Milford chronicle., 1892-03-18
The U. s Engineer's Report Fav-
orable on the Mispillion River.

The report of Asst. Engineer Stierle,
who surveyed the mouth ef the Mispi
lion and the approaches to it last year,
made very favorable report. He recites
the work done in years past, auddescribes
the difficulty experienced in making im-
provements to the mouths of all Della
ware streams. Under date OF November
J, 1890, MI Stierle says
The demsud for an improved outlet for
Mispillion River would seem to have spec
ial merits. Outside of the claims of exten-
sive local shipping interests, which largely
exceed those Of any other river Of the same
size, ther= exists at Milford an industry IN
shipbuilding which deserves recognition,
The shipYards at that place are the larges.
of any on the peninsula south of Wnmingt
ton. The vessels built here, all OF wood
rate very high with the insurance compan-
les on account Of their superiority IN mater
ial aud workmanship. There we're four on
the stocks in process of building on the day
Of my visit-two baTges of $50 tons eachi
one schooner of 400 tons, and one Of $50 tons
registered burden when finished. The hull
Of this last vessel is 1853 feet long on the
keel, IS7 feet over all, and has 81 feet beam
Her draft Of water will be IS feet when
loaded. Il seems almost matter Of I'M
possibility to float suoli a large hull down
and out Of a river which has an improved
channel only 40 feet in width and many
abrupt turns. The shipbuilders state that
they have refused many offers to build still
larger vessels on account Of the difficulty Of
getting then out of the river and into the
channel of Delaware Bay. The delay at the
mouth, and expenses contingent thereto Of
ten cause loss Of the largest portion Of the
profits made in building. For similar rea-
sons the shipyards at Milford are cut on
from the business of repairing any OF the
numerous vessels trading up and down
Delaware Bay aud ia adjacent waters, as the
risks at the mouth are too great, the branch
of repairing and overhauling vessels, Il Is
said, being the most profitable one Of the
business.
There are seventeen sailing vessels owned
by parties living on the Mispillion River, OF
a total Of 600 tons burden; the smallest Of
40 tons, has a draft of water Of feet, the
largest a 2o0-ton schooner, draws 7 feet OF
water Ten of these vessels trade regularly
between points on the river and Philadel
phia, and the remaining seven sail regu-
lariy to and from New York. Quite mum
Der of transient vessels carry freight in aud
out Of the river. The shipments and re-
ceipts by water, consisting principally Of
lumber railroad ties, cord wood, grains
canned goods, lime, fertilizers, coal iron,
and general merchandise, amounted during
the past year to 44,3I5 tons, valued at $50
2so. All these vessels are subject to long
DELAYS at the mouth OF the river, where the
depth Of water over the bar Is only ~ feet
At mean low tide. If the winds are unfav-
orabie and the tides low, the depth at high
water is often insufficient to float them
tcross when fully loaded, and lighters have
to be resorted to. The difficulties are more
complicated when a vessel arrives at the bar
and can not euter the river She IS often
compelled to wait for days and weeks for a
/ fair tide, ard during that time is exposed to
nj gales from the north to south BY east.
A schooner drawing S feet 7 inches Of water
was once detained for twenty two days at
he bar by head winds and low tides. YES
sci property is in consequence much depre-
ciated aud not as profitable an investment az
Il would be were the mouth Of the river i'm
It has been recently suggested by PERSONS
interested in the navigation of Mispilion
River TO abandon he lower mile Of the river,
which has a due southerlY course, and 70
make a new cut across the marsh ~ south
sasterly direction Suck e cut would shorten
the distance several hundred feet and would
enable vessels bound up Delaware Bay q
depprt freely il The wind SHOULD be from the
south.