Evening journal., 1916-02-18
35-FOOT channel
WORK ADVANCES
Army Engineer in Charge
River Improvement
Makes Report
MAINTENANCE WORK
Is PROSECUTED

Never has the channel in the Della
ware river been in better condition
than at present, according to a re-
port recently issued by Colonel Zinn,
in charge Of the United states Army
Engineers office in Philadelphia.
Dredging work on the 35-foot chan
nel was in progress during last year.
with the exception of parts OF the
months of January and February.
whom il had to he discontinued he
cause Of weather conditions.
~Work during last year was in the
upper end Of the Philadelphia harbor
and on Miflin, Tinicum. Chester
Marcus Hook, and Bellevue Light
house ranges. This was under seven
contracts. Five Of these contracts
we're completed while that in the
upper end of Philadelphia harbor
vas "a per cent done, and the dredg-
ing Of Miffiin, Tinicum and connect
ing ranges was about "a per cent.
completed Approximately 4,500.0O
cubic yards of material were remov-
cd from the channel in the prOsecu-
ton Of the 35-foot project last year.
This brings the total amount of ma
.erial removed since the beginning
Of this project up to 23.0O0,O00 cubic
Yards.
Clear 30-FOOt Channel 10 Sea.
Philadelphia now has clear 30
foot channel to the sea. and with
the exception of $500 feet at one
point. the 35-foot channel has been
completed from Greenwich Point, in
Philadelphia harbor, 10 Edge Moor.
a distance of % miles. This channel
is 35 feet at mean low water mark
and 500 feet wide at its narrowest
point. In Philadelphia harbor, from
Greenwich Point TO opposite Wolf
street, Philadelphia, a distance of
about two miles. the channel has
been completed to a minimum depth
of 80 feet and width of 500 feet, or
one-half the projected width along
The Philadelphia water front. The
dredging in the upper end Of Phila-
delphia harbor will cover the full
width Of 1000 feet for a length o.
2O0O feet. opposite the Port Rich
mond coal piers.
Two dikcs were completed last yea
under contract one at Chester Islam,
and another at Old Man Point. Worl
on the building of two other dikes anC
the improving of two others were car
riel forward last year in satisfactory
manner and will be complet I this year
Maintenance Work Prosecuted.
Maintenance work by the govcrnmen
dredging plant began February IL, 1915
and was prosecuted throughout tn
year The plant. removed S.s34,OO
cubic wards of material. In addition 4
Keeping the channel at a depth of 3
feet. this plant dredged a l0.O0O-foo
section of the channel on the Chcste
lighthouse range TO depth of 30 feet
About ISL 900 cubic yards Of materia
were removed in this vicinity.
During the year about 81 .322,Sj0 wa
expended from Trenton to deep water il
Delaware bay OF this. SSl 600 was eN
pended on lk-foot channel in the Della
ware above I.alor street, 1renton; 50,
GAO in the removal of shoals in the II
foot channel between Philadelphia an
Trenton. and 81 .235,Gl0 in the Dclawar
river below Allegheny avenue, Philadel
phia.
At the beginning of the year thcr
was 81 ,45l. .725 wncNpendcd, which vii
bc spent ms follows; Continuing l2-foot
channel. Ialor street. Trenton. 10 uppe
railroad bridge. SS6,350; l2ioot chan
mel between Philadelphia and Trenton
81 .aS5. and 81 b, 800 for continuing 81
foot channel from Philadelphia 90 III
sea and maintaining the present 30-foo
channel.