Morning journal and courier., 1890-10-16
LoNG wHARF,s HISTORY.


 isquite appropriate, especially in view of it's having reached another notable epoch in it's history The following is compiled l chiefly from a very vigorous and able pa per on the same subject by Thomas R. Trowbridge, which was read by him be- fore the New Haven Colony Historical so- ciety:
 From the earliest history of New Haven Long wharf has been one of it's most inter esting and important institutions The city was founded by commercial men and their attention was directed early toward wharf accommodations. At first several small wharves were contemplated but it was soon evident that combined efforts were essential, so they determined to build one great wharf. So Long wharf was laid on scale so great that as possible un- dertaking it proved failure for many years, but more than made up for this deficiency by the advantages that it had to offer to boats of considerable size. The earliest record relating to wharves in this town dates back to August 5, 1644, where reference is made of great damage that the town suffered from the shallow har- bor which hindered vessels from coming near the town and the urgent need of wharf accommodations was earnestly felt. On November 23, 1868, Samuel Bache was granted about fifty or sixty feet and as far down into the flats as he should see cause to build wharf or dock. This was at the water side at the lower end of Fleet street. This place eventually came into the possession of Jonathan Atwater and may be consider ed as the first wharf built in the harbor and this with the succeeding grant to Thomas Trowbridge may be regarded as the commencement of Long wharf. It came to be popularly known as Long wharf about 1736; this was to distinguish it from the smaller wharves that had been built, though it's proper name was Union wharf It extended at this time about 800 feet out and the work was carried on by fits and starts. The work was hur- ried on with considerable rapidity in the years 1745 and 46 and by this time had be- come great affair.
 The following years were not successful financially and an offer to sell a one-twen- tieth part for 920 found no takers. On the 23d of March, 1770, it was voted to pro- vide the materials and build wharf, be- ginning at the channel. This was the pier, eighty feet square, built for the use of large vessels, where they might lie in safe ty. It was substantially built, though not filled up in the middle for many years. The favor which was extended by the in habitants of the town toward this great enterprise their subscriptions to further it's work were ample proof. They gave everything in the way of barter, money at that time being scarce.
 The labor on this pier was very great for it was building on soft mud. The pro prietors, however, persevered and finally it was completed, but it had nearly dis couraged the people, the expense and trouble being SO great and the means so | limited At this time the wharf extended as far as MT. Ezra Hotchkiss's store, near the intersection of Canal basin with Long wharf. In 1772 the proprietors were de- sirous of connecting the pier with the | wharf, nearly 8 mile apart. They pe- | titioned the general assembly for liberty to set up lottery to raise 21 ,5Oo | on Union wharf. The plan was not sue. cessful, and in 1774 the company voted tc build Q bridge of chestnut timber, | which was known as the first draw, a famous swimming ground.
 ! In 17S2 things were looking badly fo, the wharf. What little revenue was re ceived was expended on repairs. Two years later assistance was granted by the general assembly by passing the act that no vessel in the future should be cleared out of the harbor by the naval officer unti he shall receive ticket in writing iron the wharfnger, that the customary
 wharfage had been paid or that
 none was due. This was a new evidence
 of the interest felt by the people of tn,
 state in the welfare of the New Haver
 wharf. In 1785 it was let out at publi,
 vendue for e1O2. In 1789 8 petition wa
 presented to the congress of the United
 States representing the importance fo
 trade and commerce that the pier in Nev
 Haven harbor should be maintained anc
 kept in good order and proposing to give it to the United States providing they
 would keep it in repair and that vessels
 belonging to this port might have free use of it and no additional taxes to be laid or them for the use that they would make oi the pier. The negotiation was unsuccess full, but in later years the government wal glad to avail itself of this pier to erect { lighthouse.
 In 179O all private measures toward rais ing money to complete the wharf seemed exhausted. Accordingly the proprietori again went to the general assembly fol authority to set up new lottery to raise f3, GOO. The grant was obtained without | opposition, but New York having prohibited | the sale of foreign tickets in that state l the proprietors petitioned for permiss ior l to sell their tickets in the city of New York, representing that the lottery was te ! raise money to repair and extend the wharf which was of vast importance to the trade and commerce of New York as we'll as o1 | New Haven. They also represented that l our people were adventurers daily in New York lotteries, but it was of no avail, and the petition was denied. The lottery | speculation was not successful for in 179s the managers had realized but f98 2s, o1 which sum e39 12s was laid out on re pairs. Up to this time no dividend ha6 ! ever been paid the owners. Every dollar ! of it's earnings had been expended towards | repairing the wharf and in it's extension. It was now only too evident that the fna crisis long foreseen was at hand. These public-spirited men had expended large sums on an immense work for which the times were not suspicious. The long wa, | of the revolution had ruined the foreign and domestic trade, the work they had un dertaken was of vast expense, time after time the sea had swept away it's income and all it's revenues had been required tc keepin repair what had already been built l The proprietors saw that their exertions were about to fail, still for two years more they hoped and struggled on, but struggled | in vain.
 On the 18th day of February, 1909, the crisis arrived, and the old company, that had existed in fact almost from the first
 settlement of the town, saw that they l could go no farther and that under a new | organization their long cherished plani 1 must be completed. Time after time tho inhabitants had shown their interest in tn, great enterprise by contributions giver both freely and largely, but there was limit to these applications, although they had always been generously met. The new organization was accordingly made by another company being formed o, contractors to extend and complete thu
 work which they had agreed to do. They further agreed to furnish $14, 900 toward maintaining and extending the wharf. Tn, new company, however, embracSA man, of the original owners, in fact all who werl
 willing to advance more money. The two companies, the old one and the new on, called the Contractors, acted together har
 moniously, the contractors taking ier
 upon the property of the old company un
 til reimbursed for their expenditures.
 The work now went forward with grea
 energy. At this time the wharf was mad
 of timber and bridges, making an entir
 length of about 2,O0O feet. The wharf wa
 now thoroughly repaired and put in frs
 rate condition. Money was expended
 freely, and business again stimulated b,
 good wharf accommodations, was prosper
 ous. An assessment was laid to tn
 amount of $7,000 additional capital to b
 furnished by these contractors to be ex III s-s