Evening journal., 1912-09-07
100000
FOR CHANNEL
War Department Approves
Colonel Kuhn'S Plans for
the Delaware
WILL START THE
WORK IN SHORT TIME

Recognizing that the success Of
Philadelphia as a leading CONNER
cial Import and export center de-
pends on an adequate depth of water
to the sea. Colonel Joseph e. Kuhn,
engineer in charge of channel oper-
ations. has announced that the Chief
Of Engineers OF the War Department
had approved a subproject for the
expenditure of about 100000 Of the
$1,000 900 appropriated by the river
and harbor act OF July 20. In dredg-
ing the main channel of the Delaware
River below philadelphia on Horse
shoe. Miffin Tinicum and Bellevue
ranges.
The balance Of the appropriation
will be expended in maintaining the
existing channel dixie construction,
the budding OF two scows and a tug
for general use In connection with
chanel maintenance and superlntend-
ance and inspection, office and ici-
dental expenses
Colonel Kuhn is now preparing
specifications for the work of dredg-
ing, and he exepcts to forward them
70 the Chief of Engineers today for
approval. After the specifications
have been approved the work will be
advertised for period Of month,
following which contracts will be
awarded and the work commenced.
In the event of unsatisfactory bids
being received, Colonel Kuhn inti-
mated that he would endeavor to
have additional Government plant
constructed with a view to hurrying
completion Of the 35-foot channel.
In determining TO proceed with the
important work OF deepening the
channel in the lower Delaware so as
to afford free ingress and egress TO
ocean liners of modern depth, Col
onel Kuhn has. in the opinion OF
shipping men .aken the wisest course
possible with the limited funds at
his command. The original plan
based, of couse, on a more liberal
appropriation than that allotted TO
the Delaware, provided for the re-
moval of Mameluke Rock, an exsen'
sive ledge stretching across the chan
mel in the upper Delaware in the
vicinity OF Cramps shipyard.
Engineers have figured that TO re-
move this obstruction would cos
approximately S1.OOO.000. For time
Il was feared that the major portion
OF the present appropriation migh
be used in the letting OF contract
for the elimination of this rock area
Had this been done IL would have
seriously retarded work on othe
sections of the channel. principal,
those sections now provided for II
the sub-proiect just approved by TN
Cbief Of Engineers. While this rocl
area ia a continuous menace TO yes
sells and must be removed under tn
general extension Of the 55-foo
channel 10 Allegheny avenue, IN
course taken by Colonel Kuhn in de
laving work now for the more I'M
no,tant necessity IN the lower Deia
ware was generally approved b
maritime interests.
When the contract for the remoVa
Of Mameluke Rock is given out
was lntimated that II Will be a con
tinuing contract TO cover AZ leas
four wears as that period will be re
uuired TO free the ch8nnT Of thi
obstruction. Should Colonel Kuh
proceed on that plan II will onabl
Inn to allot sav 100000 per year o
the work. as more than that SUI
could not be spent in any one yea
ss the operation is a difficult on
and cannot be proceeded with as e.
peditiously as ordinary chann'
dredging. Colonel Kuhn expresse
confidence that. with liberal appr'
priations from the Government, tn
port need not fear no apprehensic
of delay in the speedy completion
the 35-foot channel TO the sea.