Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-31
{. & D. CANAL
WORK TIED UP BY
LACK OF FUNDS
Improvements Temporarily Linn
tied Owing to Increased Cost
of Everything.
ANOTHER CONGRESSIONAL
ACT MAY BE NEEDED

Prospects for much activity on tn,
Chesapeake & Delaware Canal enlarge
ment are very gloomy, from present indica.
tons. Colonel ]. p. Jervey. United States
Engineer for the Wilmington district
under whose jurisdiction the canal work
will be carried on, Is doubtful Of much
work being accomplished this year, from
the way the funds are now tied up He
does believe, however that some work will
be started with the funds that are already
available.
When spoken To about the canal situa-
tiOn, Colonel Jervey said THE new
estimate made by the Office is in excess
OF the 40 per cent permitted by the
Rivers and Harbors act OF several years
ago. On this basis, the chief of engineers
directed us to not take any steps toward
the reconstruction Of the canal until
conditions a to material and labor chang
ed or until Congress repealed the inhibit-
ing provision.
''An effort is being made now by the
War Department % have this provision
repealed. This Office Is also engaged In
an estimate of doing the work with hired
labor and government plant II that
estimate should show that we could COM
piete the work within the 40 per cent
limit, it is possible the Office will be au-
thorzed to lnihqte the work on these
conditions
1T is probable that this provision of
law viii be repealed and in that case we
can let the contract which was originally
under consideration covering the sec
ton between ST. Georges and the Pennsyl-
yania railroad bridge, provided the prices
received after advertising are considered
reasonable
u Mess the Senate modifies the Rivers
and Harbors bill as passed by the House,
increasing the amount appropriated very
there will be but a slight
chance Of an additional allotment being
made for the Chesapeake & Delaware
Canal work, from funds appropriated in
the pending bill, as the amouns apnropri-
atcd was arrived at by, considering niv
those works on which maintenance and
the continuance OF improvements were
absolutely essential. =
The Rivers and Harbors bill to which
Colonel Jervey refers, makes provisions
for an appropriation of S5000,000 for
and 100000 for improve
nents on all rivers and harbors projects
n the United States. "If the Senate
should increase the amount to S25, ,0O0. 600
Col Jervey said 1T is believed 81 ,000,-
700 would probably be allotted for the
ANAL work"
Discussing the funds now actually avail
4ble, with the 40 per cent provision
lffecting that, Colonel Jervey said that
here is about S4S0,000. This amount
vas planned to be expanded on the first (
deepening work from st. Georges to the /
Delaware railroad bridge.
An indefinite appropriation of s1l0,- i
100 was made for work on the canal when 1
was acquired by the government
Considerable of this has already been /
expended on renewing the decking on the /
ridges along the canal and the walls /
{ the three locks, repairs to the banks,
evetment, pumping plant, locks and the
oating plant. The $4,000 was con-
Idered sufficient when the estimate was
lade, but Colonel Jervey said that more
lnds will be needed before the end Of the
ear for the maintenance work.
Colonel Jervey said that the canal,
Ihich is now closed for repairs to the st.
eorges locks and on account of ice con-
ltions, will be reopened in week, pro-
lded the ice softens and the tug Startle
successful IN its attempt to break up the
G..