost OF the fiscal year 1904. .
contract was in force with John J.. Grim
of Philadelphia for dredging for the ex-
penditure OF $4,000 OF tho approprlatioa
made by the river and harbor act OK
June 1s. 1902. The work was begun on july
le' 1904 after many Interruptions due large-
ly to the breaking down Of the contract.
or's plant II was completed May s. 1906.
shoal extending a length OF si0O fest
between Third street bridge and the Mar
ket street bridge was dredged TO a depfr
Of Is feet at mean low water for a width
OF between 100 and 150 feet. resulting I'M
channel Is Sfeet deep at mean low water
and a width OF 200 feet from tho Third
street bridge 10 the lower end Of Pusey
and Jones yards; thence 100 feet to ths
average width Of 200 feet 70 Market street
bridge. A shod between the mouth Cd
the Brandywine and the Pennsylvania
railroad out-on bridge No was dredged
to a width OF 200 feet 10 the bridge ana
100 feet through the south draw the depth
made being 20 feet at mean low waters
and shoai extending a length OF about
$500 feet between the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad bridge and the pulp works was
dredged to a width OF 100 feet and depth
Of l6 feet az mean low water.
SURVEY FOR HARBoR LINES.
Under date OF December s, 1S90i. a board
Of officers was convened by authority OF
the Secretary Of War 20 consider the es-
tablishment Of harbor lines at the har-
Dor Of Wilmington. Del The board met
and n public hearing was held. and It was
decided to have detailed survey made.
This survey was completed but the world
on the maps is stili going on
Under date OF April a. 1905. the chief Of
engrieers approved a project for the ex-
penditure Of $4,000 Of the $4,000 made
avallable by an act Of March g. 1906 tho
remaining $4,000 10 be held for dredging
on such places as may need Immediate
relief IN 1904 and to defray the expenses
Of the survey for harbor lines, estimated
at $500. This project provides for drcdg.
ing a channel Is feet deep. 200 feet wide
from the Third street bridge to the mouth
Of the Brandywine and thence $50 feet
wide 10 the Delaware river. and for re-
pairing. the north ietty at the mouth OF
the Christiana river and that at the
mouth Of the Brandywine.
An emergency contract wns made on
June s. 1905 with Franklin X wills for
the repair OF the jetties. This work was
begun on June ls and Is 70 be completed in
two months The proposals for dredging
We're opened June 2e. 1905 and the Bowers
Hydraulic Dredging Company Of Cam
den, n. j., was awarded the contract. This
work Is expected 70 be completed by
June 30. 1906.
The appropriation recommended by
Major Flagler for the ensuing year
amounts TO sio50OO. This sum is only Tor
the maintenance Of improvements for
Wilmington Harbor and does not IN
clude any expenditures FOR additiona,
work.
RECEIVED FIRST MONEY IN 1886
The first appropriation for the improve.
ment Of the christiana riveriwas made in
1886. The low water depth atlthe entrance
OF the stream at that time was about IL
feet The minimum depth in. the channel
} In the portion OF the river below Third
/ street bridge was eight feet This deptf
3 has been gradually increased until under
the present project Wilmington will short.
) ly have &C hannel TO the Delaware river
of Approximately q feet deep at near
{ low water The amounts of the appropri
ations expended on the Christiana sine,
b 1886 including that year are:
Act Of July a. 1886, $4,000: March s. 1887
5000; July Z, 1888, 1886; July II, 1870 sl5o0
June 10. 1872. slo0oO March 3. 1873. $1,000
June % 1874, 5000; March B. iS75 $4,000
August a. 1876. $4,000; June IS. ISIS, 81.
900; March 3. 1873. $500; June A. 1850, SO
600; March 3. 1881. $4,000; August 4. 1852
$4,000: July S, 1884, $4,000; August s. 1886
$3.50; August II, 1855. $4,000; September
! ls, 1890 $4,000; July ls 1892 $4,000; Aug
ust IS. 1894, S25.0OO; June B. 1886 $4,000; Jul,
1. 1898, S205.OOo; March g. 1899, $4,000: Jun,
6, 1900, S2ooooo; June ls. 1902. $4,000; AIarci
"a 3. 1856 $3.50 COO: total $3.50 s52