Money statement. July 1, 1884, amount available.. $232 77 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884... Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.. 232 77 (*) G 3. IMPROVEMENT OF DELAWARE RIVER BELOW BRIDESBURG, PENNSYL VANIA. Appropriations for this subdivision of the Delaware River have been made since 1875 under the following heads: Between Petty's Island and the mouth..... $90.000 466,000 These appropriations have been applied to the improvement of the river at the following points: Near Five-Mile Point, between Bridesburg and Philadelphia; the vicinity of Petty's Island, Philadelphia; the bars between Philadelphia and Camden; Mifflin Bar, about 9 miles below Philadelphia; Bulkhead Shoals, between New Castle, Del., and Fort Delaware. Operations during the past fiscal year have been confined to the following work: Under a contract with the Delaware and Chesapeake Improvement Company, dated March 17, 1884, 16,372 cubic yards of material were removed from Smith's Island Bar, making an ag gregate of 39,766 cubic yards removed under this contract. This work was done for the purpose of affording relief to the cross-river traffic between Philadelphia and Camden, and was applied to the formation of a dredged channel at the head of the island, about 300 feet wide and 10 feet deep at mean low water. The benefit derived from the work was only temporary, and complaints are now made that the channel dredged has again shoaled to about 6 feet at low water. Efforts to maintain a channel across this bar have repeatedly failed in the past, and since this channel must be nearly at right angles to the direction of the tidal movements, it seems highly improbable that it can be maintained without frequent dredgings. There would seem to be no question as to the importance of a channel in this vicinity connecting the deep water in front of Philadelphia with that in front of Camden. Such a channel would accommodate a large inter-State commerce. If an appropriation is made for this purpose it should be specified for the improvement of channel between Philadelphia, Pa., and Camden, N. J., as it is no part of a scheme for the improvement of the main ship-channel of the Delaware River. During the past fiscal year there were no operations at the following named places: Five-Mile Point, Petty's Island Bar, Mifflin Bar, and Bulkhead Shoals. These localities, with the exception of the first named, are considered in the report of the Board of Eugineers of 1884 for the permanent improvement of Delaware River and Bay. This report will be found in connection with the improvement of the Delaware River between Trenton, N. J., and its mouth. The improvement of the above-named localities should form part of the comprehensive plan for the permanent improvement of the Delaware River as recommended by the Board of Engineers of 1884. Included in amount required for completion of existing project, “Delaware River from Trenton, N. J., to its mouth." 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." This part of the river is tributary to the collection districts of Philadelphia, Delaware, and Bridgeton, where the revenues collected during the year ending December 31, 1884, were $12,562,562.77. July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project. G 4. $691,000 00 691,000 00 $7,786 03 7,786 03 (*) IMPROVEMENT OF DELAWARE RIVER AT SCHOONER LEDGE, PENNSYLVANIA AND DELAWARE. No work was done at this locality during the past fiscal year. The appropriation of $40,000 August 2, 1882, was the last made for this work, and available funds were practically exhausted during the working season of 1883. By rock removal a channel 330 feet wide and 24 feet deep at mean low water has been carried through the ledge. The improvement of this locality is considered in the Report of the Board of Engineers for 1884 for the permanent improvement of the Delaware River and Bay, which will be found in connection with the "Improvement of the Delaware River from Trenton, N. J., to its mouth." The improvement of Schooner Ledge should form a part of the comprehensive plan for the permanent improvement of the Delaware River as recommended by the Board of Engineers of 1884. 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 improvement 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." This work is situated in the collection district of Philadelphia, which is the nearest port of entry. The amount of revenue collected at that port during the year ending December 31, 1884, was $12,530,451.86. The nearest fort and light-houses are, respectively, Fort Mifflin and the Schooner Ledge range lights. Total appropriations to June 30, 1885 Total expenditures to June 30, 1885 -$170,000 00 169,837 07 Money statement. July 1, 1884, amount available $869 52 July 1,1885, amount expended during the 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. (*) * Included in amount required for completion of existing project, "Delaware River from Trenton, N. J., to its mouth." G 5. IMPROVEMENT OF DELAWARE RIVER NEAR CHERRY ISLAND FLATS, DELAWARE. No work was done on this part of the Delaware River during the past fiscal year. The appropriation of $100,000 August 2, 1882, was the last made for this work, and available funds were practically exhausted during the working season of 1883. At that time a channel nearly 2 miles long had been formed through the flats, 470 feet wide and 24 feet deep at mean low water. The improvement of this part of the Delaware River is considered in the Report of the Board of Engineers of 1884 for the permanent improvement of Delaware River and Bay, which will be found in connec tion with the "Improvement of Delaware River from Trenton, N. J., to its mouth." The improvement of Cherry Island Flats should form a part of the comprehensive plan for the permanent improvement of the Delaware River as recommended by the Board of Engineers of 1884. No appropriation is asked for under this title, as it is for the best interests of the work and commerce that all the funds for the improvement 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." This work lies in the collection district of Delaware, with Wilmington as its nearest port of entry, at which the revenue collected during the year ending December 31, 184, amounted to $32,110.91. The nearest fort and light-houses are, respectively, Fort Delaware and Cherry Island range lights. Total appropriations to June 30, 1885... $400,000 00 398,543 26 Money statement. July 1, 1884, amount available $2,641 58 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884..... 1,184 84 July 1, 1885, amount available.... 1,456 74 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project........ (*) G 6. IMPROVEMENT OF FRANKFORD CREEK, PENNSYLVANIA. No work was done on Frankford Creek during the last fiscal year, and no appropriation for its improvement has been made since that of August 2, 1882, appropriating $10,000. This amount was practically expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1883, in the formation of a dredged channel 7 feet deep at mean low water, and extending from the mouth of the creek to above Bridge Street Bridge, Bridesburg. This creek is entirely within the corporate limits of Philadelphia, and it is understood to be regulated by the municipal authorities. It is not considered in the interests of commerce and navigation to recommend further appropriations. *Included in amount required for completion of existing project, "Delaware River from Trenton, N. J., to its mouth." Frankford Creek lies wholly within the port of entry of Philadelphia, at which the revenue collected during the year ending December 31, 1884, amounted to $12,530,451.86. The nearest fort and light-houses are, respectively, Fort Mifflin and Horseshoe range lights. Total appropriation to June 30, 18-5.... Total expenditure to June 30, 1885 $10,000 00 9,442 83 Money statement. July 1, 1884, amount available.. $916 72 July 1, 1885, amount expended during fiscal year, exclusive of outstanding liabilities July 1, 1884..... 359 55 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. 557 17 30,000 00 COMMERCIAL STATISTICS, The Mason Fruit-Jar Company of Bridesburg furnish the following statement relating to the commerce of Frankford Creek in connection with their business: Under a contract with the National Dredging Company, dated October 6, 1884, for dredging, at 28 cents per cubic yard, 52,730 cubic yards of material were removed from the river between Point Breeze and Girard Point piers. A survey of this part of the river was made during August, 1884. The work done and in progress is under the approved project, which provides for the formation of a dredged channel 400 feet wide and 24 feet deep at mean low water from the mouth of the river to Girard Point piers, and a channel from thence to Gibson's Point 250 feet wide and 20 feet deep. The Schuylkill River has an improved channel 300 feet wide and 24 feet deep from its mouth to Girard Point; from thence to Chestnut Street Bridge, in the city of Philadelphia, a channel about 150 feet wide and from 18 to 20 feet deep at mean low water; the distance between these extreme points is about 74 miles. The work which has been done appears to be quite permanent in character and of great benefit and advantage to commerce. During the present season available funds will be applied to the work of dredging now in progress. An appropriation of $75,000 is recommended for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1887. Total appropriations to June 30, 1885. Total expenditures to June 30, 1885.. $350,000 00 331,701 23 During the fiscal year, ending June 30, 1887, the work contemplated is dredging in furtherance of the approved project. This work lies in the collection district of Philadelphia, at which, as a port of entry, there was collected during the year ending December 31, 1884, revenue to the amount of $12,530,451.86. The nearest fort and light-houses are, respectively, Fort Mifflin and Schuylkill River range lights. July 1, 1884, amount available Money statement. 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 29, 159 45 $10,860 68 6,719 80 17,580 48 11,578 97 Amount (estimated) required for completion of existing project.... 135,000 00 75,000 00 Abstract of proposals received and opened September 23, 1884, by Maj. W. H. Heuer, Corps of Engineers, for dredging in Schulykill River, Pennsylvania. Contract, dated October 6, 1884, awarded to the National Dredging Company. In progress. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS. NUMBER OF VESSELS AT POINT BREEZE FROM JULY 1, 1884 TO JUNE 30, 1885, AND TOTAL SHIPMENTS OF PETROLEUM IN SAME PERIOD. |