Evening journal., 1919-08-22
PRODUCE WHARF
PLANS ELABORATE
Bids VII te Opened by
Harbor Commission on
September 9
WORK WILL START
EARLY IN OCTOBER

INe DlONOeeu MuuitlNdl 4 ANNA'e
Wharf 10 be at Front and Church
streets, if constructed just as planned
will be one Of the finest structures Of
It's size in The country. The plans and
specifications were sent out for bids
yesterday, and estimates must be In
the hands of the secretary of The Board
of Harbor Comm ssioners on or before
September .. II a bid is accepted on
that date. the successful firm has 30
days in which 90 start work. This
would make the latest possible date
for commencing operations about oc-
lober .. II is thought, however, That
the work viii start before The latter
date probably about October 4.
The plans and specifications prepared
by John Meigs OF Philadelphia, harbor
engineer. call for a quay 800 feet long,
thus giving room for a great number ol
small vessels 10 land at one time some
idea of the length of the dock can be
gained Nlien 10 O., known that the aver
age city block is less than 800 feet long
o. is proposed lo have a large open
space or plaza at the intersection OF
Front and Church streets, for the use
of commercial vehicles. The surface OF
this lh0r0ughfsre viii either be paved
with smooth granite blocks carefully
groulcd with cement. or will be laid in
asphalt blocks. Contractors VIII sub
init estimates Of both varieties OF paw
ing The quay itself will be smoothly
surfaced with cement. with heavy foun-
datiOns Of concrete. over so heavy
piles viii be used i'm providing a stable
foundation for The superlying concrete
and cement.
The decking just above the water
level. and which helps 10 support the
entire mass Of earth, cement and con-
crete. Will either Doe of heavy plank
ing. or concrete. Estimates are also TO
be submitted on both styles Of deck
ing.
Another feature Of the municipal
wharf will De two shelter buildings.
provided 20 house perishable foodstuns
I'm inclement weather These structures
will De ornamental as well as useful
They will have tile roofs, steel CIR
ders and framing and the supports
also OF steel. will be imbedded in con-
crete. One shed will be i1X30 feet
and the other ijX30 feet. Both build
lngs will be about - feet in height and
will stand on platforms elevated a
few inches above The level Of the quay.
There will be I'm addition two stair
ways provided for the entering Of small
boats at low stages OF the tide. These
stairs will be provided with cast iron
There will also he two wharf
drops" which are movable planks in an
opening at the edge Of the wharf, adj
Unstable TO various stages OF the tide,
by machinery. In addition, cleats and
mooring posts for boats OF all varieties
will be included in the construction.
a stone or concrete "trip rap VIII pro-
tect the new structure from the en-
croschments Of the tides.
Tho lowest possible water VIII he
twelve feet. after The dredging is fin
ished and ultimately twenty feet VIII
be the minimum depth. The former VIII
be ample TO provide for all but the
largest vessels.
When this structure is completed
Wilmington will have made a great
stride in fhe direction OF municipal
prOgressiveness. Fish. oysters ana
Vegetables Of an kinds will be gottel
here much more easily. as there is now
no place where a great many OF the
river produce boats can lane.
No difficulty is anticipated in the
necessary dredging as the subsoil Is
thought to be soft mud and gravel.