Evening journal., 1906-11-13
ASKS $SO4,463 FOR.
DELAWARE RIVER
Mackenzie Reports 80 Feet Of
Water Over Rivers TreaCh-
erOuS Shoals
SSS,OOO FOR CHRlSTIANA

WASHINGTON. Nov. 13.-In his annual
report General Alexander Mackenzie.
chief Of engineers in the army. gives de-
tailed figures regarding the improvement
Of the Delaware and shows that a thirty
foot channel has been cut through the
most troublesome shoals although sohoon-
er Ledge shoal only shows 2Sl feet OF
water. Ho has nothing 10 say about a
thirty-foot channel, as the Senate resolu-
ton asking for information on that sub
ject calls for a report 10 Congress.
There is no intimation as TO how soon
this report will be made. Much Will de-
pend upon this report as to the treatment
the Delaware will receive at the hands
OF the committee. II the report should
show q thirty-hve-foot channel feas.b e a
strong effort win be made 10 have that
project provided for.
In his report General Mackenzie says
that Congress could .cxpend, exclusive Il
the money already available, 'S9Ai6S for
additional improvements and for the
maintenance Of the Delaware In the fscal
year ending June 80 1905. The unexpended
balance from last year amounts to Aisi-
625. so that II Congress appropriates the
sum recommended there viii be 2os9oss
with which TO further improve the Della
ware river,
The work on the Delaware is thus re-
ported;
Up to the close Of the fiscal year ending
June 90 1906 the sum Of sS,S7S2ol was cx
pended on the work Of the existing pro-
ject in surveys, in operations at Baker
Shoal, Duck Creek Flats, Salem Cove
Flats shoal Cherry Island Flats Deep
Water Point, Schooner Ledge and Tinicum
Island Flats, and in the construction Ct
bulkheads for the reception OF drelgsd
material A rehandling machine for re-
handling material dr. edged by the new
suction dredge was purchased. At Baker
Shoal the work Of bulkhead construction
has resulted in the completion OF 0,6Y
linear feet Of structure and at Cherry
Island Flats in the completion Of 1850 lin
ear feet.
The work Of dredging under the so-fooi
project has resulted in a channel thirty
feet deep at mean low water, about 2O5
feet long and with an average width OF
COO feet through the upper part Of B1kei
I shoal. a channel Of the same depth with
length Of 5000 feet and COO feet In width
through Duck Creek Flats shoal. and a
channel Of the same depth and GOO feet in
width for distance Of 1850 feet through
Salem Cove Flats shoal. The work OF
dredging through the shoals between
Finn's Point and the south line OF Penn.
sylvania has resulted IN a channel thirty
feet deep at mean low water. about 5S.Sy
feet long and with a width Of from hfiy
10 S25 feet The channel through Tln'cun
Island Flats Mifhin Bar and the fhoai op.
posite Port Richmond has been deepenes
and improved.
Tho greatest draft Of water that coult
/ be carried at mean low water on June 20
/ 1906. over the shoalest part Of the rive
below Philadelphia. was about q feet on
center river Of channel on the Schooner
Ledge Light House range opposite Ches
ter. Pa.
The report Shows that the total expen
! ditures for the iron pier in the Delaware
Bay, near Lewes TO June 60 1906. were
/ 1855 sS9. The Importance Of keeping M
pier In good condition is indicated b'
these remarks;
The pier is of great use for the purposes
/ OF the Government engineer, Lighthouse
and quarantine services. It is OF very
/ great value to vessels frequenting the
! breakwater harbor in winter, when th'
harbor is packed with floating ice, render
! ing the anchorage dangerous. At sucl
times vessels eagerly seek its shelter and
/ protection.
Up to June 30 1906, there had been ex
pended S2,s07, 40 on the Delaware Break
water. Altogether 50. eo5 has been ex
pended on the harbor Of refuge, Delaware
Bay. A survey was made Of the harb9i
during the year.
II is recommended that $4,000 be ex
pended upon the Improvement of tho har
Dor at Wilmington. Del. All the m mol
projects in New Jersey and Delaware arr
reported upon in detail and small suml
recommended for future improvements.
The report further says that 1i2 gun'
we're added TO the armament Of the coas
defenses, and that sls,O52i3i can be ex
pended to advantage in the construction
OF fortihcations.