APPENDIX G. IMPROVEMENT OF DELAWARE AND SCHUYLKILL RIVERS, AND OF NORTH BRANCH OF THE SUSQUEHANNA-OF RIVERS IN NEW JERSEY-HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS IN DELAWARE RIVER AND BAY-CONSTRUCTION OF PIER AT LEWES-DELAWARE BREAKWATER. REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL HENRY M. ROBERT, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, OFFICER IN CHARGE, FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1885, WITH OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WORKS. IMPROVEMENTS. 1. Delaware River from Trenton, N. J., to its mouth. 2. Delaware River between Trenton, N. J., and Bridesburg, Pa. 3. Delaware River below Bridesburg, Pa. 4. Delaware River at Schooner Ledge. 5. Delaware River near Cherry Island Flats. 6. Frankford Creek, Pennsylvania. 7. Schuylkill River, Pennsylvania. 12. Rancocas River, New Jersey. 18. North Branch of Susquehanna River, 19. Removal of wrecks from Delaware Bay and River. 8. Ice-Harbor at Marcus Hook, Pennsyl- 20. Removing sunken vessels or craft vania. 9. Ice-Harbor at the head of Delaware Bay, Delaware. 10. Construction of iron pier in Delaware Bay, near Lewes, Del. 11. Delaware Breakwater Harbor, Dela ware. obstracting or endangering navigation. 21. United States commission advisory to the Board of Harbor Commissioners of Philadelphia, Pa. EXAMINATIONS. 22. Corson's Sound and Townsend Inlet, 25. West Branch of the Susquehanna New Jersey. 23. Mouth of Salem River, New Jersey. 24. Harbor of Atlantic City at Absecon Inlet, New Jersey. River, Pennsylvania, between Salt UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith annual reports for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1885, of the river and harbor works under my charge. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. HENRY M. ROBERT, G 1. IMPROVEMENT OF DELAWARE RIVER FROM TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, TO ITS MOUTH. The river and harbor act of July 5, 1884, contained an appropriation of $200,000 for this improvement, with the proviso "that not exceeding $10,000 of said sum shall be expended above Bridesburg." Under date of November 27, 1884, Maj. W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers, U. S Army, submitted a project for the permanent improvement of the Del aware River, which was referred under date of December 13, 1884, to a Board of Engineers. This project, together with the report of the Board, is appended hereto. During the past fiscal year operations ut der the above appropriation have been confined to a comprehensiv survey of the river between Trenton, N. J., and Bridesburg, Pa., and examinations and observations on the river below Philadelphia, both of which are now in progress; also to the preparation of plans and spec fications and advertising for proposals for the following-described work: (1) Widening and deepening to 26 feet at mean low water the mai ship-channel west of Petty's Island by dredging about 75,000 eu yards. (2) The construction of about 3,500 linear feet of dike between Fish er's Point and the upper end of Petty's Island. (3) Deepening the channel over Mifflin Bar to a depth of 26 feet a mean low water for a width of about 200 feet, requiring the removal about 100,000 cubic yards of material. (4) The partial construction of about 5,500 linear feet of submerge dike between Hog and Maiden islands in the vicinity of Mifflin Bar. The foregoing named surveys, examinations, and observations to gether with the dredging and dike construction are in conformity t the recommendations of the Board of Engineers of 1884 for the perma nent improvement of Delaware River and Bay. The dikes consist of a sill or foundation of brush mattresses from 25 to 30 feet long 16 feet wide, and from 2 to 24 feet thick. The mattresses are made of closely bound fascines of brush, and are placed along the axis of the dike with their longest dimension transversely thereto. Upon this foundation is placed random stones so disposed as to form a slope on the channe side of the dike of 2 vertical on 3 horizontal, and upon the shore sid of 1 vertical on 1 horizontal. The dike between Fisher's Point and the head of Petty's Island will have its top brought to the plane of low water with a width of 8 feet. The dike between Hog and Maide islands is designed to deflect into the east channel of the river only part of the volume of water which now passes down the west chanuel consequently it is built as a submerged dike, with its top for the upper 1,000 feet brought to a height of 4 feet below low water, and for the remainder of its length to a height of 12 feet below low water. The top width of the dike is 6 feet. During the present season it is pro posed to apply available funds to the following work: From the balance on hand of the $10,000 allotted for the Delaware River above Brides burg from the $200,000 appropriated July 5, 1884, the dike will be built between the head of Long Bar and the mainland, to replace the dike destroyed in the winter of 1883-'84, and the survey of the river between Bridesburg and Trenton, which is now in progress, will be com pleted. The balance on hand from the $190,000 applicable to the im provement of the river below Bridesburg will be applied to the com pletion of the surveys or examinations, together with the tidal obser vations recommended by the Board of Engineers of 1884; also the completion of the dredging at both Petty's Island and Mifflin Bar, and the dikes between Fisher's Point and Petty's Island, and between Hog and Maiden islands, all as above described. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, the contemplated work is dredging and dike construction, together with any necessary surveys and observations in accordance with the plans recommended by the Board of Engineers of 1884 for the permanent improvement of Delaware River and Bay. In the reports on special localities on the Delaware River where separate appropriations have been made in the past, it has been recommended that, in the best interests of the work and of commerce, all unds for the improvement of the channel of the Delaware River should be hereafter appropriated under the general title of "Improvement of Delaware River from Trenton, N. J., to its mouth." The improvement recommended by the Board of 1884 is the formation of a channel from a point in the river near the upper part of Philadelphia to deep water in Delaware Bay, with a least width of 600 feet and having a depth of 26 feet at mean low water. This is to be accomplished, except at Schooner Ledge, where solid rock is to be removed, by means of regulating and constructing works, aided, where necessary, by dredging. The estimated cost of the work recommended is about $2,425,000. Of course these permanent works will have to be repaired and probably aided by dredging. But, supposing that the contingent annual expendi tures should amount to $100,000, it would be about the interest of $3,500,000 at 3 per cent., or, in other words, the immediate permanent improvement of the Delaware River, including the maintenance of a 26-foot channel 600 feet wide, from the upper part of Philadelphia to deep water in Delaware Bay, would cost, if the expenditures were capitalized, about $6,000,000. This is certainly a small price to pay for such great benefits, considering the magnitude of the interests involved. An appropriation of $600,000 is recommended for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887. The Delaware River is tributary to the following collection districts: Trenton, Philadelphia, Delaware, and Bridgeton. The amount of revenue collected in these districts during the year ending December 31, 1884, was $12,563,185.09. Total amount appropriated for improvement of Delaware River from 1836 to June 30, 1885. Total expenditure to June 30, 1885.. Total amount appropriated on present project to June 30, 1885 [Total expenditure on present project to June 30, 1885.. Money statement. $1,552, 000 00 1,364,746 87 200,000 00 14,366 54 $200,000 00 July 1 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884.. $14,366 54 July 1, 1885, outstanding liabilities.. 77.50 14, 444 04 July 1, 1885, amount available... 185,555 96 Amotnt appropriated by act approved July 5, 1884 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project..... *2,425,000 00 Submitted in compliance with requirements of section 2 of river and 600,000 00 * This amount of $2,425,000 covers the estimated cost of the permanent improvement of the Delaware River between the upper part of Philadelphia and 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. |