deep water in the bay. The entire cost of the permanent improvement of the river between Trenton, N. J., and its mouth cannot be stated until after the completion of the survey now in progress between Bridesburg and Trenton and the formation of a project based thereon. The entire amount expended in the improvements of the Delaware River from 1836 to June 30, 1884, under appropriations both for the general river and for special localities, was $1,340,470. At the latter date there had been formed a channel of navigable width and 7 feet deep at mean low water through the bars between Bridesburg and Bordentown; 200 feet wide and 9 feet deep at mean low water over the bar between Bridesburg and the head of Petty's Island Bar; 225 feet wide and 24 feet deep through Petty's Island Bar; 300 feet wide and ten feet deep at mean low water through Smith's Island Bar; 300 feet wide and 26 feet deep at mean low water through Mifflin Bar; 330 feet wide and 24 feet deep at mean low water through Schooner Ledge; 470 feet wide and 24 feet deep through Cherry Island Flats, and 385 feet wide and 24 feet deep at low water through Bulkhead Shoals. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, the sum of $27,657.46 was expended in dredging in Smith's Island Bar, and on surveys, observations, and examinations which are still in progress. An appropriation of $600,000 is recommended for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, which would be applied to the improvement of the Delaware River in accordance with the recommendations of the Board of Engineers of 1884. Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884.. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884. July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. July 1, 1885, amount available $200,000 00 $14,366 54 77 50 14, 444 04 185,555 96 2,425,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project 1887. Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix G 1.) 600, 000 00 2. Delaware River between Trenton, New Jersey, and Bridesburg, Pennsylvania.—In the original condition of this part of the Delaware River the greatest obstructions to navigation occurred at Periwig Shoal, about 23 miles above Bordentown, where only 3 feet of water was to be found at low tide, and in the eastern channel of the river in front of Bordentown, where there was only a depth of from 4 to 4 feet at low water. The other bars in the river gave a depth of over 6 feet. The original project adopted for the improvement of Periwig Shoal was to excavate a cut through the shoal so as to provide a channel 200 feet wide and 6 feet deep at low water, at an estimated cost of $75,000. To the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, the sum of $45,000 had been expended on this portion of the river, and none since, because it had become evident that dredging alone would not suffice to maintain a good channel at Periwig Island. The channel, which at the end of the work had been found to be 120 feet wide and 6 feet deep at low water, had diminished in August, 1878, to 75 feet in width and from 4 to 4 feet in depth. Nothing has been expended on this part of the river since the close of the work in 1876. In 1878 a project was adopted for deepening the eastern channel of the river in front of Bordentown to 7 feet. The amount expended on these works to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, was $90,767.23. At that date the channel in the vicinity of Bordentown had a least depth of 7 feet and least width of about 50 feet. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, the sum of $232.77 was expended in contingent expenses. The advantages and benefits to navigation from the improvement of this part of the river will be to facilitate the large commerce of the Delaware and Raritan Canal from or to its entrance to and from Philadelphia and other points, and facilitate the navigation of the river to Trenton. A detailed survey of the river between Bridesburg and Trenton is in progress, for the purpose of furnishing the data necessary for a comprehensive plan of improvement. No appropriation is asked for under this title, as it is for the best interests of the work and of commerce that all the funds for the improve. ment of the channel of the Delaware River be appropriated under the general title of "Improvement of Delaware River from Trenton, N. J., to its mouth." July 1, 1884, amount available July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. (See Appendix G 2.) $232 77 232 77 (*) 3. Delaware River below Bridesburg, Pennsylvania.-In the original condition of this subdivision of the Delaware River the greatest obstructions to navigation occurred at the following points: Five-Mile Shoal near the head of Petty's Island, Petty's Island Bar near Port Richmond, Philadelphia, Smith's Island Bar between Philadelphia and Camden, Mifflin Bar about 9 miles below Philadelphia, Bulkhead Shoals about 39 miles below Philadelphia, and Dan Baker Shoals about 50 miles below Philadelphia. At the head of Petty's Island, near Five Mile Point, there was but 6 to 7 feet depth, originally. There is now a channel 9 feet deep at low water and 200 feet wide, and it is proposed to deepen this to 12 feet. The work at Petty's Island Bar was commenced in 1879. There were but 14 feet at low water in the channel. The original project contemplated the deepening of the channel to 24 feet and of ample width to accommodate the heaviest draught vessels seeking the upper part of the port of Philadelphia. The channel was dredged to this depth and to a width of al out 225 feet by the removal of upwards of 200,000 cubic yards of sand, gravel, and bowlders. Between the deep-water channel and the Philadelphia shore, or rather the ends of the piers projecting from the shore, the depth of water is much less than 24 feet. It has therefore been the object to push or widen this channel as soon as possible to these piers, so as to accommodate the rapidly-increasing commerce of this part of the city of Philadelphia. At Smith's Island Bar there was a navigable capacity of 6 feet across the bar. In 1884 a project was adopted for the improvement of Smith's Island Bar for a channel directly to the northward of the island about 300 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water. This work was com Included in amount required for completion of existing project, "Delaware River from Trenton, N. J., to its mouth." pleted in July, 1884, but the channel has again shoaled to about 6 feet deep at low tide. Work at Mifflin Bar was commenced in 1873. It had a depth of 17 feet of water over it, and the project aimed at dredging a channel through the bar so as to get 20 feet depth; then was amended to get 22 feet depth, and in 1876 this was again modified so as to get a channel of 26 feet in depth. In 1879 a channel of 26 feet depth was obtained. In 1880 this had shoaled to 24 feet, and in 1881 again shoaled to 22 feet. By dredging since, when funds would permit, an effort has been made to maintain a 24-foot channel at mean low water. The present depth on the bar is about 20 feet at low water. At Bulkhead Shoals the original depth was about 21 feet at mean low water. By dredging a channel has been formed about 400 feet wide and 24 feet deep. The improvement at Dan Baker Shoals has not yet been commenced. These shoals have a depth of water a little less than 20 feet over them at low water. The project of 1883 recommended a cut through these shoals 900 feet wide and 25 feet in depth, requiring the removal of about 466,000 cubic yards of material, at an estimated cost of $205,000. To the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, the sum of $683,213.97 was expended on this subdivision of the river since the beginning of the improvements in 1873. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, the sum of $11,166.72 was expended in dredging at Smith's Island Bar and in examinations at various points on the river. The improvement of the Delaware River should be considered as a whole, and the project recommended by the Board of Engineers of 1884 for the permanent improvement of the Delaware River proposes the formation of a channel between the upper end of Petty's Island and Delaware Bay 600 feet wide and 26 feet deep at mean low water. July 1, 1884, amount available July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884...... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project....... (See Appendix G 3.) $7,786 03 7.786 03 (*) 4. Delaware River at Schooner Ledge.-This work was commenced in 1879. The depth of water at the ledge was 18 to 19 feet. The project was to deepen it to 24 feet by the removal of rock and other obstructions, at an estimated cost of $227,000. The amount expended to the close of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, was $169,130.48. At that date the channel had been widened from 220 to 330 feet, with a depth of 24 feet at mean low water. The improvement of this locality is considered in the report of the Board of Engineers of 1884, and forms a part of the comprehensive plan for the permanent improvement of the Delaware River as recommended by the Board: July 1, 1884, amount available... $869 52 July 1, 18-5, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. 706 59 July 1, 1885, amount available.... 162 93 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... (*) (See Appendix G 4.) *Included in amount required for completion of existing project, "Delaware River from Trenton, N. J., to its mouth." 5. Delaware River near Cherry Island Flats.-The original project was for a channel 900 feet wide and 24 feet deep, at an estimated cost of $304,000. Work was commenced in 1879, when the depth was 18 to 19 feet, and since 1,594,740 cubic yards of material have been dredged. The amount expended to June 30, 1884, was $397,358.42. The channel is now 470 feet wide and 24 feet deep at mean low water. The improvement of this locality is considered in the report of the Board of Engineers of 1884, and forms a part of the comprehensive plan for the permanent improvement of the Delaware River as recommended by the Board. July 1, 1884, amount available.. July 1, 1865, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.... $2,641 58 1,184 84 July 1, 1885, amount available........ 1,456 74 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.................. (See Appendix G 5.) (*) 6. Frankford Creek, Pennsylvania.-This creek flows eastward through the northern portion of the city of Philadelphia, and is in close proximity to the Frankford Arsenal. Previous to 1882 no work had been done on this improvement, its condition being a low-water width of 100 feet and a depth of 5 feet at the mouth, which became too shallow for purposes of navigation at the Frankford Avenue Bridge, at the head of tidal flow. The act of August 2, 1882, appropriated $10,000 for the purpose of dredging a 7-foot channel from the mouth of the creek to Horseshoe Bend, near the bridge at Bridge street. This work was accomplished soon after. This creek is now being regulated by the city of Philadelphia, and no further appropriation by the United States is recommended. Up to June 30, 1884, there had been expended the sum of $9,083.28, which resulted in obtaining the channel as above stated. July 1, 1884, amount available............. $916 72 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.... 359 55 557 17 July 1, 1885, amount available................. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. (See Appendix G 6.) 30,000 00 7. Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania.-When work was originally commenced there was a low-water channel entrance to the river of only 15 feet. The project was to obtain a low-water channel depth of 20 feet by 100 feet wide from the mouth to Gibson's Point, and above that to Chestnut Street Bridge, a low-water depth of 18 feet. In 1875 this was modified so as to provide for a low-water depth of 24 feet, with a width of 300 feet from the mouth to Girard Point; and in 1883 the project was again modified so as to increase the channel from the mouth to Girard Point to a width of 400 feet, with a channel 24 feet deep at mean low water and 250 feet wide from Girard Point to Gibson's Point, at an estimated cost of $160,000 for the present amended project. The sum of $320,840.55 has been expended up to the close of the fiscal year end*Included in amount required for completion of existing project, "Delaware River from Trenton, N. J., to its mouth." ing June 30, 1884. At that date there was a 24-foot low-water channel 300 feet wide from the mouth to Girard Point piers; from Girard Point piers to Gibson's Point 150 feet in width and 20 feet low-water depth, and an 18 foot low-water channel from thence to the Chestnut Street Bridge. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, the sum of $10,860.68 was expended in widening the channel between Girard Point piers and Point Breeze. The commerce on the river is increasing more rapidly than the improvements can be made. It is proposed when funds become available to continue the work from Penrose Ferry Bridge to Point Breeze. The sum of $75,000 can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887. If appropriated, it is proposed to expend it in widening the artificial channel to the great benefit and advantage of the large vessels that now desire to enter the river. July 1, 1884, amount available.... Amount appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities. July 1, 1885, amount available.... $4, 159 45 25,000 00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.......... (See Appendix G 7.) 135,000 00 75,000 00 8. Ice-harbor at Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania.-This work was commenced in 1867, and in 1871 four piers were completed. In 1880 the original project was modified so as to enlarge the harbor to double its area, or about 7 acres, by building an additional line of piers further down stream. In 1881 two of the additional piers were completed. The project was again modified in 1881 so as to build another pier 500 feet below the third line of piers and to construct a bulkhead along the whole length of the harbor, about 1,800 feet, at an average distance of 150 feet from high-water mark, with the dredging of the whole harbor from a depth of 15 feet at mean low water shoaling to 10 feet alongside the bulkhead. The additional pier was completed in 1883, and a pier built during the past fiscal year to replace the one which capsized in 1882. The sum of $174,532.90 was expended up to June 30, 1884. At that date the new pier, No. 7, was under construction. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, there was expended the sum of $15,623.23. The pier to replace No. 5, which had been destroyed, was built. The harbor is of great service to commerce during the winter months. The amount that can be profitably expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, if appropriated, will be used in carrying into effect the approved project by building the bulkhead and dredging. July 1, 1884, amount available. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. $9,467 10 2,028 94 July 1, 1885, amount available........... 7,438 16 |