Morning journal and courier., 1888-09-26
$156,72s 1880

The following important letter is from
Frederick 8. Ward, Esq, now an employe of
the L. Candee company Of this city formerly
for eighteen years freight clerk of the old line
steamers. During this time he became
thoroughly acquainted with everything per-
tanning to the freight department of this line
of steamers. Mr.. Ward spent some ten days
investigating the way bills of the Consolidat-
ed road OF the merchandise received from
the steamers with the object in view to get
at transported annually and daily by this line
of steamers and to form basis to make an
estimate of the values brought thus bG
water conveyances in and out of our harbor.
After careful research and much study of the
subject he has forwarded this letter:
Captain Chss. 81. Townshend:
Dear Sir-In reply to your inquiry about
the value of merchandise transported to and
from the port of New Haven, Conn.,, by the
steamers and other transportation lines,
would state that for many years I was freight
clerk on one of the Old line steamers, and
after many days of personal examination of
freights transported, both OF foreign and doA
nestle manufacture, including manufactured
and raw material, have arrived at an esti-
mate of daily value Of at least one million
dollars ($1, 000,0 00.) Hoping these figures
may be satisfactory, believe me,
Yours very truly,
FREDERICK s. WARD.
We have many other confidential letters
s0OWAhk Al bu0 ABB1oSACS VA1u6B 10 tu0
amount of hundreds of millions of dollars
that pass through our port annually in
transportation, the bulk of which is shipped
to the markets of the world by way of the
great port of New York. The large manu-
featuring centers along the Naugatuck, Hart
ford, Pennington and Northampton valleys
transport their products to our docks and
ship them in our vessels from our port. All
this proves that the geographical position of
the hsrbor of New Haven is one of the best
on the east coast of the United States for the
location of the new commercial city that
must be located in the very near future to
accommodate the wants OF the enormous
population of the interior which has former
ly found outlets through the ports of Bos-
ton, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore,
and is now paying tribute to the several lines
of railroads that control the water fronts of
those most important sesports. And it is
pertinent to here mention that If the cities of
Chicago and the great northwest receive the
productions of the world through the ports
of New York and San Francisco, where the
great charges on shipping are almost prohib-
itory to the landing, why cannot these inland
cities use our ports illustrated by themills at
Holyoke and Seymour that bring in eargoes
of rags from the Mediterranean ports of
Europe, Asia and Africa. Why cannot the
enormous population of our great West be
supplied cheaper and at better advantage
with cofses, teas, sugars and the neceesaries
of life as illustrated abovei 1t is believed
again that the day must come when the cities
that line the shores of our continent shall
have increased tenfold, that the city of New
York shall have crossed lower Westchester
county and faced Long Island Sound, and
that the transatlantic steamers of the heaviest
draft must use this eastern approach to avoid
the bars at Sandy Hook and save time, which
ia money, and give greater dispatch to the vari
GUS interests connected Herewith. In con-
clueion, we repeat that any improvements to
our harbor are not all from q local stand
point.
The following able letter from the Hon.
Elbridge T. Gerry, commodore of the New
York Yacht club, has more than usual inter
est Coming as it does from q gentleman of
universal reputation as Jurist and whose
extensive knowledge of maritime affairs has
been 80 well proved by his able management
of the New York Yacht club:
FLAG SHIP ELECTRA, N. Y. Y.C,l
NEW YoRK, July q, 1888.
Charles Hervey Townshend Esq: Dear Sir-In
reply to your inquiry Of July g. do not hesitate TO
say that regard the harbor of New Haven as one
Of the most Important on the Sound as port of
refuge situated as i is nearly midway in Long
harbor Of New YORK And IN Is PRESENT Condition.
owing to its narrow channel, the absence OF any
breafwater and the impossibility Of vessels
ed from the whole sweep Of the Sound
at its 6rOadest part there Is much r1om m
glad to learn Of the general approval by all mer;
chants and those interested in both foreign and
domestic commerce Of the erection of q breakwater
there. do not think that the government could ex-
pend money to better advantage. 1t would have
Nothing Of thousands IF dollars worth Of properly
il proper haven of refuge were thus provided;
deaY $40 mo- n which ought
meately to receive the sanction of the department
ELRIDeE T. GERRY,
Commodore N. 7. Y. @.