Evening journal., 1915-06-11
disagree over
Claim THAT CITY
Owes uncle SAM
Continued from First Page.


will be blow to us if the govern
ment takes action against us for not
keeping up our appropriation"
AT this point Congressman Miller |
gave a hint of something big to be To- |
Gated in the way Of industry or boom |
for the city. saying. There Will be
something doing along the Christiana |
River, which | cannot disclose at
this time" Mr. Miller said that he
did not advocate any set sum but
if possible he thought Council should
stretch the budget appropriation for
harbOr maintenance.
Congressman Miller then read the
/ following letter from Major e. n
Johnston. United States Engineer in
charge of this district, which he re-
ceivod recently:
War Department, United States Engi.
necr Office, Old Federal Building, sixth
and King streets.
Wilmington. Del. May 25, 1915.
! The Mayor and Council. City of Will
mington. Delaware.
Gentlemen; Your attention is respect
fully invited TO the Act of the General
Assembly of the State of Delaware. APP
proved March o. 1901 which directs that
the Mayor and Council of Wilmington
shall appropriate 100000 for the inn
provement of the Christinna river, the
appropriations to be made in install
ments not TO exceed ten per cent. of the
sums previously expended by the Federal
Government
In compliance with the law referred 70,
the city has heretofore made available for
use in harhor Improvement sums as fol-
lows
Prior to March 81, 1908 ..... 81. iOO54
October %, 1000. .......... 10000
October 2b, 1910 ............ l0g06.5J
October go, 1918 ........... 100000
Total .................. 500 207 on
This amount has been increased 10y
S4l0l3 received as interest on the bal
ances on deposit, making an aggregate
s of $40 1922
Referring to the provision of the
law that no payment by the Mayor
and Council should exceed ten per
cent of the sum then previously ex-
pended by the Federal Government
"as shown by the statement of the
federal official in charge" would
state that the amount expended by
s the Federal Government from the date
OF approval Of the State law March
g. 1901 TO April 30. 1915, was $751;
5000. Ten per cent of this sum is
S55. 4S2.04, which is apparently the
3 aggregate contemplated by the State
Jaw for appropriation by the city from
the date of the act to the present
time. Subtracting from this amount
the sum actually appropriated by the
city Gas increased by INTEREST," $780,
; 1922, there remains a balance of
S34,774.S2. which appears to be the
amount which should be now appro-
8 priated by the city in order to comply
fully with the spirit and terms of the
Act of the State Legislature
81 The unexpended balance Of United
{ States funds now available for i'm
) provement of Wilmington harbor Il
81 S135, 1914. OF this sum at least S45.
; 1880 will be expended prior TO Jul.
( 81. Ten per cent. Of this amount 4
81 S4,51I96, which is the additiona
amount which will he due for appro
; priation by the city by next August
; The aggregate of this amount, an,
; the $34,774.S2, is S39, 292.7S. This Il
{ the total amOOnt which should b.
made available by the city between
{ now and the month Of September.
I note that the state law providel
that not more than $4,000 shall b'
& appropriated in any one year. Thii
{ would seem TO make IL necessary fol
not to exceed $4,000 Of the $50,
; 292.7S to be appropriated prior 4
: the ending of the present fiscal year
81 June 80, 1915. and for the balance
s to be appropriated soon after the be
s ginning of the succeeding fiscal year
In accordance with a provision o
the River and Harbor Act Of July rs
{ 1912, a contract has been let for thu
construction of self-propelle'
; hydraulic dredge to cost approx
; mately 100000. for use primarily n
; Wilmington harbor Land for a gov
; eminent dredge depot has been pur
: chased on the south side of the Chris
{ tiana river, and the building of bulk
heads and storehouse begun. II &
{ expected that the dredge will soor
be completed. and in making planl
for the Inauguration of the work
s have assumed that the city authori
: ties will cooperate with the Fedora
- government in the Improvement by
n complying fully and promptly will
4 the intent and terms of the act Of thu
State Legislature. II the appropria
d tions are promptly made they can b.
e expended with great advantage to thu
u interests of the city. For your infor
II nation and TO show the status o
work of improvement by the govern
n ment. / am sending you herewith I
N pamphlet copy of my last annual re
Il port
= Knowing that the Committees o
4 Congress in preparation of river ant
e harbor bills are guided TO a consider
h able extent by the spirit and amour
It of cooperation offered by interestel
II localities, l took occasion TO hav
h printed with my last annual repor
n the Act Of the State Legislature
: showing the cooperation therein pro