Evening journal., 1920-04-23
WHARF No BLOCK
TO BRANDYWINE
Engineer Office Explains Is
suance of Permit to
Hamilton Coal Co.
REAFFIRM RAILROAD
SPAN REAL BARRIER

Throughout the discussions by City
Council OF measures 90 prevent Hood,
in the BrandyWine and nundaiion of
the loWlands cast OF the stream song
criticism has been directed against ihc
new wharf which is being erected 10y
the amilton Coal Company. at ElcN-
enlh and Church streets. just below
Eleventh street bridge.
George r. Lyon. president of Coun-
eli, called attention 10 the wharf when
delegation OF Councimen made an
Inspection OF the BrandsNNine shortly
after the recent ilood. Again at The
meeting OF Council in committee Of
the whole "Wednesday niglt when
mention was made OF the obstruction
TO the free ilow of the creek by the
Pennsylvania Railroad bridge. Mr.
Lyon referred 20 the Hamilton com
pany wharf and asked concern ng the
permit for it
AZ the United Siales Engineer or
fee here today. 10 Was learned that
permit for the wharf MS grant a on
April 2S 1911. and was indur-cd by
Licuienant-ColO Mark Brook. then
in charge of the Government engineer
work In This district in the papers on
flle at The engineer oillc' 10 Is set
forth That the construction OF the
wharf was an initial step In The re-
NiNal OF commerce on the BrandNWino
and that 10 would not ohsiruci ihe
channel. Application also had been
made 40 the city Board Of Port War
/ dens which preceded the present civ
Board of llarbOr Commissioners, hul
reply was made by the wardens that
they had nothing TO do with The sub
! iect.
Construction Of the wharf went
/ ahead up tO the war, but since ihen
very little has been done. Accorulne
10 the hlueprinls attached 10 the au-
plicatiOns and permit. the face Of ilie
wharf Is shoreWard Of the northwest
rest pier OF the Eleventh street
bridge. and Is inside the line Of meat
low water. The wharf, when com.
pleicd. Will extend 80 feet In ad
vance of the old bulkhcad The
creek channel opposite the wharf d
about i2l feet wide between the meal
low water lines and the total Widil
OF the stream Is about 300 feet.
The engineers at the engineer OF
flee were of the opinion today tina
the wharf would not be any ohsiruc
tiOn TO the free flow Of the current
particularly as 70 Is inside the line
Of the bank Of the stream immedi
aiely 1Ove Eleventh street bridge
al VIII is known as the orchard.
Moreover. as long as the Eleventh
street bridge stands the bridge pier
and not the new wharf VIII form al
obstacle 10 the current IN time o
fresheis.
In explaining the reason FOR allow
ing the wharf io be built out
the mean low water line, e.. W.
Miller. principal ass stant and col
sulllng engineer Of the engineer o
fee, WHO Is familiar with the e.
aminaiions made at the time the pc
init was issued said 10 was the on
way In which the wharf could
reached by boats because OF shOa
irg. n the wharf were set back b
! hind the mean low water line. U
current would continually nh In U
creek bottom Immediately In front.
The engineers today reaiilrmed the
opinion that the principal obsiru
ton 20 the free flow Of the creek
; time Of freshets was the pcnnsy
, lyanIa railroad bridge iusct north
the old Swedes Church. the piers
which are set Oblique 10 the char
b incl. 4 icity or point, too. above o
railroad bridge on the east side
, the creek has a tendency 10 hold ba,
u the wafer
. With regard 10 reconstruciing m
b. railroad bridge. Colonel J. p. Jcrvc.
the United States Engineer, cited M
4 navigation laws which give the eng
, neer corps no authority 90 inicrfci
/. with structures already built an
4 which do not interfere with naVig.
ton. As the Brandywine Is an unin
proved stream. the engineers huye n
authority 10 order changes In the raj
, road bridge.