The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-09-07
THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
IN REPLY TO COMMODORE ELL BRIDGE T. GERRY" sse- D

BRIDGE T. GEHhhsF' 'SN "'s',
 Red Lixhts to be substituted for White a
 New Haven Breskwster-rhe correspen
 dence-Mr. Gerry's Continuous inisre'
 in and Efforts In Behalf Of New hAvei
 Harbor. '-V
 Great interest has been taken fol years in New Haven's harbor interests by Commodore Elbridge T. Gerry. Of thu New York Yacht club. owner and com mander of the magnificent steam yach Electra. He has particularly evincee great interest in the great nationa work-the breakwaters-off the en trance to this port. His letters advo eating its rapid construction have been published In the New York and New Haven papers. he among many others believing that some day there will be living around Long Island sound and its borders. including the people of New York and Brooklyn. population of l0,. GOO, ,000 of souls; and that the great ships of commerce will approach New York via Long Island sound, on account of the sounds many natural advantages and our towns position. New Haven lying midway of the sound, and on the north shore, with a spacious harbor and several important railroad lines center. ing here, all tending to make New Ha- ven's location the best on the southern New England coast for great com mercial city; moreover, this city being now the third in New England, and with every prospect of Its becoming the second in the near future.
 It should be known that the next morning after the New York Yacht club fleet anchored in our harbor back of the breakwaters there was counted 110 sail of yachts, and many of them steamers of" the most costly construc- tion; and this timely suggestion by Commodore Gerry, and so quickly acted on by the secretary of war, may per faps prevent a terribly shipwreck, as New Haven harbor and the man-ofwar and merchant anchorages obtained by siiC Souotl uStlOu Ol d Sy5lCHl ol DTedh- waters induces many ships and steam CTS to seek shelter there in tempestu- ous weather. 0-'''.' ''
 Many acknowledgements are due Commodore Gerry for this instantan- eous efforts to save casualties. In this connection 1t is interesting to note that Commodore Gerry was the first to select New Haven harbor for a midway anchorage while the yacht fleets were on their annual cruise from New York eastward.
 The following letter from Mir. Gerry to Secretary of War Daniel Lamont and the letters in reply will De Of much pub lie interest: '.'' '''' 's >'
 261 Broadway, New York, Aug. 21,1S94 Hon. Daniel Lamont, Secretary of War:
 Sir: would respectfully suggest the propriety of instructions being given that during the construction of the new breakwater at Morris Cove. on Long Is- land sound,two red perpendicular lights be substituted for the two white ones now placed to indicate the end of the breakwater. The present white lights are very small, and when vessels are anchored within the break water in range with them,' are apt to be confounded with anchor lights, making 1t almost impossible on dark night in finding your way in, to determine exactly the position of the construction. I am quite sure that any practical sea man will agree with meif>the propriety of the change suggested, and I have, written to you instead of the United States engineer in+ charge, because I understand that all directions as to such changes emanate, directly from, your department. haya the honor to remain. with very great respect,
 Elbridge T. Gerry.