Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-18
NEW BULKHEAD LINE
PROPOSED FOR THE
CHR|ST|AAA RIVER
In Order to Permit Harbor Com
missioners to Garry Out
Terminal Project.
HEARING GIVEN ON
SUBJECT TODAY

The proposal Tor new bulkhead I'm
along the Christiana river came up toda
at a hearing in thr Council chamber Gov
ernment officials met with the Board q
Harhor Commissioners and listened 4
Nilmingtonisns as they presented tn
ciys side of the discussion.
Colonel w. II. Ladue, L. S. Enginee
Corps. who has jurisdiction over the Della
ware river, with headquarters IN Phil
ndelphla. and Col j. L. Jervey, L. s
Engineer Corps. m charge of the estuarc,
uf the Delaware. with offices in this city
represented the government at the hear,
ing
John Meigs. of Philadelphia, consult
ing engineer for tho harbor board, was also
present
The Pennsylvania Railroad Co. sent
two rcpresentatives-J q. HaCkenberg.
principal assistant engineer, and H. II.
Hardcastle, agent in charge of the real
estate department
The meeting was called to lay before the
government the city plan for a new bulk
head line along the Christiana 10 enable
The harhor board TO go ahead with it's
plans for straight bukhead distance
ot | 800 feet running from the beginning
Of the harbor boards wharf property out
toward the Delaware The remainder
of the projected harbor improvements are
postponed for future consideration
In opening the hearing Colonel Iervev
announced that the government was
anxious 10 hear all the board and others
interested had TO say about tho harbor
improvement desired Colonel ,Tervpv
went on to say that he and Colonel I.adue
would he glad 10 have any communication
m writing bearing upon the points IN dis
clission and assured the board these com
rnunications would be given full cousidera-
tIon
The government having already drawn
q curved bulkhead line i'm the Christiana.
# became necessary TO consult with the
government officials. To obtain any change
10 suit the boards views of the citys
wharfage requirements.
President Speakman. delegated Consult
ing Engineer Meigs TO speak for tho board
GOVERNMENTS POSITION.
Col Jervey outlined what he called
the governments objections
Col. Ladue spoke of gorge in the Della /
ware at the mouth of the ChrStiana This
ne said, would check and hold back the
incoming tide. We would enlarge that
section between Deep Water and Pigeon
Point 70 provide more working force to-
keep the river open below. said Co.
l.sdne. The plan presented involves
perpetuation of the gorge already exist
'ng. his narrows the section between
the two points, Deep Water and Pigeon.
about 600 feet from the marsh line and
about GOO feet from the fast land line
We think the line of Edge Moor bulkhead
projects out too far on the north side Of
the ChriStiana and that it would have an
appreciable effect upon the Delaware
that the bulkhead should be drawn in
toward the mouth Of the Christiana river " I
MIR. Speakman replied that the city
felt II had out grown the arrangement of I
I he lettles at the mouth Of the Christiana.
Mr.. heigs selected this plan for lIs and
Z has been approved by our people as
he point of our development While it
may cost something to maintain suffi- I
iaent depth, the city tells IL has grown up I
TO that point :
Mr.. Meigs said: The line laid down is
What the Harlan Board thinks is needed
or development. These lines are of course Z
entative, but We hope they will be ap-
1roxlmately approved by you We realize c
here Is an engagement between Deep {
Mater and Pigeon Point and that IL calls
tor widening If possible To refuse the line :,
he city asks would hold back its develop |
ncnt along this section. The government
Inc could be shipped without hurting
he public interest" ,
Colonel Ladue interrupted TO say the
governments lines were only tentative.
The practical effect Of this inshore line
would retard development a great many
ears, Mr.. Meigs went on. 7,
1t would take good arguments to show
ause TO make any great change on account
the engagement" spoke up Colonel
.adue.
Mr.. Meigs then said there should he
pine compromise tn meet the needs Of
he city III
"A width of 1000 feet OF channel in de
ne Ch-istiana IS believed 10 bc necessary III
, accommodate ships of big size the m
insulting engineer continued u don't IN
e how we could make a satisfactory de- 81
slopment by adhering 10 the present
mes of the channel The expense of OF
alntenance of n wider channel would be vi
stliled, we feel. Mr.. Neigs then pointed pl
1T the initial development proposed by of
- harbor board at the beginning Of the pa
'ard : wharf property He said the
'ard proposed to create straight bulk au
ad distance of about l,500 feet TO de
rye vessels, with railroad trackage 10 no
rye tins line at various points Colonel 1e
rFey suggested narrow entrance an
annel at the mouth of the Christiana. nli
tn widening 10 200 feet farther up
team as a remedy for the situation Is
4
ar future Will warrant the cost of grad n3l
: and maintenance Of ,O00-foot chan ma
!, replied Mr. MeIgs. "The Chris thr
ma development is much more econoni- We
as beginning of the development, but "
1t IS expected, when there will =! -,
more money, the majority of the de- ON
opment will be needed along the Della u
re rather than the ChrIstiana The city I'M
hes 10 make its bid for ocean trade . IN
ASKED by Colonel Jervey whether it pro
lid be . serious disadvantage TO have esP' 6.
roken line IN place of the straight one LID
nned, Mr.. Melgs replied that be did not
rehend that II would be fatal to the
elopment
olonei Ladue wanted 10 know whether T.
PROPOSED pier and slips on the Della
e Will be solid. Mr. Meigs said he y
erstood the piers were TO be solid. som
agree with that, replied the colonel. the
IT It involves a large fill.7' the
ar Aleigs said the filling would come unit
Continued on page l
ners Comm iitee Meets Tomorrow EIne