Morning journal and courier., 1880-05-18
New Haven's Commerce.

ment--LasG SeasOn's Work of Improving
 the HarIDOr Revfewed-A Further En-
 largement of the Channel RecOmmenI-
 edi-A Dike from Fort Hale Discussed
 ToImlfIfsOn's Bridge Reported Ob-
 structton-Its Alteration Recommended The Breakwater-Additfon Appro-
 priatfons Recommended.
 The annual report of J. W. Barlow, major of engineers and brevet lieutenant colonel U. S. A, has just been. issued at the govern ment printing office at Washington. It em- bodies detailed statement of the improve ments made during the past year in the har- bors of Long Island Sound. We find in this valuable report the following of interest to New Haven. The report refers first to the appropriation of twenty-five thousand dollars for dredging between Long Wharf and Fort Hale, the purpose of this being the widening of the main ship channel and deepening the same to 16 feet at mean low water-the length of the excavation to be $500 feet. This work, which was executed by the Morris & Cummings Dredging Company at 3-4 cents per cubic yard, is reviewed in the report, which sums it up as follows:
 'sAs the result of the seasons operations, a channel 16 feet deep at mean low water, and nearly 300 feet wide throughout length of 3, 800 feet has been excavated, where the former depth was from 10 to 15 feet"
 The report then takes up the subject of "a further enlargement of the channel" which Colonel Barlow recommends to the Govern ment. He says
 1.-The depth of 16 feet given to last sea sons work is believed to be no more than the immediate necessities of the commerce of this harbor demand, to avoid interruptions and delays in the movement of vessels to and from the wharves.
 During the last seasons work the inspector in charge was directed to notice, when prac- ticable and report the draught of freighting vessels arriving with cargoes at the upper wharves.
 From his observations it was shown that number of sailing vessels of 700 to 750 tons, drawing 13 1-2 to 14 feet are in constant communication with the docks above Long Wharf. These vessels are freighted princi- pally with coal and lumber, while several steamers drawing 16 to Is feet are engaged in the same trade.
 Twenty-three vessels from the West Indies, drawing 14 feet, discharge at Long Wharf It is stated that a good prospect at one time existed for direct steamship line with Liverpool which would have been an accom- pIished fact had the owners found a sufficient depth to carry vessels of 20 to 21 feet draught to the wharves at high water. It would seem therefore highly judicious that the project of enIarging the main channel so as to obtain a continuous depth of 16 feet to the city wharves, with sufficient width to permit the easy and safe passage of vessels of IA to 15 feet draught at high water, should be carried into effect at the earliest practicable moment. Viewing the subject in this light, presented on the 4th of February 1879, after making an examination of the harbor, in connection with the seasons work the following letter. " The letter is given in full in the report, and concludes with recommendation and re- marks as follows: ''To meet the present wants of the commercial interests of this har- bor, I would respectfully propose that as soon as practicable the depth across the Fort Hale bar and above Long Wharf be made 16 feet at mean low water the bar channel to be at the bend opposite Long Wharf, where an increased width should be given The plan is not proposed to replace that recommended by the chamber of commerce and board of harbor commissioners, and discussed in my report of January, 1875, but as a part of and preliminary to the ultimate execution of that more extensive and costly undertaking" /" The estimates are appended for the work recommended, being in all $90,O0O.
 The report proceeds: ''There appears to be no element of uncertainty regarding the feasibility and probable permanence of that part of the improvement above the Fort Hale bar. Here, however, arises question to the best and cheapest method of maintaining the desired permanence of depth. The Fort Hale bar is caused by the sudden widening of the harbor, both to the eastward and to the westward. The tidal currents, in connection with the action of West river, have thrust a long, slender sand spit northward from the west side, just opposite Fort Hale and about parallel with the east shore. In consequence of this formation the harbor is here narrowed to about 3,2OO feet, while above and below it's width is more than double this distance In this narrow portion of the channel the strength of the tides is sufficient to maintain a depth of eighteen feet at mean low water, and if this reduced width of channel extended north or south probably the same depth would be created by the increased SCOUT. And should the extension be carried far enough seaward to meet the lttoral Sound currents, there is little likelihood of the formation of another bar A further examination of the harbor has been made this season, chiefly with a view to ascertaining the strength and direc- tion of the ebb and flood currents and their influence in forming and maintaining the Fort Hale bar. A report of the observations will be given in another place. From this examination it is inferred that the action of Inc hoch had 1of31 i11r ducing this bar.
 The bar being mostly soft mud similar to the adjoining flats, it's early renewal after the dredging of 1872 has been accounted for upon the theory of subsistence. It is probable that this subsistence was partially caused by the same agencies which ordinarily produce wave and drift bar. In southerly storms the waves at the mouth of the harbor have great height and power, resisting the outward movement of sediment and partially neutral izing the ebb current. During the flood strong current sets in from the Sound along the west shore, and before reaching the bar below Fort Hale is divided a portion flowing directly up the channel, theremainder crossing over into Morris Cove. In rough weather the food current is beaten against the west shore, and in the movement along the beach and over the flats becomes the ve- hicle of more or less material, which some times is carried eastward as far as Fort Hale
 It would therefore seem that the erection of dike from the west shore just opposite Fort Hale and running in a southerly direc- tion below the position of the bar, would serve the double purpose of contracting the channel and thus augmenting the power of the ebb SCOUT, and also of averting the sup ply of the material brought on by the flood.
 A dike above, beginning at Sandy Point and continuing distance of about 6,OOO feet, would be desirable adjunct in preserving channel across this bar, and perhaps in as- sisting to produce one, yet the great cost of such a structure leads me to renew the rec ommendation that the experiment. of dredg- ing be again tried over a wider channel than before. If it then be found that the chan hel shows decided tendency to refill, the construction of dike should be undertaken at once.
 It will be observed from the recommenda- tion heretofore presented that the most press ing and immediate requirements of this har- Dor are the improvements necessary to deep- e1l the charDe1 from T,oDcr Wharf fo StaaIo