Evening journal., 1917-12-06
ASK Sl,300.0OO FOR
Delaware CHANNEL
u. s. Engineers Want Con-
gress to Continue Deep
eningRiver to the Sea
RELIEF IS SOUGHT
FOR RAILROADS

WASHINGTON, Dec 6-Further ap-
preparations Of si3oOO0O to carry on
the 35-foot Delaware channel project
during the fiscal year 1919 are recon-
mended in the annual report Of the en-
gineer department Of the United states
Army sent TO Congress.
Due to the work already accom-
plished, the report SAYS, the value and
volume Of both foreign and domestic
commerce carried during 1917 was the
greatest In the history Of the river
The work Of Improvement thus. far
completed greatly facilitated the move
ment Of deep-draft vessels Ships draw
ing up 90 30 feet nayigated the channel
without dinlculty during the year.
Improvement Of The river has enabled
coastwise vessels greatly 90 relieve the
congestion OF railway traffic, and it is
fair to assume that the economic value
OF the Improvement 10 commence has
been very great The controlling depth
OF the entire channel at The end Of the
fiscal year was 80 feet at mean low
water.
The total. amount expended in con-
nection with the existing project TO the
end Of the fiscal year was oiOl2020 ~,
Of which si715 6jG28 was for new work
and s2295.969 "A was for maintenance.
The originally estimated cost Of the
project for new work. exclusive Of
amounts expended on previous pro-
iects, was sl0g20O00. and &c is believed
that the project can be completed
within this amount
Available funds viii be expended in
necessary work Of maintenance and in
carrying out DREDGING. rock excavation
and dixie construction now under con-
tract. the report SAYS n is expected
that an DREDGING work with these funds
will be completed by December 4, 1918;
rock excavation and dixie construction
year later.
The additional si.300O0O asked for is
divided as follows. Operation and re-
pair Of maintenance plant. consisting
OF two sea-gOing suction dredges, one
hydraulic dredge and attendant plant,
$4,000; removal of Mameiuke rock I'M
der continuing contract authorization,
100000: removal Of approximately
100000 cubic yards OF material by
dredging under contract 40 am estimated
cost Of 10 cents per cubic yard. 100000
engineering and contingencies. $4,000
Due 10 war conditions. the estimate of
funds for the fiscal year 1919 is limited
10 the amount stated.
TO is estimated that the abnormal con-
ditions that now exist with respect 10
labor and an classes of supplies will
increase the cost of maintenance work
about 80 per cent. over the original
estimate
The improvements carried out on the
Delaware above Philadelphia, the re-
port says. have enabled medium
draught sea-going vessels to receive and
discharge cargoes at several large i'm
dusirial plants located on that sect on
OF the river and permit the regular
lines of packet boats TO run on schedIl.
time between Philadelphia and Trenton
There has been no appreciable eneci
on freight rates on commerce confined
10 this section Of the river
70 is proposed to oxpend about s25O0(
Of the funds now available in making
repairs Co the Bordentown Biles Island
and Knkora bikes. by facing them
with riprap TO replace the original
fachg of gravel and cobblos. which has
been carried away by freshets.