Evening journal., 1920-03-27
suggest BASINS
Tend FLOODS
u. S. Engineers Have Plan
That Would Improve City's
Water Distribution
CREEK DREDGING
OF NO AVAIL

Ultimate establishment OF large
reservoirs. both to control the flow OF
the Brandywine and to provide the city
with a greater drinking supply. looms
out Of the Investigations begun by City
Council and Colonel j p. Jeryey. United
states Engineer, to provide against
another lnundation OF that section Of
the city on the east side Of Market
street beyond the Eleventh Street
Bridge
While such a project yet Is merely
hazy In outline. the conferences held
this week between the city fathers,
Colonel Jervey and his principal as
sistant engineer, G. w. T. Miller. have
been hishly productive OF valuable In
formation.
The watersheds Of the upper Brandy
wine. for one thing. are no less than
four times that OF the Chrsiiana. sur
prlsng as the statement may appear
Moreover. the Brandywine today Nlr-
iually runs wild" save for some few
sideways utilized for commercial
purposes.
In connection with the scheme for
greater control OF the upper reaches
OF the stream. thus minimizing the
dangers OF floods In Wilmington. the
example Of Dayton, Ohio, was pointed
20 today by Colonel Jervey and Mr..
Miller. At Dayton from $1,000 600 TO
Sij000000 IS being expended In con-
struction Of reservoirs TO prevent re-
occurrence Of the disastrous food there
a number Of years ago.
While expend ture OF so large sums
Is not 20 be considered at present for
protection OF Wilmington, nevertheless
10 Is realized by Water Department ex-
perts as well as the government engi-
neers and city officials who have ex-
amined the question that as the city
expands some such project must neces-
sarily receive increased attention.
Meanwhile. In an effort TO assist the
city as much as possible TO reduce
danger Of future floods and protect
residents against them. Colonel Jervey
viii have a complete survey made OF
the area on the east side, which was
Overrun by the water recently. THIS
survey will show the points at which
the stream went over its banks and
win be valuable for locating lOwlands
needing filling
Five members OF Council, George T.
Lyon. PRESIDENT; Arthur Johnson.
chairman OF the committee on naviga-
ton. and Alexander r.. Abrahams, John
o Hopkins, John F. Henry and John
j. Murray. members. made an inspec-
tion OF the recently flooded area and
banks Of the Brandywine adjacent
thereto, in company with Colonel Jer-
vey and Mr. Miller, yesterday after
noon. The party met at the Public
Building and made the trip in motor
cars. II had been hoped TO use a boat
and make some sOundings OF the
stream. but Colonel Jervey feared 10
take the United states engineer steamer
Joyeuse, stationed here, into the creek.
The Joyouse is too long and too deep
OF draught. Earlier In the week, how
ever Colonel Jervey and Mr. Miller
made a thorough inspection Of the
creek from its mouth 10 the Market
street bridge in a launch and thus were
able TO give the Councllmen all data
any dredging Of the water
way.
Colonel Jervey frankly expressed the
opinion that dredging the channel
would be Of little or no avail toward
floods due 10 freshets, mas
much as IL would not serve 10 carry or
surplus water The Brandywine. he eX-
planned. TO the Councllmen. has be-
come so hedged-ln by artificial filling OF
its banks that its former overflow out
lets and area has been largely lost.
Hence, when q food starts. the water
Is forced over the banks Furthermore,
he pointed out, dredging only can be
done by the government for navigation
purposes.
Colonel Jervey agreed fully that the
Eleventh street bridge piers should be
removed. The piers now stand IN an
oblique position across the stream. act
lng much as a dam and backing up the
water above 70. The present PROPOSE
iion IS 10 transfer the bridge from
Eleventh street 10 Twelfth street. This
action Is up to the Levy Court. which
has control Of The bridges over the
IN the city.
AS for The Councilmon themselves.
several expressed the opinion that it
would be advisable 10 remove such
distractions on the banks as retard
free flow Of The stream. and action 20
this effect may be discussed at the
meeting OF the committee OF the whole
next Wednesday night. The members
Df the navigation committee also IN
tend 10 learn what city department
granted permission for construction OF
a wharf extending 20 feet into the
stream. just below the Eleventh street
bridge. and nv ~.H@i authority such
permission was given. 4 III
II is doubted Dy .nembers OF Colonel
Jervey's staff II another freshet such
as that recently. will occur in many
years. The conditions then were most
exceptional Not only did an unusual
volume OF wafer come down from the
upper reaches OF The Brandywlne. but
here was a heavy Spring tide. driven
m from the Delaware in the teeth of
, 40-mlle gale. Such a combination Is |
as unlikely 10 happen more
nan once In a lifetime.
ACCUSE BOY OF WATCH THEFT.