Morning journal and courier., 1881-02-01
LOCAL NEWS.
Long Island Sound.

The Breakwater-Colonel BarlOy's VaI- Sable Letter to the U. s. Board of Engf-
 
 Below is given the valuable letter of Colo nel Barlow to the U. s. Board of Engineers relative to the breakwater, wherein its advan- tages and importance are incidentally set LETTER OF MAJOR J. W. BARLOW, CORPS OF
 ENGINEERS.
 Engineers Office, U. 5. Army, ]
 New London, Conn. {
 GENERAL: have the honor to submit the following report upon the location of the breakwater at the entrance to the harbor of New Haven, Conn.
 In presenting the question of the location of this breakwater. the future as well as the present wants of commerce have been con- sidered and such lines only are suggested as it is believed will, approximately at least, meet such necessities.
 The most serious storms from which at this place the commerce of the Sound is lia- ble to need shelter, are easteriy, southerly and westerly; those from the southeast and southwest being most dangerous. The loca- ton of any breakwater placed at the entrance to New Haven harbor should, therefore, be such as to intercept storms from those direc- tions, and the line should either be curved or composed of two or more intersecting straight lines. The anchorage covered by the breakwater should be free from obstruc- tions and should have good holding ground.
 To ascertain the character of the bottom in the vicinity of the proposed lines an ex- animation has just been completed, the re suits of which are noted upon the accompa- nying chart and tracing. Lines indicating several locations for the breakwater which are deemed worthy of consideration are also shown upon the accompanying chart.
 The first position and the one most favored by citizens of New Haven interested in pro- noting this improvement is the line from Southwest Ledge to Quixe's Ledge. The chief advantages of this position are accessi- bility to the Sound thoroughfare and good depth of anchorage. It would also rest upon several rocks near Southwest Ledge which are now Instructions in entering the harbor. Its disadvantages are the proximity of Old Head Reef, occupying large space of the anchorage, and the hard nature of the bot tom over cons derable portion of the deep water adjacent
 The second position is a modification of the first. Beginning at Southwest Ledge, it curves northward and terminates upon Old Head Reef, The reef is thus made part of the breakwater. and is no longer an obstacle.
 The deep-water anchorage is somewhat less than in the first case; portion of this anchorage IS rocky. An important consider ation pertaining to both the first and second positions is the fact that Southwest Ledge and the lighthouse would form an essential feature of the completed work. Either o1 these lines would afford perfect security in easterly weather but suitable protection from westerly storms, often very severe, would require an additional line, either con nected with the first at Southwest Ledge and extending northward about 1.o00 feet, mak ing the aggregate length 4, ,Qe0 feet, or a de tached work in the yiciI5ty of Luddingtor Rock
 The third, a line brokm or curved, resting partly on Old Head H#sf, extending south. westerly about 1000 feets thence westerl,