Evening journal., 1913-01-20
HR. SPROULE DEFENDS
DYKES In THE RIVER

George f. Sproule, secretary OF the
'nmission OF Navigation of Pennsyl.
liza. who has studied the Delaware
pr from boyhood contributes an
'bresting chapter to the story of the
.aware river in answer to an ar
@ by Sydney G. Fisher, criticising
dixie system established by the
tied States Army Engineers. Mr..
<-oule's communication in full is
follows:
Ehere appeared an article by Sydney
4 Fisher asserting that bikes we're
Anenace to Philadelphia, and also
liking the statement that more
H. one hundred years ago the chan
4 from Philadelphia to the Bay was
4per than it is now In fact,
q & this article, through most Of its
lent it was not only deeper than
present 80 it. channel, but even
per than the contemplated 80 #.
Nnnel
8 Replying to this first assertion, il
q we'll within the memory of the
3 sent generation that vessels draw
81 in excess of is feet of water could
Fl mass over Fort Mifiiin Bar at low
~. while now there exists 30 feet
8water throughout this area at low
her. The statement is made that
& old chart of the river prepared in
&ladelphia for the benefit OF COM
& rec before the Revolution pub
he'd in London i'm 1866. and used by
British feet in its operations in
river in 1777. surprises us when
examine it by the depth Of 36 feet
AZ feet which it gives throughout
greater part of the long distance
sixty-three miles from Philadel-
to Deep Water at Bombay Hook
. swerinq this statement it might be
h that the depth of water from
ladelphia to Bombay Hook has
In. in the opinion of our most eX-
81 ienced pilot. increased at least l.
h within the last twenty-five years
HE also states that only four places
marked as being of less dept
n 30 feet. the first of these enum
ted coming up the river being
Dt of "a foot depth above Bombay
ok. The shoal area here referred
S no doubt what is known as Ducl
eek Flats, and before the authorl
s ion and completion of the 20 FOO
e lnnel fro.l Philadelphia to the sea
re was but 20 feet Of water owe
Is locality. Mr. Fisher makes n
erence to the shoal area over Da
ker here previous to the authorl
ion Of the 26 foot channel ther
S but 10 feet of water at low ud'
nv of the old pilots now in aetiV
4 vice recall the difficulties OF gel
s 2 over this area while in charge
old American Line Steamer
Nennsyslvania," Ohio illinois
Indiana" none of which whe
ded drew in excess of p II te'
water, and dragged through two {
zee feet of mud when crossing tn
s. ICE. He also omits reference
q shoal area over Bulkhead Shoal
ere before the 26 foot channel pr
t there were but % feet of wat
.' low tide. While / am not an el
leer. and profess no knowledge
the efficacy of dikes. | want TO CT
re that they dredged this local.
d as fast as it was dredged 1t tlll'
until the construction of Fin
( int dixie. Here the authorize
& nth has been maintained since {
Instruction of that dixie.
Mr.. Fisher makes reference to Z
bal area off the mouth of Chr
M Creek (no doubt Cherry lsla
ats where in 1887 the channel h
oaled 10 Is feet at low water, q
S was before the building Of dif,
e Government dredged it out t.,
at. and afterwards to 30 feet, u'
lat depth could never be maintae'
iii they built the dixie at &c
,or. which has aided MATERIAL, II
the Opinion of practical men.aV-
,tirig the Delaware that hathls
xe been built as was nrsUro-
sed extending down to WING
n Greek. the effect would haHoeeI
general securing out of the anne
d the maintenance of the lseIiu'
depth of water. Mr.. Isn't
so omits reference to the sfi ares
er Schooner Ledge. whereIlor .
enty-six years ago, a nfoer O
- ssels met with disaster, aphg th'
mber being the Amer'h Lane
eamship illinois" thf Outer
mixer "Caucase" and the irn Lln'
eamship "Earnmoor" Aol tnes'
ips struck the rock areand Were
tensively damaged. TIL leage o
ok has since been remon ana tn'
annel in the locality opener u
feet. Had the old cF lelerre'
by Mr.. Fisher been cecl Woul'
no have shown the lslence o
is shoal area, it beinet rock Tor
alton? Until the authzation an'
mpletion of the 26 pot cnanne
Va oiect, there was but 2eet OF waite
- ong Tinicum at low ger, and tni
:s& tended for an area ABOUT thte
IF51T four miles from lddystone y
q lompson's Point. ] Ve preViousl
ferred to Mifiin Baihe next plac
entioned by Mr.. per. On IN
~ outh of the Schuyil, before IN
foot channel projeltnere was no
SIS than "a feet of YER at low tidt