Evening journal., 1910-12-28


viate either to the right or left. In
any case the course would be over
private ground and this would be
quite a factor in the problem. For a
roadway of this length, having a width
of is feet and depth of l2 inches we
would estimate a cost of $4,000.
Estimates Cover Road Repairs.
The above estimate OF costs are only
for improving the present roads eX-
tending to the river on the north and
south sides with macadam, but we
feel that the money would be only
thrown away unless conditions at the
river banks, as now exist, we're radi-
cally changed, and that the city would
have a river front that could be util-
lied for manufacturing and shipping
purposes. This can be done only
with considerable expense and we
take the liberty TO present to you a
few figures approximating the cost
that would be incurred.
A channel having a width of 500
feet has been laid out by the u S.
Government in the Delaware River,
extending along the city and for a
considerable distance both above and
below IT, On that portion lying be-
tween Edge Moor and the Chrlsuana,
the river improvement project has
been definitely outlined, bulkhead and
pier head lines having been establish
ed on the maps. The length of this
section, including the return to the
ietty, totals 10000 feet, and OF this
actual construction has been com
pleted for a distance of $500 feet
leaving a balance of $500 feet upon
which no work has been done.
Between these lines as established
and laid out on the maps by the Fed
eral Government and the fast land
along the banks OF the Delaware
River there is an area approximating
$40 acres. The major portion Of this lies
below the level of the water at low
tide and il is completely submerged
at high tide. To reclaim this and brinl
II up level TO low water mark would
require an average fll OF 13 feet, the
mean range of tide here approximate
feet to this must be added at leasi
feet 20 make everything somewhat
safe from flooding This Is probably
minimum raise and of reality should
be more but taking the figures a,
/ stated makes a total average fll o
| % feet, this spread over the entir,
acreage. makes the required amoun
/ of earth necessary to bring the sur
/ face of the ground mp TO the-level Sc
/ equal 21,0O0,000 Gu yds The channe
at this point is 500 feet wide and TAX
/ ing the entire frontage of 10000 fee
makes a yardage for every foot exca
waited of 267 600 Gu. yds. The dredgiul
of the channel therefore from a dept
Of 80 feet TO one of 80 feet would fur
nish 1,335,000 Gu yds or a trifle owe
8 per cent of the required amount Th
remaining "a per cent would necessar
lily have to come from either up o
down the river. II from the channel
or by dredgings from further out TO
ward the New Jersey Shore II Nigh
perhaps be fairer to say that the u.
Government might furnish 10 per cent
from their dredgings while the rest
| II included In one contract. woull
necessarily have 10 be done either b.
the municipality or by private parties
| This would amount 10 lS900,000 Gu
yds at say 10 cents per Gu. yd. to S2
$1,000 To this must be added tn
cost of finishing the hulkhead. In II
| present type of construction. 1900 fee
at $4,000 per foot. which would b
S262. 500 and the cost of building what
ever piers may be decided upon Thi
may be. and probably Is, one extrem
of the line of projects for the rive
front Improvement but the cost coul
very easily be made TO exceed this b
building permanent bulkhead an
piers of concrete or stone IN
stead of the wooden structur
upon which the estimates are basel
At the other end of the line is the pla
of building a pile roadway from IN
4 present bank out to a wharf situate
near the channel, according TO tn
type OF construction this may be mad
10 cost almost any amount, within rea
son, but that which would prohabl
be adopted would cost between $3.50
900 and 100000. Midway betwee
these two schemes is the more feas
BILE one of completing the bulkheaI
building a trestle roadway from IN
fast land to Il and filing the latte
in from time to time as dredgings ar
available This would require 500
feet of roadway at a probable co.
OF 100000. To this must be adde
the cost of the bulkhead at S262,5C
and the cost of whatever piers ma
be decided upon.
Need Of Bulkhead.
Along the river from the Christian
river southwark the location of th
proposed improvements is not
clearly defined. While the channl
established, so far as We know the
has never been any bulkhead lin,
laid out In fact the extent of n
bulkhead and the necessary flllin
back of IL can vary between sue
wide limits that we have not a
tempted to compute any quantities {
cost at this location and thought
best TO defer II until such times
! these limits are established. We wi
T however say that from the W. &
: r. r. pier TO the Christiana includir
) the return at the latter place is a di
) tance of $500 feet with a distan,
OF about 1900 feet back to fast Ian
making 4S0 acres OF new land. o.
preference is for the project to
completed on the south side for
that location we have not only ros
to the river but a road along a riv'
(The Christiana,) The latter is capab
Of considerable development az
small portion Of the cost Of the DELI
ware river project and should not 1
overlooked in the effort to provide
river front for Wilmington.
Another feature which appeals
us is the question OF adequate drair
age. the -ound over the entire are
Is low and its distance from the ril
er Is considerable In order to proJ
erly care for the water failing upo
Fourth street, its present level woul
have TO be considerably raised an
this Of itself would entail a large e,
pense Christiana avenue by reaso