Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-06-02
FILLING A GREAT GAP.
Dumping Huge Stones Into the
Atlantic Ocean at Lewes.

How the Work of Filling tho Gap Ee-
tween the Broaiswater and tho. leo
breaker IL Progressing Good Results
Follow u Detection of tho Current.
Special Correspondcnceoi Gazette and journal
LEwEs, June Through the courtesy
OF II. X. Eason, government inspector and
Captain $. II. Blocksom, agent of the
Ilrandywinc Granite Company, EVERY
EVENINGS correspondent was favored with
sail on the tug Orole to the Breakwater
and witnessed for short time the dump
ing Of stone in the Cup between the ice
breaker and Breakwater proper. The first
appropriation for the filling of the gap was
made in lSs2 and the survey and lines
were run out in September of that year.
The work of preparation for filling the
gap was continued for several seasons. SO
lar rs small appropriations would allow,
and mattresses of brush obtained from the
swamps of Sussex were made and sunk as
q foundation FOR the stone, which has
been furnished entirely by the Brandy
wine Granite Company of Wilmington,
excepting about 10000 tons in 1854 The
length OF line to be filled is $50 feet, with
the wall 10 feet wide and rising with slop-
ing superstructure seward ~ feet wide at
the top and about 20 feet above high water
mark. Tho depth of water before any
stone was placed ranged from 20 feet at
Breakwater end.
The Stone is brought here in scows or
barges from the Brandywine, each barge
carrying about 500 tons in pieces weighing
from vnehalf ton TO six tons each The
barge IS moored on line running from
each OF the old stone piles and tho rocks
are holsted by an engine attached TO a
urrricki which dumps them overheard.
When the dumping machinery is not out
OF order fhn L.,
piece minute and sometimes two barges
are unloaded daily. The foundation on
winch the topping or superstructure will
be built is laid for $50 feet and the whole
distance. excepting about $50 feet in the
deepest part, is now up above low water
mark, the $50 feet above mentioned being
somewhat higher. The depth at low water
on the go feet which is at the Break water
end IS IL feet, having been raised about so
feet from the bottom.
yesterday the last appropriation was ex-
hansted and 81 $50 tons of stone have been
put down OH the last contract The first
load this season was dumped April 2od, in
all % loads. The barges are towed 10 and
from the Brandywine by the tug Protector
OF Philadelphia. Should the proposed APP
preparation pass in time, work will be re-
sumed this year. Since the stone in the
gap" reached the surface the current
which flowed through with great velocity
has nearly ceased and now runs out inside
the works by the point of cape, and has
slightly begun To wear the point away and
deepen the anchorage. This effect is in
accordance with the predictions of United
states engineers and seafaring men gener-
ally.
AT the suggestion of Major c. w. Ray
mond, United States engineer. of Philadcl-
phia, who is in charge OF the work w.
II. Bennett Philadelphia artist was here
last week and took Photographic views of
the Hreakwatcr ice-breakcr, the gap
iron pier, marine hospital and other
objects around Cape llenlopen.
The lighthouse supply steamer Aurania
was here this week putting in the annual
supplies of Gil and other materials at the
light stations here.
Announcement is made of the marriage
OF Henry Beers of Oil City, Pa, and Mrs.
Lizzie Hickman, widow of the late
liarbeson Hickman of this place. The
ceremony will take place in Grace p. Il.
Church, Philadelphia, tomorrow at u
O'Clock noon.
The commissioners to award damages
to property holders along the line of the
canal between Rehoboth and Delaware
bays are here viewing the lands. II will
probably take the whole week for the
business.