H 4. IMPROVEMENT OF DUCK CREEK, DELAWARE. No work was done during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, for want of funds. The act of August 5, 1886, directed a survey of Duck Creek, Dela ware. A report of the survey and estimate of cost of improvement, together with a full statement of the commercial statistics, will be made in time to be submitted to Congress at its next session. The amount that can be profitably expended in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, will be given in that report. Duck Creek is in the collection district of Delaware, and Wilmington is the nearest port of entry, and the revenue collected there during the last fiscal year is $16,184.57. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project...... Submitted in compliance with requirements of sections 2 of river and harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. H 5. $12,000.00 IMPROVEMENT OF ST. JONES RIVER, DELAWARE. The examination of this stream was made during the summer of 1880, in accordance with section 2, river and harbor act of June 14, 1880. The Report of the Chief of Engineers for 1881, page 803, contains the following estimate for the work inside the river: at 45 cents Six-foot low water, 40 feet wide, Wharton's fishery cut-off, 8,000 cubic yards, Six-foot low-water navigation, Lebanon to entrance, 12 miles, 33,000 cubic yards, at 50 cents per cubic yard..... Five-foot low-water navigation 40 feet wide, Lebanon to Dover, 9 miles, 50,000 cubic yards, at 50 cents per cubic yard.......... $25,000 16,500 Cherry-tree, 7,000 cubic yards, at 45 cents... 3,600 Haveren, 15,000 cubic yards, at 45 cents.. 3,150 Logan's Landing, 8,000 cubic yards, at 45 cents 6,750 Jack's Point, 45,000 cubic yards, at 45 cents... 3,600 20, 250 Total. 78,850 And page 801, same report, an estimate for the improvement of the entrance, as follows: The jetty, 3,300 feet in length from the shore to the 3-foot curve, can be built for about $8 per foot... $26, 400 Dredging to 3 feet at low water, 100 feet wide, 20,000 cubic yards, at 25 To extend the jetty to the 4-foot curve with corresponding length of dredging would cost, in addition to the above, $7,500. Work was continued under contract with Thomas Draper in July 1886, at Broad Reach Shoal, just inside the mouth of the river, and 287 cubic yards of material removed, completing the channel 40 feet wide and 6 feet deep at low water through this shoal. The work was then suspended on account of near exhaustion of funds. The act of August 5, 1886, appropriated $10,000 more for this river. Advertisements were published and bids opened in December, 1886, and a contract made with the American Dredging Company, at 12 cents per cubic yard, measured in place. Work under this contract was commenced May 5, 1887, and continued with the usual vigor of this company to close of the fiscal year, at which time the 6-foot low-water navigation, 40 feet wide, was extended from Lebanon to within a quarter of a mile of Dover, removing 55,838 cubic yards of material and depositing it on the banks of the river. This gives a continuous low-water navigation 6 feet deep and 40 feet wide from the mouth of the river to a point one-quarter of a mile below Dover, the head of navigation. The balance of the funds available June 30, 1887, will be applied to completing the 6-foot low-water navigation 40 feet wide to the town of Dover and enlarging the turning-basin at that point, and a further widening of the channel at several sharp bends and increasing the depth over the bar at the entrance for temporary relief to naviga tion. The citizens have also appropriated $500 to $1,000 for that purpose. It is proposed to apply the appropriation asked for fiscal year ending June 30, 1889, to the improvement of the entrance by a 3-foot low-water dredged channel and protecting jetty, estimated to cost $35,000. No further work is recommended at present inside the river. The benefit to commerce and navigation since the improvement has been great. A steamer of 70 tons was put on the river as soon as the work reached Lebanon. The commerce on the river increased so rapidly, that this boat proved inadequate and a larger one was provided. It is estimated the commerce has increased 5,000 tons. As soon as the improvement is completed to Dover, which will be early in the fiscal year, the steamer will extend her trip to that point. By completion of the improvement the business of Dover, Del., estimated over $2,000,000, will be offered a competing route of transportation. There has been a reduction already in rates of freight on coal of 75 cents per ton, due to the improvement. About one hundred thousand peach trees have been planted in this section in anticipation of the improvement of this river. Dover is in the collection district of Delaware. Wilmington is the nearest port of entry, at which the amount of revenue collected for the last fiscal year is $16,184.57. July 1, 1887, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of liabilities outstanding July 1, 1886.. July 1, 1837, outstanding liabilities.. $5, 294.43 9.247.73 July 1, 1887, amount available................. 2,245.86 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 35, 000, 00 35,000.00 Abstract of proposals received and opened December 30, 1886, for dredging in St. Jones River, Delaware, by Mr. William F. Smith, United States Agent. Prosecute with vigor until completed. Excepting clause 5 of specifications, instead of which will use a 60-foot boom, and place the material in such a manner as to guard against its return to channel. H 6. IMPROVEMENT OF MISPILLION CREEK, DELAWARE. No work was done during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887, for want of funds, and for the same reason the condition of the improvement is unknown. This It is estimated that $3,500 will complete the project for the improvement by removing the remainder of the shoals from Milford to the mouth of the creek, and will give a 6-foot low-water navigation. will give greater facilities to navigation and commerce by lessening the time now required to get up and down the stream. If the bar at the entrance is improved, it is estimated that $55,000 additional will be required. From 15 to 20 vessels trade on this creek; tonnage about 2,000 tons. 8872 ENG 87-53 The commerce is estimated at $470,000. Canned goods manufactured at Milford and vicinity, $200,000. Ship-building interest at Milford is also extensive, but the demand for large vessels is not complied with on account of the difficulty of floating them out to the Delaware Bay. One of the largest candy factories south of Philadelphia has been established within the last two years at Milford. The above commercial statistics are furnished me by Hon. William H. Causey, ex-secretary of state of Delaware. Mispillion Creek is in the collection district of Delaware. Wilmington is the nearest port of entry, at which the amount of revenue collected for the last fiscal year is $16,184.57. $58,500.00 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. H 7. IMPROVEMENT OF BROADKILN RIVER, DELAWARE. There has been no work on this improvement since December, 1885, for want of funds. At that time a 6-foot low-water navigation was completed 40 feet in width, and at six bencs, from 60 to 70 feet in width, from the junction of Lewes Creek to Milton, the head of navigation. The improvement made has been of great benefit in allowing vessels to navigate the river in one-third the time formerly required. It is reported that the improvement made has maintained itself. The following commercial statistics are furnished by ex-Governor James Ponder, of Milton, Del. Twenty-five vessels (sail and steam) navigate the river. The aggregate amount of commerce is valued at $534,500. Steam navigation has been introduced on the river since the improvement, and the capacity of the vessels nearly doubled. Three large schooners have recently been built with a capacity of 200 tons; before the improvement the vessels built ranged from 50 to 75 tons. Éx-Governor Ponder says the benefits from the improvement are incalculable, and if the entrance could be improved the benefit would equal that already derived. The improvement is in the collection district of Delaware. Wilmington is the nearest port of entry, at which the amount of revenue collected for the last fiscal year is $16,184.57. Money statement. (Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project $31,500 31,500 H 8. IMPROVEMENT OF INDIAN RIVER, DELAWARE. There has been no work on this improvement since 1883, for want of funds; the last information respecting the work done was the channel had filled up for want of protecting dike and no benefit had been derived from the improvement. As the work done effected no benefit, the cost of the improvement will have to remain at the original estimate, $50,000, and if the work of improvement is continued, the amount should be appropriated in one sum to secure any good. The project is to dredge a channel 80 feet wide and 4 feet deep at mean low water through "The Bulkhead," and thence straight to the inlet, protecting it by the construction of a dike on its northern side. By the completion of the improvement will be offered a competing route of transportation to a large commerce, consisting of fruits, vegetables, and oysters, the perishable nature of which prevents their being shipped by water while so much uncertainty exists as to the time required to get to sea. There are 50 saw-mills in operation along the banks of Indian River and tributaries, and produce annually 54,000,000 feet of lumber, valued about $1,000,000. A greater portion of this is hauled from 1 to 15 miles, to the nearest railroad station, owing to the difficulties in entering the Indian River from the ocean. When the improvement of the inland water-way from Chincoteague Bay, Virginia, to Delaware Bay, at or near Lewes, Del., is completed to Indian River, the commerce dependent on Indian River Inlet will be greatly increased until the improvement is completed to Delaware Bay. After the improvement of the inland water-way is completed, a better outlet for Indian River will be had through the route into Delaware Bay than can be given through Indian River Inlet to the ocean. Indian River is in the collection district of Delaware. The nearest port of entry is Wilmington, at which the revenue collected during the last fiscal year amounted to $16,184.57. AMOUNT APPROPRIATED. By act passed August 2, 1882. $10,000 Money statement. Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project... $50,000.00 harbor acts of 1866 and 1867. |