Evening journal., 1918-08-23
CREEK BULKHEAD
PLAN OPPOSED
tContlnued from page one

thorized to give an official hearing, but
that he was glad, personally, to listen
TO the statement OF Wilmington ship
ping officials and TO outline the govern
ment plans. John n. Melgs, Federal
engineer and engineer for the Board OF
HarbOr Commissioners. was also at the
meeting.
Charles Warner, president OF the
board, was in the chair. with Commits
sioner James p. Winchester and VIII
lard A. Speakman. present. The repre-
sentatiyes OF shipping and city inter
ests present were Mayor John w. Law
son. Captain Horace Wilson, OF the
Wilmington Steamboat Company
Charles w. Pusey. Of the Pusey and
Jones Company; ; X. Smith, OF the
Harlan plant OF the Bethlehem Ship
building Corporation; r. B. Rhodes,
representing the +. /. dupont de Ne
mOurs Powder Company: Reed c. Bye
Of the Charles Warner Company; Jo-
seph Bancroft, chairman Of the harbor
committee OF the Chamber OF Com
merce: Thomas F. Bayard. city solici-
tor: Henry Tatnall, president OF the
Board OF Park Commissioners; George
Rommel. Of the Philadelphia and Read
ing railroad; John Krauss. assistant
secretary Of the Chamber OF Commerce,
and r. C. Dinsmore, secretary Of the
Board Of Harbor Commissioners.
With maps, Charles Warner explained
the government plan, which Is TO eX-
tend the jetty at Edge Moor down
stream as far as Wilmington, and then
10 swing the jetty extension around to
connect with the present jetty on the
north side Of the mouth OF the Chris
tiana river. The curve proposed by the
government. where the jetty turns
from the Delaware TO connect with an
500 foot extension Of the Christiana
ietty, forms a sharp aigle projecting
down stream.
Captain Horace Wilson said that
there would be the greatest danger to
the Wilson Line boats in going around
this sharp turn. between shoals on one
side and the stone ietty on the other
side. He said the boats had repeatedly
collided with the present jetty, but II
was covered with wood, while an un
protected stone jetty in the Delaware
river would be Of greater danger to
boats.
Il viii say unreservedly that the gov
ernment plan Will be serious and
mOmentous menace 20 our business.
Charles Warner announced that the
Board Of Harbor Commissioners Will
soon present TO the Mayor and City
Council their plans for export pier de-
velOpment. He said their plan for
wider and straighter channel at the
mouth Of the Christiana would be hand
icapped by the curve Of the jetty
swinging down stream across the
mouth Of the Christiana, and the value
Of the Lobdell property, on the south
side at the mouth Of the creek. would
be lessened for export piers. The har-
Dor board will recommend the purchase
Of this property i'm its report
At this point Engineer Shuman said
he thought matters could be adjusted.
The government, he said, had not con-
sidered with an degree OF nnality. the
exact turn at the mouth Of the Christi
ana. The extension OF the Edge Moor
bulkhead, a project begun by the gov
ernment In 1903, TO make a deeper and
wider channel in the Delaware river,
and 10 save the cost OF continual
dredging was the principal thought Of
the government They had thought in
cldentally. OF the Christlana jetty as a
bulbhead extension. The curve pro-
iecting down stream had been planned
because there was less wear on con-
structiOn going with the direction Of
the stream He had little doubt an
easier angle could be arranged.
Mr.. Shuman said the difficulty OF lnd-
ing a place OF deposit for rock re-
moved. had led the government 10 prom
ise the contractors a dumping place
along the Edge Moor extension. Three
scows have dumped rock near the port
.pf Wilmington. but he promised that
it would be unnecessary to dump any
more for three months. He said this
would give the Harbor Board time to
decide just what its plans were and a
consultation between city and govern
ment could then be held. Meanwhile.
work on the Edge Moor extension could
begin at a point at a distance from the
mouth Of the Christiana and work back
towards Edge Moor.
F. C.. Warner, federal engineer for
the Wilmington district, offered his
good services in helping the city TO
make satisfactory arrangements. The
extension OF the Christlana lefty, until
lt meets the Edge Moor stone ietty will
come under his office.
Engineer John r. Meigs elaborated
the harbOr Improvement plans he had
drawn up for Wilmington. and added
his assurance that the government had
no settled convictions on the point
complained OF. Mr.. Meigs is connected
with the Delaware channel work Of
the government. He said he knew the
government would be considerate OF the
city's welfare.
AS a shipping man, ! agree with
Captain Wilson as to the menace to
boats" said s. X Smith. "and as a
representative OF the Harlan plant I am
opposed TO any move tending to shoal
the mouth Of the Christlana river"
Joseph Bancroft declared Mr. Shu-
mans assurance had practically solved
the matter.
All three engineers present told those
at the meeting that the Christiana could
have little effect on the Delaware river.
so government objections on that score
TO any widening Of the Chrlstlana
mouth would not be forthcoming.
George Rommel spoke Of the diflcul-
ties encountered by boats from the
Pigeon Point pier TO Wilmington, be-
cause Of shoals. He said the river had
shoaled up four feet at Pigeon Point.
The engineers assured those present
the new ietty would not increase the
sending of ice into the mouth Of the
Chrlstiana to any great extent,
incidentally, Engineer Meigs remarked
that the present Chrlstiana jetties were
of cheap construction and ought TO be
replaced If the city was going into any
hnrhnr imnrnNemenis MnrihY OF her.